FAC members for 12 years
Why did you become a member of the Fine Arts Center?
Steve: I remember going to the Fine Arts Center with my parents when I was a child. I loved everything about it—the paintings, the sculpture, the culture and the Art Deco architecture. Now that I have grandchildren, I would like them to experience it, too.
Barbara: Steve and I wanted to actively participate in the local arts scene and show our support in a mutually beneficial way. We always felt the Fine Arts Center was a very special place … so much so that 15 years ago we were married there in the courtyard.
When did your interest in the arts begin?
Steve: I have no artistic talent, but even as a kid I had a great appreciation of the arts. Family members encouraged my interest by taking me to museums and galleries. I fondly recall school field trips to the Fine Arts Center.
Barbara: As a teenager, I was an inquisitive art student. Later, this interest evolved into a love of print media and design, and I became involved in my high school and college newspapers and yearbooks. Today, I work as a magazine editor for a national hobby publication.
What has been one of your favorite plays, classes or exhibits at the Fine Arts Center?
Steve: Over the decades, I have seen many plays, films, concerts and exhibitions at the Fine Arts Center. All were memorable, but I particularly enjoyed the Andy Warhol display. Our grandsons especially like the children’s theatre. It’s wonderful to see how these productions capture and stimulate their imaginations. We also regularly enroll the boys in art classes at the FAC’s Bemis Art School.
Barbara: I so appreciated last year’s exhibit of Myron Wood’s black-and-white photography, as I worked as his assistant in the early 1980s through the Pikes Peak Library’s Local History Department. I always love the local theatre productions—they are professionally staged, yet very intimate and accessible. A Christmas Story was one of my favorites.
What is your favorite work of art at the FAC?
Without hesitation—and without comparing notes—we agree that our favorite is John Singer Sargent’s portrait of Elsie Palmer. His sensitive rendering gives the viewer a true sense of her personality and grace.
What else do you like to do for fun in Colorado Springs?
Steve: We enjoy sharing new experiences with our grandsons. Hopefully, these activities, especially those offered by the Fine Arts Center, help to broaden their views and appreciation of life and culture. You can’t start too young!
Barbara: Steve and I enjoy historic architecture and love to take tours of vintage homes and gardens, especially those that have ponds and water features. We live in a 112-year-old house that needs constant maintenance, but we embrace the challenge and learn as we go.