First Fridays

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First Friday Art Openings at Dancing Spirit Center for the Arts

Join us on the First Friday of each month from 6–8 PM for an evening of art, community, and connection at Dancing Spirit Center for the Arts. Each month features a new artist whose work will be on display and available for purchase throughout the month. Enjoy light refreshments, live music, and the opportunity to meet the artist behind the work in our welcoming gallery space. Whether you're a longtime supporter or just discovering us, First Fridays are a great way to celebrate creativity in our community.

2025 "First Friday" Featured Artists

Nanas Fuller

Nanas Washington Fuller — a proud Ute Mountain Ute descendant — is a mixed-media cartoonist from Ignacio, Colorado. Drawing inspiration from Tim Burton’s distinctive “Burtonesque” style and Vivienne Medrano’s bold use of anthropomorphism, Nanas creates a world that is as vibrant and whimsical as it is hauntingly imaginative.
A student at Big Picture High School in Durango, Colorado, Nanas is currently balancing her academic studies with an internship at the Dancing Spirit Art Gallery, where she is nurturing her growing career as an artist. Her passion for art, sparked in childhood, continues to flourish every day as she explores new ways to bring her characters and stories to life.

Nanas’ debut art show, “Unhinged Art,” will be featured during First Friday on November 7, 2025, at the Dancing Spirit Art Gallery from 6:00–7:00 PM.

Come support this talented young local artist and step into a world of imagination, bold color, and never-before-seen original characters that promise to both delight and inspire.

Ann Salviazul

Ann Salviazul is an award-winning artist based in Bayfield, Colorado, whose passion for drawing began in childhood and has grown into a lifelong practice of visual journaling. Rarely without a sketchbook, she captures the fleeting beauty of everyday life—from late sun on the mountains to the weathered lines of old structures—working in watercolor, gouache, charcoal, and ink. Her representational and abstract works, often begun on site and refined in the studio, have earned top honors in juried plein air competitions and watercolor society shows, reflecting both her artistic rigor and her deep sense of place.

Lissa Lee

Lissa is the artist behind Leif Leather, a creative venture born from her first handmade phone case and her love of turning raw materials into wearable art. Introduced to leatherwork just five years ago by her husband, she quickly discovered a passion for cutting, tooling, and dyeing leather into unique designs. Today, every piece she creates is fully handcrafted—designed, tooled, and finished by her—resulting in one-of-a-kind works that blend craftsmanship with artistry. Rooted in resilience and inspired by the motto “dream big, start small,” her work carries both the beauty of fine leather and the story of a maker building her art and life with intention.

Clyde Steelman

Claude Steelman is an award-winning nature photographer and filmmaker whose career spans over forty years. From the Arctic to Central America, he has documented wild and free-ranging animals in their natural habitats, with work appearing in publications worldwide, on Frontier Airlines planes, and on The Discovery Channel, PBS, and National Geographic. Based in Durango, Colorado, Claude continues to explore and capture the rugged beauty of the San Juan Mountains.

Carolyn & Andy Arnold

This inspiring mother-son duo turns creativity into compassion. Carolyn, a lifelong artist and dedicated teacher, has mentored her son Andy for over eight years. Today, Andy’s bold painted chairs and vibrant canvases are making waves across the country—and making a real difference.
Proceeds from Andy’s art support disabled veterans and fund programs at No Limits Ranch—a place where inclusion meets imagination for children with disabilities and their families.

Cynthia Shelton

Cynthia Shelton creates from her studio in the heart of southwestern Colorado, where the rugged La Plata Mountains rise to the north and east, and the vibrant high desert stretches to the west and south—providing endless inspiration for her art.

Deeply influenced by the region’s rich blend of Western heritage, mining history, and Native American and Puebloan cultures, Cynthia finds that the land and its stories constantly stir her creative spirit.

She describes herself as an eclectic artist, known for weaving together a variety of mediums and techniques—most often within her watercolor work—to bring her unique visions to life.

“My work tells a story, be it real or imagined,” Cynthia says. That same spirit of storytelling carries into the classes she teaches at local galleries, libraries, and private group sessions, where she joyfully shares her creative process with others.

Cadence Witt

Cadence Witt is a rising folk musician and singer-songwriter based in Southwestern Colorado. With music rooted in faith and drawn from the heart, Cadence’s songs offer both comfort and inspiration—always giving glory to God. In addition to her musical gifts, Cadence is also an aspiring author, using both pen and melody to tell stories that uplift, connect, and move the soul. Don’t miss this unforgettable night of artistry and purpose.

Joe Toledo

Joe Toledo is renowned artist of the American Southwest, proud native of the Jemez Pueblo in New Mexico and beloved Ignacio local. Joe paints what brings him solace. His deep connection to our community and his absorption with life and art is as rich and enduring as the sunlight that bathes the Southwestern Colorado landscape he calls home. His work reflects a rich cultural heritage and a profound reverence for the natural world.