Summer 2025 Kickoff!

The Journey

A Message from Stephen Quiller
Founder & President, Creede Center for the Arts

Greetings,

We are excited to share that the Creede Center for the Arts continues to grow and thrive in its mission to meld art, nature, and enrich the lives of our local community, as well as the many returning and new visitors who are drawn to the magic of Creede.

This newsletter highlights the continued development of our art education programs, led by our talented Head of Programming, Allison Quiller and our incredible Programming Committee. Many of these events are produced in collaboration with wonderful local partners, including the Creede Musical Arts Collective, Creede Repertory Theatre, and the Creede Arts Council.

I’d also like to share a couple of personal experiences that made this spring especially memorable.

In February, I had the honor of serving as a juror for the 158th Annual International Exhibition of the American Watercolor Society in New York City, alongside two other accomplished artists. From over 1,500 entries submitted from 28 countries, 150 works were selected for the show, and we had the difficult but rewarding task of awarding 36 honors—including the prestigious Gold Medal. The exhibition opened in April, and it's always inspiring to be part of an event that celebrates excellence in watercolor from around the world.

(Pictured: Joel Popadics, President of AWS; Lana Privitera, Juror; Irena Roman, Juror; Stephen Quiller, Juror; and Charity Henderson-Vincent, AWS Director.)

In April, I had the joy of painting in Cornwall, England for two and a half weeks with my daughter and fellow artist, Allison Quiller. We spent time capturing the charm of the historic fishing village of Polperro and the stunning, subtropical island of Tresco. Each of us completed approximately 15 plein air paintings during this inspiring trip. We’re excited to exhibit these new works at the Quiller Gallery over Memorial Day weekend—my first international painting experience since 2019.

We invite you to join us for the 37th Annual Taste of Creede, taking place May 24–25. This beloved event brings together fine art, fantastic food, a chef cookoff, and the always-popular Quick Draw painting event on Main Street. The weekend will culminate with a live art auction at 3:00 PM at the historic Creede Hotel.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Warm regards,
Stephen Quiller

A Message from Allie Quiller
Head of Education Programming, Creede Center for the Arts

We are thrilled to launch our first summer of programming here at the Creede Center for the Arts! This marks an exciting new chapter for our organization, and we’re proud to present a season full of creative opportunities that offer a little something for everyone.

We are especially grateful to be working in partnership with outstanding arts organizations throughout Creede and the San Luis Valley, building a network of collaboration that strengthens our community through shared creativity.

Our summer kicks off during Taste of Creede Weekend with a fun and engaging youth workshop:

Creative Collage – Young artists will explore pattern and texture through mixed media, sparking creativity as we begin our summer season.

In June, we’re offering a unique opportunity for teens and older students:
Illustrated Stories – This two-week class blends creative writing and visual storytelling, with a flexible schedule designed to fit around summer plans while nurturing imagination and self-expression.

Later in the summer, we’re excited to present two special collaborations with the Creede Musical Arts Collective:

Instrument-Building Workshop (Youth) – A playful and educational workshop where kids will create their own instruments, combining sound, design, and hands-on art-making.

Artful Instrument-Making: Evening Talk-Back and Concert (Adults) – Join us for a unique event featuring Jeff Johnson, Courtney LaZier, and Michael Martin, beloved local artists and musicians, as they explore the intersection of art and function in handcrafted musical instruments through performance and dialogue.

Throughout the summer, we’re also offering monthly Life Drawing sessions, open to all experience levels. Each evening will be led by an accomplished area artist, with materials provided for a relaxed and enriching creative experience.

And this is just the beginning. We have more exciting educational offerings coming in the fall and winter, and we’re eager to see these programs take root and thrive in the years ahead.

Thank you for your support, and we can’t wait to learn, create, and grow with you!

Warmly,
Allie Quiller
Head of Education Programming
Creede Center for the Arts