WESTERN SKIES - August 25, 2005

*** COMMENTARY: CHANGES AFOOT AT THE FINE ARTS CENTER ***

ERIC WHITNEY: Two years ago the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center brought in a new chief executive officer, who's made some big changes. His decisions have been controversial, but commentator Caroline Vulgamore, who spends a lot of time at the Center, says she's impressed.

CAROLINE VULGAMORE: What a fun summer! Seventy-seven thousand visitors crowded the Dale Chihuly glass creations. Our membership almost tripled and we provided tours seven days a week.

We'd evolved from local third graders giggling at nude sculptures to throngs of excited adults from all over. Now that the exhibit is gone, we worry about the future.

Since the late nineties, my husband Harry and I have volunteered as docents at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, a National Historic Site dating back to 1936.

Founders Alice Bemis Taylor, Julie Penrose, and Betty Hare featured twentieth-century artists, at the same time showcasing Mrs. Taylor's collection of Indian and Spanish folk art. Ever since, modern art and Indian artifacts have stood side by side in that art deco building with Southwestern accents, a masterpiece for its time.

Most often we walked school children through the galleries and escorted them to the Bemis Art School. We enjoyed the classic paintings, but felt the institution slipping into the doldrums. In past summers, attendance dropped. No one requested guided tours.

"The Fine Arts Center?" people asked, "Where's that? I've lived here ten years and I've never heard of it."

Enter CEO Michael De Marsche in August, 2003. With a PhD from Stanford and experience opening a museum at Auburn University, he brought a vision. He studied our heritage and unique venue-a museum, art school, and theater on one site. He introduced sweeping changes and we held our breath.

We watched the museum shop lose southwestern treasures and featured T-shirts, mugs, and souvenirs. No more Christmas trees in December or children's artworks in the spring. The Touching Gallery closed, and the Native American and Hispanic arts were sent to the basement. Docents complained, and a few resigned in protest. We heard grumblings from local artists who felt ignored. Doctor De Marsche brought in new staff and demanded more of those who remained. Would this gamble work in Colorado Springs where no taxes support the arts?

We celebrate the transformations-fresh paint, carpeting, uncovered windows. A screening room and learning loft encourage patrons to study videos and books about displays. The remodeled restaurant stays open for lunch year round, and offers dinner before the theater. The courtyard blooms with new shrubs and flowers and bustles with receptions and weddings. A Chihuly chandelier, boasting eight hundred forty-two pieces of blown glass, adorns the entrance. The Deco Lounge rocks with designer cocktails and hip musicians. Donors continue to step forward.

Sometimes we miss the old predictability, that staid building hidden behind CC with dusty southwestern artifacts. Now docents give tours all week, and there will be more to learn for each show: Andy Warhol opens September second, Peter Max in February, and James McNeill Whistler in May.

So far, the risk has paid off, but will the public keep coming? The galleries need upgrading and expansion to bring in world class art. It will cost. Is Colorado Springs up to the challenge?

WHITNEY: Caroline Vulgamore is docent at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. The opinions expressed in her commentary are her own, and do not necessarily reflect those of the Fine Arts Center or the docent organization.

And that wraps up this edition of Western Skies. Stephen Raher is our Associate Producer, Delaney Utterback is the IT wrangler. I'm Eric Whitney. Thanks for listening.