Monthly Features
Each month we feature a local nonprofit, and a local artist.
April
Artist of the Month
Cath Morin
Cath Morin’s art will be up in the Narrow Gauge from April 1st to April 30th. On April 4th, there will be a come-and-go reception from 4pm - 6pm, which is the perfect opportunity to see Morin’s work and chat with her about her process.
About the Artist:
Cath, an award-winning glass artist, has worked in both stained glass and fused glass for over 15 years. Cath relates that “fused or hot glass has evolved over the years from slumping glass into molds (which I still do) to a variety of diverse and innovative methods to create glass art”.
On display are fused glass pieces created with crushed glass which allows for a more intricate design and outrageously bright colors! There are also some fused glass wall hangings made with pattern bars. “Pattern bars allow the artist to create a color sequence needed, in my case, to create the images that I see in nature, that inspire me some much” Morin says. As the bars melt in the kiln they create the shapes and flow that are difficult to get with other fused glass methods. The Utah desert scenes are dynamic and capture the geology of Desert Rivers.
The Narrow Gauge is excited to have Morin’s work in the store for all of April.
Nonprofit of the Month
Valley Educational Gardens Initiative
Each month, we feature a local nonprofit that serves the San Luis Valley. This month, you can support the Valley Educational Gardens Initiative, or VEGI
Valley Educational Gardens Initiative (VEGI) empowers people to take ownership of their nutrition through education, teaching gardens, and volunteer opportunities. The VEGI team partners with PALS, Alamosa Elementary School, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the San Luis Valley to bring nutrition education to youth of all ages. The teaching gardens also provide hands-on learning opportunities to illustrate the food life cycle and how to grow your own food at home. We also engage adult community members through community garden nights, workshops, and seasonal activities. In addition to all the education, La Puente’s very own Grow Dome also provides fresh vegetables to the Shelter year-round and supports healthy community meals; the Shelter provides home-cooked meals to community members, serving around 80-100 plates per day.
To learn more about the Valley Educational Gardens Initiative Program, check out their website!
And take a look at their recommended books below:
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Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating by Walter Willett
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Vegetables Illustrated by The Editors at America's Test Kitchen
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Growing Food in the Southwest Mountains: A Permaculture Approach to Home Gardening Above 6,500 Feet in Arizona, New Mexico, Southern Colorado and Southern Utah by Lisa Rayner
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Secrets of the Vegetable Garden by Carron Brown
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Stone Soup - retold by Heather Forest