Support a Transition in the Arts

Bustling Pueblo, Colorado before the Great Flood in 1921. Kadoya Gallery is located in the Historic Tutt Building on the right in the former Breetwor's Shoes storefront.


KADOYA GALLERY CELEBRATES 4 YEARS OF CREATIVE GENIUS AT THE HISTORIC TUTT BUILDING IN PUEBLO, COLORADO

Support the Creation of the Next Generation of Art Storytelling in Pueblo as We Pass the Torch

Video: Kadoya Gallery | Finalist in Colorado Business Committee for the Arts 2015 CREATE Award

THE BEGINNNING . . .
The first show in December 2012 featuring Mike Strescino and Shane Jarrett with music by the Haunted Windchimes

Almost four years ago, a team of local Pueblo artists approached Gregory Howell about the idea of launching a new venue offering both visual and performing artists a platform to showcase their creative genius. After over 50 exhibitions and special events, it is time to celebrate and Pass the Torch to a new generation of Artists, Creatives and Makers.

UNDERSTANDING THE 'ARTIST AS A BRAND'
Starving Artist No More

From the very beginning, Kadoya Gallery established a philosophy of empowering the sustainability of artists and creatives in our local economy. Our mantra at the outset was to foster a culture where an artist is able to survive on 2 jobs instead of 5! It became immediately apparent that Pueblo's retail culture of buying and collecting art is unique. Instead of honoring an unwritten code of lowering prices for art, we began to focus on the 'artist as a brand' and how to leverage new platforms in retail and inbound marketing to fuel engagement and sales in Pueblo and beyond.

Sex on the Outside with Sally Lincoln

The 'business side of art' is unfortunately not a priority at most art schools and institutes, so a new partnership began between the Artist and the Gallery with the evolution of each exhibition at Kadoya. This focus on the 'artist as a brand' later spilled over into the DBA (Doing Business as an Artist/Creative) Course at the Shoe Factory which is a 10 lesson series on creating and developing a viable business model for the arts. Gregory Howell also used these same principles while teaching at Colorado State University Pueblo (CSUP) in the Summer Professional Artist Program. It became obvious that students with their new Fine Art degrees are hungry for coursework and lessons that emphasize the importance of the 'artist as a brand'. 

Kadoya Gallery Lower Level | Shoe Factory Lounge & Library

SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF A WORKING GALLERY THAT SERVES AS A 'LABORATORY AND CLASSROOM FOR THE ARTS' IN DOWNTOWN PUEBLO

This December local artist Anne Scott and her show 'Worn Majesty' will mark the last exhibition at Kadoya Gallery with her powerful and provocative look at art and fashion. She will present fashion designs that never were but should have been using hemp as the fabric of her storytelling. 

Kadoya Gallery on Central Plaza in Downtown Pueblo

So what is next?

Early discussions and conceptual planning have identified several thoughtful and beneficial platforms that embrace and continue to elevate the arts here in Pueblo's award winning Creative Corridor. Perhaps the most convincing concept is a new collaborative effort which partners Colorado State University Pueblo (CSUP) and Pueblo Community College (PCC) in a new 'Downtown Gallery' which serves as a laboratory and classroom for the arts. This model is not new, but for Pueblo it offers an innovative and inexpensive win-win scenario for not only the advancement of the arts in our community, but also the reinforcement of the power and importance of an arts-related establishment in the economic redevelopment of Downtown Pueblo. The Arts have always been and will continue to be a driver for placemaking which benefits not only local residents, but promotes tourism and offers visitors a reason to come to Pueblo and 'Stay for a While'. With the unique Historic Tutt Building on Central Plaza as the arts venue, the loft residence above the Gallery also provides the perfect environment for an Artist/Curator in Residence Program. This would offer the unique opportunity to bring award winning creatives from around the world to Pueblo for an extended period of time. 

Opening of Familiar Convergence with Kevin Malella & Bob Benvenuto

In addition to this academic approach to economic redevelopment using the arts, presentations and discussions with Pueblo Urban Renewal Authority (PURA) will commence shortly. In the spirit of PURA's mission to 'promote the re-vitalization of Pueblo', focus will be placed on the importance of the arts in the ongoing development and storytelling of Pueblo. Other organizations and entities like the Downtown Association, City Center Partnership and the Pueblo Arts Alliance will be included in the dialog as we visit the options available.

HOW WILL THE  FUNDS BE USED?

Your support will help fund the documentation of Kadoya Gallery for archival purposes which will enable the Gallery to produce a limited edition hardbound book called 'CREATIVE GENIUS | CELEBRATING THE ARTS OF PUEBLO'. This special publication will feature the story of the arts in Pueblo and include images of artworks and stories of over 75 artists who have presented at Kadoya Gallery over the past 4 years. It is so important for Pueblo to document and broadcast the vibrant and rich arts culture found here in our community in southern Colorado. These storytelling tools also help reinforce our marketing efforts by elevating the image of Pueblo via the arts as it competes with other headline news. In addition to the printed publication, digital companions will also be produced including a DVD which captures the content of the book including a musical score specially produced by local creatives for the presentation.

Kadoya Gallery launches regular exhibition catalogues in 2016 with Familiar Convergence.

Your support will also help finance the conceptualization and development of the appropriate model for Kadoya Gallery's next generation of custodians of the arts. All information gathered and discussions catalogued will be available as part of the presentation so that others in our community can learn from the experience of Kadoya Gallery and hopefully avoid the many pitfalls that find their way along the journey of operating an arts-based business in Pueblo's Creative Corridor. It is not easy, but so rewarding to offer a platform for creatives to shine and flourish.

Kadoya Gallery encourages you to look at the 4 reward options which cater to many of Kadoya's micro audiences in our community and beyond. Any and all contributions are greatly appreciated and will represent the powerful commitment that the community of Pueblo has made to the arts.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

Gregory Howell
Founder & Chief Storyteller and Creative
Kadoya Gallery


Come Celebrate
This is Pueblo
Stay for a While 

Plague series by artist Nina Cravens-Fry