CSWS Program Calendar

Center of Southwest Studies to host talk on Mesa Verde’s new visitor center

2012-02-15T13:16:00.001-07:00

The Center's new program series, “Celebrating the Preservation of our Natural and Cultural Heritage”, continues on Tuesday, February 21st. Carol Sperling, Chief of Interpretation and Visitor Services at Mesa Verde National Park, will present a program on the park’s new Visitor and Research Center that is under construction. A reception will begin at 5:30pm, with the program starting at 6:00pm in the Center of Southwest Studies’ Lyceum.

The new visitor center is located at the junction of the park entrance road and Highway 160, and has been a goal of the park for many years. It will replace Far View Visitor Center as the primary location for visitor orientation, information, and ticket sales. Far View Visitor Center is located 15 miles inside the park, and has operated only during summer months. The new Visitor and Research Center, located close to the highway and open year round, will provide information and visitor services to travelers at the beginning their drive into Mesa Verde. In addition, the new building will also house the park’s research collection, archives and research library, greatly improving public access and stewardship of more than 3 million artifacts, archives and library collections.

Park staff, partners, and twenty-four Native American Tribes associated with Mesa Verde have worked together for the planning and design of the new facility. Designed using the standards of the US Green Building Council, it is expected to be LEEDS certified at the platinum level. Initial completion of the building is expected in spring, with expectations to open the building for public use in late fall 2012, followed by events to celebrate its completion in spring 2013.

Opening Reception for 'Ancient Skywatchers of the Southwest' on Thursday, February 9th

2012-02-07T14:39:00.002-07:00

The Center is pleased to open a new photography exhibit by John Ninnemann, Ancient Skywatchers of the Southwest. A reception will be held at the Center of Southwest Studies Museum/ Gallery on Thursday, February 9th from 4:00-6:00 pm.

The Ancestral Puebloan people on the Colorado Plateau were sky watchers with a sophisticated knowledge of solar and lunar events. This collection of photographs exhibits the sun, moon and shadows in significant alignments occurring only on specific dates. Ninnemann is a photographer, scientist and Fort Lewis College Dean Emeritus.

Preservation Series continues with "Red Mountain Project: A Lesson in Extreme Historic Preservation Construction with Chris George"

2012-01-31T16:26:00.003-07:00

Preservation Series kicks off 2012 with program on The Red Mountain Project

2012-01-13T14:03:00.004-07:00

The Center of Southwest Studies is pleased to kick off our new program series, Celebrating the Preservation of our Natural and Cultural Heritage, on Wednesday January 25th with a talk on the Red Mountain Project. The Red Mountain Project protected 9000 acres of natural resources, landscapes, and historic structures and transportation features in the Ouray, Silverton and Telluride region. Speakers include Jason Corzine with The Trust for Public Land, current Mayor of Ouray Bob Risch, and Bev Rich with San Juan County Historical Society.
A reception will begin at 5:30pm, with the program starting at 6:00pm in the Center’s Lyceum.
This program is free and open to the public.

Native American Textile Roadshow set for November 12th

2011-11-04T12:54:00.001-06:00

The Center of Southwest Studies will host a Native American rug and textile identification session and talk by Toadlena Trading Post owner Mark Winter on Saturday, November 12 from 2:00-5:00pm. The public is encouraged to bring up to three Native American rug/ textile pieces to the Center’s main gallery from 2:00-4:00pm for identification and evaluation by Mr. Winter. A talk on collecting textiles will immediately follow beginning at 4:00pm. This event is free and open to the public. Donations to the Center for participating in this unique opportunity are encouraged.

Jackson Clark talk on collecting Native American Art

2011-10-21T15:31:00.001-06:00

Durango, CO – October 21, 2011 – The Center of Southwest Studies will host a Native American art identification session, followed by a talk, by local Toh-Atin Gallery owner Jackson Clark on Wednesday, October 26 from 4:00-6:00pm. The public is encouraged to bring up to three Native American art pieces for identification by Mr. Clark. A talk on collecting art will follow, beginning at 6:00pm. This event is free and open to the public. Donations to the Center for participating in this unique opportunity are encouraged.

Cutter World Maps now on exhibit in Delaney Research Library

2011-10-18T15:27:00.003-06:00

Come and enjoy one of the Center of Southwest Studies most prized collections, the Cutter World Maps, which is now on exhibit in the Delaney Library!

The finding aid for the Cutter Map collection is available online at: http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/cutter_maps.shtml

The Center of Southwest Studies celebrates ten years of progress and partnerships

2011-10-07T13:34:00.001-06:00

DURANGO, CO – October 7, 2011 – The Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College celebrates a decade of progress and partnerships, as this year marks the tenth anniversary of the opening of the Center’s state-of-the-art building. A special Tenth Anniversary Building Celebration will be held on Thursday, October 13th, with a public open house from 4:30pm to 6:30pm. Opening remarks begin at 5:00pm, followed by a special presentation by local, award winning author, Jack Turner, on his book, “Landscapes on Glass: Lantern Slides of the Rainbow Bridge – Monument Valley Expedition”. This celebration is free and open to the public.

The Center of Southwest Studies opened the doors of its 50,000 square-foot building in 2001. It houses the Center’s museum/gallery space and the summer solstice window, the Delaney Southwest Research Library and archival collections, an auditorium for public lectures, the Departments of Anthropology and Native American and Indigenous Studies, and the Office of Community Services. The building was in part funded by the local community, under the leadership of the late Mrs. Morley Ballantine, who chaired the fund-raising campaign and was the founding donor of the Center, along with her husband Arthur.

Established in 1964, the Ballantines and former college president, Dr. John Reed, together envisioned a repository for artifacts, resource materials, books, records and documents that could be used for research of the history and development of the Southwestern United States.

The Center of Southwest Studies collections include the famed Durango Collection, ® which holds old and rare textiles spanning eight centuries. Other collections consist of Native American basketry, contemporary Southwestern art, Ancestral Puebloan ceramics, historic maps and photographs, rare books and ephemera, microfilm, and manuscripts- including personal papers of Congressional and state leaders, and some civic records.

The Center of Southwest Studies was the first research center in the country to focus exclusively on the Southwest, and is regarded as holding one of the best archival collections of any undergraduate institution in the West.

New postcard collection book, 'Durango'; Authors book signing event September 15th

2011-09-05T15:00:00.000-06:00

The Center of Southwest Studies is pleased to announce a new publication, Durango, from Arcadia Publishing's Postcard History Series, complied and written by Fredric B. Wildfang and the Center's Archives Manager, Nik Kendziorski. A book signing will be held Thursday, September 15th from 5:00-7:00pm, in the Center of Southwest Studies' Delaney Research Library. The authors will discuss the book beginning at 5:30pm.

This collection presents a postcard tour of Durango and its environs and provides keen insight into the history and colorful character of this area, which has been a vibrant center of Southwestern Colorado for more than a century. A brief history of postcards as a convenient medium for sharing messages - and as a revolutionary departure from Victorian-era long letters - is included in the book as well. And a very special thanks is due to Nina Heald Webber for amassing the collection of these historical postcards, what she herself calls "windows to the past".

The Center is pleased to offer these books for sale at the event for $24.00.

Native American and Southwest artists' files now available in the Delaney Research Library

2011-08-19T13:13:00.003-06:00

The Center of Southwest Studies Delaney Library has reorganized and made more accessible a collection of over 900 artist related material for research purposes. This collection primarily contains material on Native American artists, Southwest artists, and Inuit artists.

Finding aid available at http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/artist_files.shtml

Fiber Celebrated 2011 now on exhibit

2011-07-22T15:18:00.003-06:00

The Intermountain Weavers Conference hosts their juried exhibit Fiber Celebrated 2011 in the Center of Southwest Studies Gallery, July 22 - September 24. Special hours the exhibit will be open: Friday, July 22nd from 1:00-7:00pm and Saturday, July 23 from 12 noon-5:00pm.

The gallery's regular summer hours are Wednesday - Friday, 1:00-4:00pm. Please check back for fall hours, or call the main office 970-247-7456.

Celebrate the Summer Solstice on June 21st

2011-06-13T14:20:00.002-06:00

The Center of Southwest Studies celebrates the beginning of summer with annual Solstice event

DURANGO, CO – JUNE 13, 2011 – The Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College celebrates the Summer Solstice on Tuesday, June 21, 2011, from 5:45AM till 7:00AM. At the dawn of the summer solstice, a spiral of sunlight makes its way across the gallery walls making for a dazzling display. Admission and parking are free. Light refreshments will be provided.

Situated in the upper northeast corner of the exhibit gallery, the Solstice Window is recessed into the wall. Created by Denver artist Scott Parsons as a part of Colorado’s Art in Public Places Program, the window was integrated into the building’s architecture. Parsons designed the window in tribute to the solstice markers of the Ancestral Puebloans of Southwest Colorado. The spiral cast by the Solstice Window is visible for several weeks before and after the summer solstice, but it is sharpest on solstice morning. Moving with the motion of the earth and sun, the spiral makes its journey across the gallery wall, fading as the sun rises higher in the sky.

We welcome your feedback!

2011-04-26T16:33:00.001-06:00

Please leave us your comments. Thank you!

Center to reduce summer hours

2011-04-11T14:59:00.003-06:00

April 11, 2011 - Due to reduced funding, the Center will reduce some public hours beginning Monday, May 2nd. At that time the Center's gallery will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, but open Wednesday - Friday 1:00 - 4:00pm, and Saturdays 12 noon - 4:00pm. After Saturday, May 28th, the Center will no longer offer Saturday hours, at least through August 2011.

Also, the Delaney Research Library will reduce hours beginning Monday, May 2nd. The library will be closed Mondays and Tuesdays, and open only Wednesdays - Fridays from 1:00pm - 4:00pm, at least through the remainder of the summer. Check back in August for updated hours of operation. Thank you for your understanding.

Center of Southwest Studies and Durango Arts Center partner to exhibit Images of the Southwest Juried Photo Show

2011-04-01T14:49:00.002-06:00

April 1, 2011- Durango, CO – The Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College has partnered with the Durango Arts Center to exhibit the Images of the Southwest Juried Photography Show. This year’s theme is Animals Rule!, featuring all types of furry, feathered and reptilian creatures that also call the Southwest home. An opening reception will be held Friday, April 8th at the Durango Arts Center from 5:00-7:00pm. Photo submissions are open to amateur, semi-professional, and professional photographers alike, with a special category for students. Awards include a $100 First Prize in both Color and Black and White Photography, a $50 First Prize in Student Photography, as well as a $200 Best in Show Prize. These prizes will be announced at Friday’s opening. This year’s show was juried by local wildlife photographer Robert Winslow. The Images of the Southwest photography show was developed in 2003 by the Center of Southwest Studies to recognize the great number of excellent visual artists in Durango and the Four Corners area.

Photo credit: Robert Winslow

Celebrate Hozhoni Days with us on March 25th!

2011-03-23T14:17:00.004-06:00

Celebrate Hozhoni Days by joining the Center of Southwest Studies as we open two new exhibits featuring Native American artists!

Center of Southwest Studies - Delaney Library
Friday, March 25, from 3pm – 5pm, just before the Pow-Wow!
Light refreshments will be served.

Virgil Ortiz: Visionary Artist (Left Image)
This exhibit features contemporary native artist Virgil Ortiz, who blends tradition with edgy provocation in his art as well as his fashion designs. This exhibit is developed by student library assistant Emilio Diaz.

World-renown Cochiti Pueblo artist Virgil Ortiz has taken the entire genre of Native American art to new levels. His intricate designs blur the line between the appropriate and provocative and the beautiful and grotesque; making Virgil one of the most unique and talked about artists today.

In honor of Hozhoni Days, Virgil is pleased to extend a 50% savings on any VO Fashion item. Visit http://www.virgilortiz.com/ and enter promo code VOHOZ at the time of checkout – offer only valid March 23–26, 2011 and includes FREE SHIPPING!

Visual Re-Count: A Boarding School Era Retrospective as Seen Through Native Youth (Right Image)
In this art installation, Diné (Navajo) sisters - Ruthie, Sierra, Chamisa and Santana Edd - examine the Federal Indian policy of educating Native American children. These young artists address the disruptions to tribal life when children were removed from homes and placed in government-run boarding schools. For inspiration, they draw upon their own experiences of acculturation as residents of Durango, as well as the boarding school experiences of their grandparents.

To see more work by the Edd Sisters, visit eddgirlart.weebly.com.

The Real Savages opens March 18

2011-03-17T13:33:00.002-06:00

The Center of Southwest Studies to present a new exhibit, The Real Savages
DURANGO, CO – March 11, 2011 - The Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College will open a new exhibit on March 18th, The Real Savages. This exhibit presents a viewpoint of how propaganda and American stereotypes have influenced and impacted Native American cultures and identities. Juxtaposing stereotypical, visual images with historical facts, this exhibit explores the experience of culture assimilation, identity and knowledge.
The Real Savages began as a Fort Lewis College student independent study project by graphic design major, Babe Lansing, who also Ute Mountain Ute. The project was inspired after a summer semester in Germany studying propaganda in art. Art professor Paul Booth facilitated both the summer semester, and Lansing’s project. What resulted from dedicated research and creativity was a student exhibition, first displayed in the Fort Lewis College Art Department. “My ideas and motives have come from a variety of sources and influences within my own life and culture. I am pleased to see that the overall final product has exceeded by far what I expected when I first started this project,” says Lansing.
Impressed, the Center of Southwest Studies staff invited the exhibit to the Center’s gallery space, in part to augment the story of Indian boarding schools, which is touched upon in the Center’s new exhibit Frontier Blues: The Legacy of Fort Lewis College, also opening on March 18th as a part of the college Centennial celebration.
An opening reception for both exhibits will be held Friday, March 18, from 4:00-6:00pm at the Center of Southwest Studies Gallery, on the campus of Fort Lewis College. The event is free and open to the public, with light refreshments provided.

New exhibit, Frontier Blues: The Legacy of Fort Lewis College, to open March 18th

2011-02-28T13:13:00.005-07:00

With the college celebrating its one-hundredth year as an educational institution, the Center of Southwest Studies was compelled to create an exhibit honoring the diverse history of Fort Lewis College and the role it served in early, rural education in the West. The exhibit, Frontier Blues: The Legacy of Fort Lewis College, revisits the school’s unique story, fostering a reconnection to local and regional history, and perhaps answering questions about our educational mission.
Visitors walk through different time periods, representative of the various chapters of the institution’s past. Native peoples of the region used the land near what is now Hesperus, Colorado long before the Army established Fort Lewis on the banks of the La Plata River in 1880. Lasting just over a decade, the military marched out of the area in 1891, and the property was turned into Fort Lewis Indian School. The Indian School era ended in 1910 when the boarding school style of Native education fell out of favor. However that same year, the State of Colorado Congress established the property of Fort Lewis School as an institution of learning, and Native students would be admitted free of charge and on the same terms of equality as white pupils. Twenty students were enrolled in the new Fort Lewis High School by the fall of 1911, offering a range of classes to young people of the region. College level courses were added in 1927, and by 1933 Fort Lewis Junior College was fully established. Fort Lewis A&M moved to Durango in 1956 caused a bit of a stir in town, but made more sense financially and helped to recruit students. Fortitude and hard work would become hallmarks of the school’s heritage.
Today we can celebrate the dedication of so many, allowing the school to grow and prosper as an educational institution these past one hundred years. The opening reception for Frontier Blues: The Legacy of Fort Lewis College will be held Friday, March 18, from 4:00pm-6:00pm, at the Center of Southwest Studies Gallery. This event is free and open to the public.

Call for Entries: Images of the Southwest Photography Show

2011-01-25T14:09:00.001-07:00

DURANGO, CO – January 25, 2011 – The Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College, in partnership with the Durango Arts Center, announces a call for entries for 2011 Images of the Southwest: Juried Photography Show. This year’s theme is Animals Rule! All submissions must fit the theme, whether pet or predator, fur or feathers, tracks or tails. Submissions accepted at the Center’s exhibit gallery during regular business hours, March 14 – 19, 2011, with the final deadline at 4pm on March 19 . Photographers from all levels are welcome to enter. Visit http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu for rules and entry form, or call 970-247-7456 for more information.

Gallery temporarily closed on Saturdays

2011-01-25T13:00:00.000-07:00

The Center of Southwest Studies announces the temporary closure of the gallery on Saturdays as staff rotates exhibits. The gallery will remain closed Saturday, January 29th - March 12th, but will reopen with regular hours from 12 noon - 4:00pm on Saturday, March 19th, the day after the public opening of our newest exhibit Frontier Blues: The Legacy of Fort Lewis College.

Center's Holiday Hours

2010-11-18T14:33:00.002-07:00

Happy Holidays to all!
The Center of Southwest Studies offers exhibit gallery hours Monday – Friday, 1:00pm – 4:00pm, and Saturdays 12 noon – 4:00pm. However, the gallery will be closed Saturday, November 27, and December 23 – January 2.
The Delaney Research Library offers hours Monday - Friday 10:00am – 4:00pm. However, the Library will close for the holidays November 22 – 26, and December 23 – January 7. To arrange a visit during closed hours, please call Librarian Elayne Silversmith 970-382-6951 or Archives Manager Nik Kendziorski 970-247-7126.

Common Earth Series concludes with "Living with Predators and Prey: Practical Solutions"

2010-10-18T14:18:00.001-06:00

DURANGO, CO – October 18, 2010 – The Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College and partners conclude this year’s Common Earth Series: People and Predators: Who’s Eating Whom?, with a program on Living with Predators and Prey: Practical Solutions.

This program will feature three presentations throughout the afternoon. Doug Ramsey, columnist for the Durango Herald, will discuss Dogs as Guard Animals; Dr. Peter Stacey, professor of biology at the University of New Mexico, will present Cats, Dogs and Deer: Should They All Roam Free?, and Aran Johnson, who works for the Southern Ute Tribe, will discuss Deer and Driving, with the program ending with a series wrap up and reception with Center of Southwest Studies Director, Dr. Kevin Britz.

This event is free and open to the public. Living with Predators and Prey: Practical Solutions will be held Saturday, October 23rd from at 1:00pm – 4:00pm at the Center of Southwest Studies on the campus of Fort Lewis College.

The Common Earth Series has presented informative programs over the last month, from leading experts in the field, with topics ranging from human social evolution, to hunting in the Southwest, to the reintroduction of the Mexican Gray Wolf, for the benefit of the public to understand not only the role of predators in our ecosystem, but also the human aspect, in which to find common ground and solutions in reconnecting citizens with issues relating to the urban/ wilderness interface.

The Common Earth Series is the result of a group of local partners who are interested in finding practical solutions to environmental and social issues facing us today through open public dialog. These partners include the Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College, the Colorado Division of Wildlife, Durango Nature Studies, the Durango Public Library, La Plata County Living with Wildlife Advisory Board, San Juan Mountains Association, and the San Juan Public Lands Center. The annual series will focus on a different environmental topic each year, bringing in experts in the field, from multiple perspectives. The series coordinators welcome suggestions for topics for 2011.

Please call the Center of Southwest Studies at 970-247-7456 for more information on this event. Please visit http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu for more on the Common Earth Series or the Center of Southwest Studies’ Mountain Lion! exhibit.

Common Earth Series continues with Wildlife Explorations: Family Fun at the Durango Nature Center

2010-10-11T16:32:00.000-06:00

DURANGO, CO – October 11, 2010 – The Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College and partners continue the Common Earth Series: People and Predators: Who’s Eating Whom?, with an afternoon of hands-on, family activities at the Durango Nature Center.

The Wildlife Explorations program will feature four fun, family activities occurring throughout the afternoon. These events include presentations featuring live wolves, and a talk from Paula Watson from the WolfWood Refuge in Ignacio, CO. There will also be archery activities, animal investigation walks where you can learn how to identify animal tracks and signs, and mountain lion games and information. These activities will be presented by staff from the Colorado Division of Wildlife, Durango Nature Studies, San Juan Mountains Association, and WolfWood Refuge.

This event is free and open to the public. The program will be held Saturday, October 16 from 1:00pm – 3:00pm at the Durango Nature Center near Bondad, CO.

The Common Earth Series is the result of a group of local partners who are interested in finding practical solutions to environmental and social issues facing us today through open public dialog. These partners include the Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College, the Colorado Division of Wildlife, Durango Nature Studies, the Durango Public Library, La Plata County Living with Wildlife Advisory Board, San Juan Mountains Association, and the San Juan Public Lands Center. The annual series will focus on a different environmental topic each year, bringing in leading experts in the field, from multiple perspectives. The series coordinators welcome suggestions for topics for 2011.

Common Earth Series - October 9th event cancelled

2010-10-05T15:11:00.003-06:00

The Common Earth Series event scheduled for Saturday, October 9th, Predators from the Past, has been cancelled. We are sorry for any inconvenience. We will try to reschedule this event at a later date.

Please make note that the next Common Earth Series event, Wildlife Explorations: Family Fun at Durango Nature Center, is scheduled for Saturday, October 16th, beginning at 1:00pm. Archery demonstrations, an animal tracking workshop and a visit with the wolves and wolf dogs of the Wolfwood Refuge make this an unforgettable day for the whole family!

The Common Earth Series is the result of a group of local partners who are interested in finding practical solutions to environmental and social issues facing us today through open public dialog. These partners include the Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College, the Colorado Division of Wildlife, Durango Nature Studies, the Durango Public Library, La Plata County Living with Wildlife Advisory Board, San Juan Mountains Association, and the San Juan Public Lands Center. The annual series will focus on a different environmental topic each year, bringing in leading experts from multiple perspectives.

Civil War author to give evening talk September 29

2010-09-22T16:26:00.001-06:00

DURANGO, COLORADO - September 22, 2010 - The Center of Southwest Studies will present a public lecture by D. Reid Ross, author of Lincoln’s Veteran Volunteers Win the War, on Wednesday, September 29th at 7:00pm in the Center’s Lyceum.

Civil War fans and scholars alike will enjoy a lively discussion by local author Reid Ross of his new book which outlines the major contribution of the Union’s veteran volunteers in its victory over the South. Based on 30 years of research drawn from correspondence, diaries, memoirs, and official records, Ross brings the story to life through the experiences of the Ross brothers- ancestors of the author. The brothers enlisted for religious ideals and family tradition and between the trio, engaged in nine of the bloodiest battles and sieges, two of the longest campaigns, and numerous skirmishes. They paid a heavy price: one was killed, two wounded, and a fourth held captive at the notorious Andersonville Prison in Georgia. Through his research, the author came to understand why Generals Sherman and Grant considered the volunteers their best soldiers. Why the volunteers endured the horrors of the war is a major theme of Ross’ book.
Reid Ross is the author of numerous articles about the Civil War. Ross earned his undergraduate degree from Washington University. After serving as a gunnery officer in the Pacific during World War II, he earned a master’s degree in urban planning at the University of Chicago. He worked in urban planning in Chicago, Milwaukee; Providence, Rhode Island; Cincinnati; St. Louis; and Madison, Wisconsin. After retiring, he earned a master’s degree in American History at the University of Wisconsin. He lives in Durango, Colorado.

New Common Earth Series continues with film screening and program on Mexican Gray Wolf Recovery Program

2010-09-17T15:27:00.002-06:00

DURANGO, CO – September 17, 2010 – The Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College continues the Common Earth Series: People and Predators: Who’s Eating Whom?, with a second screening of Green Fire Productions’ documentary, Lords of Nature: Life in a Land of Great Predators on Tuesday, September 21 at 7:00pm in the Center of Southwest Studies building, room 230. The film, narrated by Peter Coyote, echoes the belief of legendary conservationist Aldo Leopold, that top predators, like wolves and cougars, are cornerstone species that are vital for healthy, wild lands. A moderated audience discussion follows the screening.

On Wednesday, September 22 at 7:00pm, in the Center of Southwest Studies Lyceum, the Common Earth Series will host a panel discussion, Wolves at our Doorstep: A Case Study. Representatives from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Colorado Division of Wildlife, the ranching community, Michael Robinson from the Center of Biological Diversity, and others, will discuss the Mexican Gray Wolf Recovery Program in NM and AZ. A moderated audience discussion will follow the panelists’ presentations.

Both events are free and open to the public.

The Common Earth Series is the result of a group of local partners who are interested in finding practical solutions to environmental and social issues facing us today through open public dialog. These partners include the Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College, the Colorado Division of Wildlife, Durango Nature Studies, the Durango Public Library, La Plata County Living with Wildlife Advisory Board, San Juan Mountains Association, and the San Juan Public Lands Center. The annual series will focus on a different environmental topic each year, bringing in leading experts from multiple perspectives. The series coordinators welcome suggestions for topics for 2011.

New Common Earth Series continues with film screening and presentation on wolves and cougars

2010-09-15T14:33:00.000-06:00

DURANGO, CO – September 10, 2010 – The Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College continues the new, annual Common Earth Series: People and Predators: Who’s Eating Whom?, with a screening of Green Fire Productions’ documentary, Lords of Nature: Life in a Land of Great Predators on Monday, September 13 at 5:30pm in the Center of Southwest Studies’ Lyceum. The film, narrated by Peter Coyote, echoes the belief of legendary conservationist Aldo Leopold, that top predators, like wolves and cougars, are cornerstone species that are vital for healthy, wild lands. A moderated audience discussion follows the screening.

On Wednesday, September 15 at 7:00pm, the Center of Southwest Studies will host a follow up program to the film, Lords of Nature, featuring two of the foremost wildlife experts in the country: Ken Logan and Gary Ferguson. Logan is currently a Wildlife Researcher for the Colorado Division of Wildlife and the author of Desert Puma: Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation of an Enduring Predator. He is considered a preeminent expert on mountain lions. Gary Ferguson is a renowned environmental and wildlife writer. He is the author of Decade of the Wolf: Returning the Wolf to Yellowstone, Hawk’s Rest, Yellowstone Wolves, and most recently, The Great Divide: The Rocky Mountains in the American Mind. Logan and Ferguson will discuss the role of mountain lions and wolves in our ecosystem from a scientific standpoint.

Both events are free and open to the public.

The Common Earth Series is the result of a group of local partners who are interested in finding practical solutions to environmental and social issues facing us today through open public dialog. These partners include the Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College, the Colorado Division of Wildlife, Durango Nature Studies, the Durango Public Library, La Plata County Living with Wildlife Advisory Board, San Juan Mountains Association, and the San Juan Public Lands Center. The annual series will focus on a different environmental topic each year, bringing in leading experts from multiple perspectives. The series coordinators welcome suggestions for topics for 2011.

New, annual Common Earth Series to kick off September 10th

2010-09-01T19:57:00.001-06:00

New Common Earth Series begins with provocative talk about hunting and human nature

DURANGO, CO – September 1, 2010 – The Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College announces its new, annual Common Earth Series, a lecture series dedicated to thought-provoking environmental topics, as brought to the community by scientists and experts in the field. This year’s inaugural topic, People and Predators: Who’s Eating Whom?, compliments the Center’s hugely successful Mountain Lion! exhibit, which continues on display through the fall.

The series kicks off with a provocative talk by two nationally-known anthropologists, Drs. Donna Hart from the University of Missouri – St. Louis and Robert W. Sussman from Washington University, authors of Man the Hunted: Primates, Predators and Human Evolution. They assert the provocative idea that human nature originated - not because we were hunters as is commonly believed - but because we were the hunted. The authors argue that early humans were the prey of a wide range of predators including large cats and canines, snakes, crocodiles, and even large birds. They base their theory on fossil evidence, observations of naturalists, and their own studies of primates. This free event will be held on the Fort Lewis College campus on Friday, September 10th beginning with an authors’ reception at 6:00pm, followed by their presentation at 6:30pm in Noble Hall, room 130.

The Common Earth Series is the result of a group of local partners who are interested in finding practical solutions to environmental and social issues facing us today through open public dialog. These partners include the Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College, the Colorado Division of Wildlife, Durango Nature Studies, the Durango Public Library, La Plata County Living with Wildlife Advisory Board, San Juan Mountains Association, and the San Juan Public Lands Center. The annual series will focus on a different environmental topic each year, bringing in leading experts from multiple perspectives. The series coordinators welcome suggestions for topics for 2011.

Center of Southwest Studies to Unveil Southwestern Treasures on June 17th

2010-06-08T13:18:00.000-06:00

DURANGO, COLORADO - On June 17th the Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College will open Treasures Unveiled, an exhibit of unique and rarely seen items from the Center’s collections. This exhibit will “explore for treasure” in a number of ways.
The word treasure can have many meanings. The Southwest holds national treasures, such as Canyonlands and Mesa Verde National Parks. People, too, are treasures. Artists like Stanton Englehart and RC Gorman are venerated for the beauty they create. Some treasures have more personal meaning: a family possession that survived the journey west, or perhaps a wedding photograph or an heirloom quilt. Some treasures are less tangible, such as a thoughtful word or stories of a different way of life.
This summer the Center of Southwest Studies invites you to joins us in a Southwestern treasure hunt!

The Center hosts the Treasures Unveiled opening reception at the Center of Southwest Studies gallery on Thursday, June 17th from 5:00-7:00PM. Please call the main office at 970-247-7456, or visit http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/ for further information.

Center hosts its Annual Summer Solstice Event on June 21st!

2010-06-08T13:09:00.002-06:00

DURANGO, COLORADO- The Center of Southwest Studies hosts its ANNUAL SUMMER SOLSTICE event on Monday, June 21st! As the first rays of light rise over the horizon, the sun casts a spiral of light across our gallery's walls! Doors open at 5:45AM, viewing breakfast and music will continue until 7:30AM. Please call 970-247-7456 for more information.

Call for Old Fort artifacts and stories

2010-02-26T13:13:00.003-07:00

We need your help with our 2011 Centennial exhibit!

The story of the Old Fort and the boarding school can only be told by those who lived it, and that is where the Center needs your help. Do you have any military memorabilia from the Old Fort, including china, silverware, tools, uniforms, furniture, or clothing for loan to the exhibit? Once the post was decommissioned, buildings were moved and large amounts of artifacts were disseminated throughout the region. You may have an Old Fort treasure sitting in your living room or basement! Please call us at 970-247-7456!

New summer hours offered

2010-01-15T11:57:00.006-07:00

The Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College offers new summer hours, May - August. The Exhibit Gallery hours are Monday - Friday, 1:00-4:00PM and Saturdays 12 noon-4:00PM. The Delaney Research Library is open Monday - Friday, 1:00-4:00PM, or by appointment. Exhibit admission is free, with free parking during summer sessions.

Mountain Lion! exhibit now open

2009-08-12T13:31:00.000-06:00

The Center of Southwest Studies and Colorado Division of Wildlife present major new exhibit: Mountain Lion!

By Kevin Britz, Director of the Center of Southwest Studies

Photo by Robert Winslow

The Center of Southwest Studies and the Colorado Division of Wildlife, in partnership with the San Juan Mountains Association, the Southern Ute Tribe, Sorrell Sky Gallery, and Durango Nature Studies, present Mountain Lion! at the Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado.

The exhibit was developed by the Center of Southwest Studies and the Colorado Division of Wildlife to address the pressing need for greater public awareness on the growing issue of human encounters with mountain lions. Over the last two decades, there has been a dramatic rise in cougar sightings and dangerous encounters on the urban fringes of numerous Western cities. In a few rare cases, there have been fatalities.

The goal of this exhibit is to create an understanding of the nature of these predators and their long, historic relation with people. The exhibit blends science, history and art to provide a comprehensive look at this mysterious predator. Mountain Lion! examines the history of cougars starting from the Ice Age when they roamed the continent along with fierce cats like the giant North American Lion and Smilodon, popularly known as saber-tooth tigers. Another exhibit section looks at the hunting techniques, habits, and physical features of modern mountain lions that have allowed them to survive for thousands of years. Mountain Lion! illustrates the different perspectives of Native Americans and early European settlers toward cougars, how opinions toward the animal changed, and the ways they continue to be portrayed in fine art and popular culture. Other sections teach visitors how to read cougar behavior, listen to cougar sounds, recognize tracks and scat, and offer practical tips on what to do if you encounter a mountain lion.

The exhibit features dioramas, fossil representations of extinct cougar relatives, and the work of leading wildlife photographers including Robert Winslow, Claude Steelman and John Ninneman.

An educational packet, designed by the San Juan Mountains Association, featuring mountain lions, can be accessed via the Center's website: http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/mtn_lion/education.shtml, and educational tours may be arranged through the Main Office, by please calling 970-247-7456.

After a year-long run in Durango, closing in the fall of 2010, the exhibit will travel to museums and nature centers throughout the greater Southwest including the states of Utah, Colorado, California, Arizona, and New Mexico.