The Lamberson family is four boys and two girls – or as one brother quipped in 1978, “Four boys and two truck drivers.” That summer, my sister drove a dump truck on I-80 for the Wyoming Department of Transportation and I operated a 40-ton rock truck in an open-pit gravel mine that supplied roadbed to the Union Pacific Railroad.
Thanks to my parents, we saw no gender lines when it came to the workforce. The expectations were clear: Show up early (sorry, Dad), work hard, look for problems to solve and always sweep the floor. The summer of 1979 found me again operating construction equipment for a road-building contractor, including the water truck pictured here. I’m grateful for my good fortune in having a family with strong core values and the work opportunities that followed. The smart-aleck brother was part of the experience, and I gave as good as I got.
This personal history is just one reason I’m honored for the Durango Arts Center to host our next exhibit in the Barbara Conrad Gallery – Feminism, Beauty or Bondage? – April 10 to May 9. Featuring all-Colorado contributors – artist Judy Hayes, photographer Savanna Goodman and poet Pamela Nocerino – the exhibit invites community members of all backgrounds and genders to come together in conversation, reflection and learning around gender, shared history and collective growth. The exhibit is generously sponsored by the Ballantine Family Foundation and members of the DAC.
Hayes is a remarkable artist whose six-decade career has been devoted to creativity, exploration and amplifying women’s stories through art. While her work rooted in women’s lived experiences, resilience and the female body – are closest to her heart. Raised in the 1940s and ’50s, Hayes grew up questioning the patriarchal structures that defined girlhood as “less than.” Those early questions became the foundation of a lifelong feminist consciousness that continues to shape her work today.
The exhibit also features six photographs by Goodman and feminist poetry by performer and poet Nocerino. Together, the work confronts the intersection of beauty, power and gender oppression – an urgent dialogue as women’s rights and autonomy face renewed threats.
An opening reception for the show will be held 5 to 7 p.m. April 10, and workshops will be held 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 11, including lunch with the artists ($20).
Gallery hours are noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday.
Also be sure to check out the Spring Gallery Walk reception May 8.
On Friday and Saturday, don’t miss Mr. B’s Vaudeville Show. It’s 18 and older comedy, burlesque and variety. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience, and I guarantee you’ll have a blast. You get to throw snowballs! Tickets are available at www.durangoarts.org.
Thank you everyone who came to “Trey Parker’s Cannibal: The Musical.” The hijinks onstage were met with continuous laughter from the audience. With four sold-out shows in a tremendous eight-performance run, the Durango Arts Repertory Theater is off to an incredible 2026 season. Sponsors are local, too. Thank you, Ska Brewing.
Summer art and youth theater camps registration is open at www.durangoarts.org. Scholarships are available thanks to the Community Foundation of Southwest Colorado, Ashes Away: Fireplace and Chimney Professionals, and TeamUp.
Beth Lamberson Warren is executive director of Durango Arts Center.