February 28 marked Fourth Friday in Fruita.

February's Fourth Friday found the town hopping. Pablo's Pizza, Children's Nature Center, Rose Hue Art Gallery, Fruita Chiropractic, Aspen Street Coffee, The Vintage Commons, Calvacade, Suds Bros, Hot Tomato, No Coast Sushi, Copper Kettle and more, celebrated the event. Be sure to visit Fruita for this event to be repeated in March.

Dawn at Pablo's Pizza proudly displayed the work of
Bhreon Bynums, Artist for this 4th Friday and the
month of March.

Close by, Children's Nature Center featured its
growing family of interesting animals.

This artist and gallery owner joined in
the celebration of Children's Nature Center.

Here visitors look over choices of articles made and
donated by members of the Fiber Guild for the silent auction.

This wonderful beaded art work by Lorrie Herranz will
soon be on display at Fort Collins in a national show.

Photography by Bill Holestine is on display at Fruita
Chiropractic for the month of March.

Danny's work is on display at Aspen Street Coffee.
Several of her pieces left with patrons who love her
work.

Hanging at Rose Hue, the display of beadwork by
Lorrie Herranz is worth taking time to examine.

Fruita's newest business, No Coast Sushi, was filled with
many customers who came out for Fourth Friday.

The room was filled with happy customers.

Yes, here we have sushi on the platter.

This happy couple was ready and set for sushi.

Brenda Evers, journalist, wrote this piece for the Palisade Tribune Newspaper.

Vera Mulder honored by GJ Commission on Arts & Culture

By Brenda Evers

Grand Valley artist Vera Mulder has been selected
Champion of the Arts, Individual category, by the
City of Grand Junction Commission of Arts & Culture.

She will presented this honor at a reception in the City
Council Meeting Room at 7 p.m. on Wed., Jan. 15.

            Vera lives in Fruita but taught all levels of art at
Palisade High School for 33 years and for 15 years at then
 Mesa State College.  As an active member in CAEA, she
sent students to New York and Washington D.C. where
they were recognized for exceptional art work.
She retired, but continued to teach
kids and adults at the Grand Junction Center for the Arts
as well as in other places in Mesa County. 
She continues to be a professional artist displaying her 
work at The Blue Pig Gallery in downtown Palisade and 
back to the Rose Hue gallery in Fruita, as well as from 
her studio at home.

            She was nominated for Champion of the Arts by
many people in the community for her “untiring commitment
 to inspire students in the arts throughout her 30 plus years
career as a teacher” and “her lifelong passions for art and
encouraging countless art enthusiasts’ gallery owners, artists
and students,” both school age and adult.

            Vera established “The Fruita Art Camp” sixteen
years ago through the City Parks and Recreation program,
and it is still happening every summer, not at the City Hall,
but at another location.

She is passionate about keeping “art in education.”

            Her plans after receiving this award on Jan. 15 are
to “Keep on doing art, promoting other artists and educating
people about the value of art.”