Latest News – June 24

Artsy News: Murals and Musings

New Mural Painting Sunday, Monday

This Sunday and Monday, June 25 & 26 the community is once again invited to become a part of the next mural creation at Leadville’s iconic Kiddie Korral.

The original “Under The Sea” Painted Corner Project was created at the corner of Poplar and E. 9^th Street back in 2009, yet somehow it seems that it’s been on display longer than that. Readers may remember what a great community effort it was, with the art students from Lake County High School proudly signing their names next to their underwater creations, which they often re-visited during trips to the popular, well-used park.

Crews from the Leadville Street Department power washed off the old mural wall at the Kiddie Korral in preparation for the new design to be installed by the Leadville Arts Coalition June 25 & 26. Photo: Leadville Today/Kathy Bedell.

The new mural will be installed by the Leadville Arts Coalition (LAC) under the direction of Leadville artist and teacher Amanda Good, along with a host of volunteers. For a sample of other great mural installations, be sure to check out the the Courthouse Geologic Mosaic Mural and the Four Seasons Leadville Community Park Mural.

Below is a small snippet of the drawing provided by the LAC. The phrase “Do Something Awesome Today” qhich has been inscribed on the long wall (Poplar Street) and the word “Elevate” will be written on the short E. 9th Street side wall.

The stars and planets will be taking center stage for the new Kiddie Korral mural design.

“Multi-colored planets and stars will fill in areas on the all dark background.  Text will also be multicolored…which we feel will really pop visually on the dark background,” explained LAC representative Marsha Carter.

If you want to become involved just show up, or if you wish to donate to the cause, please contact Amanda Good at agoodstuff@gmail.com.

McHargue’s New Book Available July 1

Leadville resident, author and educator Laurel McHargue has completed her next literary endeavor, which will be available in paperback July 1, 2017. In this latest creation, Hunt for Red Meat: Love Stories, McHargue shares with readers how she hunted the “wily elk” with her husband in Colorado for three years.

In this latest book, she captures the humor, beauty, and challenges of their hunting experiences in a unique series of memoir-style essays. With photos, tips, and haiku poems, McHargue reveals how hunting with one’s partner can engender feelings of love.

Raised in a family of five girls, McHargue remembers creating a list of what she wanted to be when she grew up. “It included things like singing, dancing, drawing, being a mom, and working as a cashier—those big old noisy machines fascinated me. I didn’t even know what hunting was,” said McHargue.

Her husband suggested they apply for hunting tags several years ago, and McHargue had mixed feelings. “I knew I was a good shot from my Army days and more recent target practice at our local shooting range, and I believe in population control of herds, but I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about shooting an animal.”

When asked why she ultimately agreed, she said she loved new challenges and wanted to know she’d be able to take care of herself and her family “in the event of a zombie apocalypse.”

McHargue’s past publications have not mentioned zombies, but her novels have included YA fantasy, folklore, dark humor and “loosely fictionalized” accounts of real events. She has a goal of publishing in as many genres as possible.
“Don’t ask me what my favorite book is,” she said, “because I read all kinds. I suppose that’s why I want to write all kinds too; it’s another personal challenge. Don’t put me in specific genre box as an author. That would be too restrictive.”

When a friend suggested she compile her blog posts into a book a few years ago, McHargue liked the idea immediately, and when another friend recently suggested a stand-alone book with just hunting stories, she agreed. “I think it makes sense to have a series of shorter books about focused topics rather than one huge book about everything,” she said, “although even non-hunters will get a laugh out of this one.”

Author Laurel McHargue (right) shoots a pciture during a hunting adventure with her husband (left) Mike McHargue, also known around these parts as the Lake County Office of Emergency Manager.

As a bonus, McHargue includes an unusual account of her first time fishing for trout in the Gunnison River in Colorado with her husband and friends. “I could not make up a more unbelievable story,” she said. “I still can’t believe it happened.”
McHargue hopes to inspire “seasoned hunters as well as never-gonna-hunters, husbands, wives, boyfriends and girlfriends, because this book is as much about relationships and the majesty of the outdoors as it is about hunting.”

She also wants to inspire other authors to try writing in different genres because she believes “life is about finding opportunities to grow, learn, and overcome challenges, and the only way to improve your confidence is to put it to the test . . . often.”

About the author: Laurel McHargue, a 1983 graduate of The United States Military Academy at West Point, was raised in Braintree, Massachusetts, but somehow found her way to the breathtaking elevation of Leadville, Colo. where she has taught and currently lives with her husband. She established the Leadville Literary League, a charitable nonprofit with a mission to support local literary endeavors and the arts. She blogs about life, real and imagined, at leadvillelaurel.com. Contact her for speaking engagements: Laurel@strackpress.com and find her publications on Amazon.