The ArtRoom Collective First Friday Art Crawl is July 7, from 4pm - 7pm at the Smiley Building. Come talk with local artists, be inspired by creative work, or buy a local, handcrafted item for yourself or a special someone to celebrate Spring! The Smiley Cafe will be open for a warm beverage, glass of wine or a treat. Our July Featured Artist is Sharon Abshagen. At 5:30 on July 7, she will demonstrate how she captures the beauty of Southwest light, trees and rocks through her oil painting. Sharon grew up in Longmont, Colorado, and has lived in Durango for the last 30 years. After receiving a BFA degree from Fort Lewis College, Sharon emphasized fiber art of weaving large tapestries and designing sweaters, and painted watercolors to journal her white water rafting trips and camping experiences. But after joining the local plein air painting group, she realized her first love was oil painting. She never tires of looking for the light in the varied Four Corners region, and hopes her love of the landscape comes through her paintings. Sharon is a member of the American Academy of Women Artists, The Plein Air Painters of the 4 Corners, the Oil Painters of America, and has shown her work in numerous exhibits and juried shows in the southwest. To learn more about Sharon Abshagen’s art, visit: https://www.sharonabshagenart.com/ The ArtRoom Collective at The Smiley is a diverse, working studio gallery where artists create, collaborate and share their passion with the community. See creation in action! The ArtRoom Collective is Durango's working studio gallery where 22 artists, jewelers, potters, leather crafters and others create and sell their handmade goods. Monthly First Friday Art Crawls at The ArtRoom Collective feature artist spotlights with demonstrations to teach and inspire.