District 6 Candidate Carl Wangsvick Answers questions about the Arts

Our favorite artist is my son Erik, a CSU Grad with a triple major in painting, sculpture, and art history, who is also a musician.  He has exhibited artwork in town, primarily, is involved in Masks and “utilitybox”art, and shown, of course, in our home.  Erik has also held First Friday shows for fellow artists exhibiting along with public school groups he has worked with.  His “Books” show held at downtown Mugs included junior high artists, CSU artists, and local professionals, all in one show. Very inclusive.  Showed the kids see they were real artists too.  It also featured one of his many bands, which perform locally, in the next FOCO MX, and nationally.

A favorite local artist of note is Bob Coonts.  His wife Sally is an old friend. As fellow literature teachers, Anne and I love the theater experience most, attending plays regularly in every venue,from public schools to our local venues, to Denver’s Boetcher. Locally, we often see current and former students who are involved, either onstage or backstage. Quite a thrill. 

2.  How do you envision the future of the the Fort Collins Arts Community?   

Given the right support, the community will grow steadily and have even more of an impact than it has now, which is significant today even at the national level. We will not be resting on our laurels, certainly. 

3.  Are you aware that Fort Collins does not have an Arts Council?  Do you think we need one? 

Certainly, we need an Arts Council, to encourage that growth and advise civic leaders about opportunities not to be missed. 

4. How do you personally support the Arts in Fort Collins? 

A pretty long answer, and I hope it is not considered overly proud.

First, we support my son’s art and music careers, as we have for a decade. I bought his irst drum set after seeing it on sale at the music store, next to Discount tires when getting tires. I cancelled the tires, went and got Erik, and got the drums. Best decision ever.

Next, we purchased our home on Westview, designed by Hunter and Price and built for Price, while they were building the CSU campus in the 50’s. Because they knew how much we cared, the Prices sold it to us for 20 thousand less than the bid from an investor who wanted to rent it to students. We restored, and landmarked our home, at the request of the city, after being informed that a city study of 4,000 midcentury buildings found six worth city, state, and nationallandmarking, ours the only residence among those. We cancelled plans for a library addition (two English teachers have a lot of books), and spent 4 thousand and a summer’s work on a remodeled shed library out back instead. Mortgaged the Jeep to get the funds.  After two years’ restoration of the exterior, we got landmarked and were featured on the Historic Homes Tour. So proud. Worth all the time, effort, and expense. The house  is a Usonian style house, with a great room designed after, and built with materials identical to those of, the Danforth Chapel. The interior was superb when we got it, and as finances permit, will have historic furnishings. Our next step is to obtain national landmarking, which then automatically is accompanied by state landmark status.  That takes paperwork and funds to do, but we will do it.

Finally, we enjoy all the local arts and music shows at all levels, and though not able to be collectors, make an exception when bidding on Erik’s works entered in Masks. We support Old Town renewal wholeheartedly. And shows at the CSU Fine Arts center, the remodeled FCHS, are a great example of moving the arts forward in Fort Collins.  (Much more so than a new billion dollar football stadium. Just saying. Seriously, though, preventing CSU from bankrupting itself on such a project would do the arts in Fort Collins a great deal of good, believe me. 

Thanks for asking, Carl Wangsvick and Anne Colwell