Get on the Art Bus
By Katherine Rich
Rosybelle Mobile Makerspace Bus is our community’s tribute to the late, great Ro Mead.
Arts education and making it accessible to everyone, especially kids, was something that she held very dear. Throughout her life here in the Roaring Fork Valley, Ro was intimately involved in the arts. She was an arts educator, ceramicist, and responsible for a variety of public art projects including murals at Carbondale Elementary School (now Third Street Center) and the Rebekah Lodge on Main Street in Carbondale.
After Ro passed away Amy Kimberly, executive director at Carbondale Arts, had the vision for Rosybelle based on the “Third Space Concept” — not at school, not at home, the Third Space is a place to go that is safe and offers the development of hands-on applicable skills and a love for the creative arts. Like Ro, this program is sassy, fun, creative and driven with purpose!
Rosybelle goes wherever she is invited. Our mission is to bring affordable, accessible, arts education to schools and communities stretching across the Roaring Fork Valley and extending to Rifle, Colorado (we are hoping to get all the way to Parachute someday.) Rosybelle launched in May 2017 at Crystal River Elementary, Yampah High School, and Carbondale Middle School. She has also made appearances at First Fridays in Carbondale, The Five Point Film Festival, and CORE’s High Five Launch Event. We are in the process of developing an artist in residence program that will connect artists of various media with our arts education programs.
The bus offers a variety of media including: painting, printmaking, drawing, environmental art, sewing, music, photography, filmmaking, and so much more. Arts education teaches us to look at things in a lot of different ways. It helps us to find perspectives and various ways to approach things. Art builds community!
Carbondale Arts is spearheading the Rosybelle Mobile Makerspace as part of the accessible arts programming offered by the organization. It is funded by members of the community, various foundations, and some grant monies. I am lucky enough to have been chosen as the program coordinator.
The project has also involved the wonderful aesthetic talents of Carbondale Arts’ own Laura Stover who is responsible for Rosybelle’s gorgeous interior. Local artist Stanley Bell designed her fabulous outerwear. And she is fully equipped with solar power thanks to a grant from CORE. Our community has come forward with sweat equity, driving skills, and pure love/heart to help get our Rosybelle on the road and we are most grateful.
We have a great roster of teachers for this upcoming summer including the talents of: Eliza Rogan, Rochelle Norwood, Marge Dye, and Christy Sanzaro. Savannah Otto-Miller is our excellent intern and has chosen the Rosybelle for her Senior Capstone Project at Glenwood High school. Maureen Nuckols is also on board as a steadfast volunteer assistant.
Like Ro, the Rosybelle Mobile Makerspace has created an amazing and inspiring project that makes hands-on art possible for the children in our community. And it has come to fruition through the vision and dedication of some pretty amazing ladies! Thanks to the inspiration of our friend Ro. We love you.
Kat has her Masters in arts administration and program development from DU. Ro was a dear friend and mentor to Kat, and it is a high honor to be the Program Coordinator of Ro’s magic bus! See pictures of Rosybelle in action here.