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New York, NY - April 13, 2026 - Ten years ago, Sister Mary Frances Judge’s paintings—more than 150 canvases spanning decades—sat in storage, at risk of being forgotten. Today, at 91, the Ursuline nun and artist is experiencing an unexpected resurgence, culminating in a solo exhibition, The Color of Devotion, at the Museum of Biblical Art in Dallas. The exhibition opens April 26 and runs through August 14, featuring 22 paintings that reflect a lifetime of spiritual and artistic inquiry.

Shared Journey by husband-and-wife artists Jann and Tom Vail cannot be fully described without acknowledging the gallery in which it resides. The Museum of Friends in Walsenburg is a site worthy of artistic pilgrimage, stewarded since 2006 by East Coast art elders Maria Cocchiarelli-Berger and Brendt Berger, whose devotion to collecting and supporting artists is remarkable. They have cultivated an archive of more than 4,000 works—mostly gifts—within a spacious, rotating gallery that nurtures emerging and established artists and honors artistic legacies, as this exhibition demonstrates.

Brendt Berger is a painter, muralist, and educator whose career spans over six decades and bridges Hawai’i, New York, and Colorado. He studied at Sacramento City College and earned his BFA from the University of Hawai’i after serving in the USAF Reserves.

Nestled in a small Colorado town is one of the best contemporary art museums in the state. Its collection didn’t cost a dime.

Community Healing Tree at the Museum of Friends (MoF) in Walsenburg, Colorado...

"The Museum of Friends has transformed Walsenburg and Huerfano County through its dedication to cultural enrichment, historic preservation, economic vitality, education and community-driven development with unique partnerships."

Film Credit: Black Dove Studios and Colorado Business Committee for the Arts

Head south for a weekend getaway, pups in tow

By Jamie Lynn Miller

"...we are excited to celebrate these diverse cross-sector partnerships and individuals for their innovative and inspirational achievements and community impact,” says Christin Crampton Day, CBCA executive director.

CURATING ART, COMMUNITY
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