Who are the owners of Rootwings Art?
Vanessa & Bruce Backer.
How did the art gallery come to be?
Rootwings Art was started by Vanessa and Bruce as a husband-and-wife collaboration which was the culmination of two separate careers. Our desire was to blend Vanessa’s career in art and Bruce’s career in design.
Seeing the Herran House for the first time inspired our creative spirits. We thought the building’s legendary reputation as a turn-of-the-century hotel, boarding house, and at times a bordello would be the perfect setting to show contemporary art.
Whose artwork can I find at Rootwings Art?
The 2024 season is featuring the theme Crows & Other Winged Things. We will be showing four renowned local artists. Ceramic artist Andy Nasisse, painter Emma Kalff and mixed media artists Vanessa & Bruce Backer. We are also showing Taos pastel painter Fred Burns and San Francisco mixed media artist Lori Murphy.
Does Rootwings Art have any summer events?
- First Friday’s in June, July, August and September from 5 – 8 PM
- Fridays 10 – 2PM during the Farmers Market
- During the Ridgway Rendezvous, August 10 – 11 from 10 – 4PM
- Ridgway Independent Film Festival, November 14 – 17 from 10 – 4PM.
- Noel Night, December 6, 5 – 8PM
Our Special Events, held through the season, will be announced on Facebook and Instagram.
Does Rootwings Art do custom orders?
At this time commissions are not part of our practice.
