An interview with Lynn Kircher during the Rio Costilla Art Tour on September 8th, at his studio in Jaroso. Back in the 70's, when they lived in the area in Taos and El Rito, they had heard of a special town in the southern part of the Valley. On a whim in 1986, they decided to locate the town, so they "filled up the gas tank and set out to find the town of Jaroso." They did find it, and wanted to buy the old bank and land office buildings. After a bit of research, they found that the 7th Day Adventist Church owned the buildings, and had just finished clearing up the title of ownership two weeks before the Kirchers inquired. They bought the buildings for $3000, renovating them and creating a studio out of the building next door. Interview edited and recorded by Jeffrey Keim.

Dean and Pattie Swift, who operate a flower seed company and farm in Jaroso, have been named Conservation Farmers of the Year by the Colorado Association of Conservation Districts.

Coal powered steam engine stopping at the Jaroso Depot. Date unknown.

The fifth-annual Rio Costilla Valley Studio Tour will be held from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm September 6th and 7th. The self-guided tours can visit artist studios in Amalia and Costilla, N.M., and Jaroso, outside San Luis. This years participants include painters Karen Ahlgren, Suzanne Murphy, Kathryn Tatum, Saundra Tieman and Steve Waldrip; jewelers Bud Stone and Sandi Wasmund; artisan breadmaker Kelly West; devotional items creator Krista Cibis; sculptor Carl Jaquez; ceramics makers Mark Dudrow and Sarah Welch; photographers Christina Duran and Peter S. Weiss; multi media artist Linda Louden; craftsman Karen Steflik; furniture makers Annie McDaniel and David Satrun; fiber artists Sharon Schoder, Gail Stone and Marcy Zinn; drum maker Michael Schraud; and flower field grower Dean Swift. For information, call (505) 586-1581.

Twenty-eight years ago, Dean Swift bought some land, moved to Jaroso and began experimenting with the field production of wildflower seeds.

The town of Jaroso, Colorado hasn't been the same since artist Lynn Kircher and his wife Jane moved there permanently in the 1980s.

The silhouette of Jaroso against the backdrop of San Antonio Mountain speaks to the importance of agriculture in the small rural villages of the San Luis Valley. Photo © 2002 John H. Farr of www.fotofeed.com

SLV Dweller is calling upon local photographers and videographers to submit content for on-line publication. Photographs may be contemporary or historic but must offer a unique and diverse perspective on the San Luis Valley, the land, it's people and the culture. Photos and/or video may be emailed to info@slvdweller.com. We hope you will share your unique perspective with the dwellers of the San Luis Valley.

According to the Pueblo Chieftain, "about 30 artists and 15 studios in southern Costilla County and in northern New Mexico will host the fourth annual Rio Costilla Valley Studio Tour from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 7 and 8. Based in Costilla, N.M., just across the Colorado state line, this year's tour will take visitors through several small towns and wildflower fields. Some studios are full-time operations and are home to regionally and nationally known artists. Studios are located in Amalia and Costilla, N.M., north of Taos, and Garcia, Mesita and Jaroso, south of San Luis. First stop and check-in point for the free tour is the Costilla (N.M.) Community Center, next to the Old Plaza, where visitors can obtain a free map to make the tour. For information, call (719) 672-3063 or e-mail kircher@amigo.net"

The 4th annual Rio Costilla Valley Studio Tour begins in Jaroso, CO and continues through nearby areas in CO and NM. The tour features sculpture, painting, cermics, photography, jewelry, furniture and more.

Held on September 7th and 8th, the tour is free and open to the public. Each day's tour starts at 10 A.M. and lasts until 5:00 P.M. For directions and more information, call 719-672-3874.