Enjoy a virtual tour of our current 970West Artist in Residence Evan Curtis' toy collection, then join us via Zoom to discuss the history and importance of toys in an artist’s life! Check out our YouTube Channel, Facebook Page, and Instagram TV for the video release before the Zoom discussion begins. Registration required. All ages welcome. The Zoom link will be emailed to all registrants the day of the event.

More About Evan Curtis:
 

Evan Curtis is a filmmaker and educator who is the 970West Artist in Residence from Aug. 24 to Nov. 30, 2020. He is an award-winning independent stop motion animator and filmmaker from the Adirondacks of NY. His work has screened at SXSW, on PBS, and in over 50 festivals worldwide, including screenings in Canada, Brazil, London, Ireland, Greece, and Romania. His films can be viewed at OreMagiFilms.com.
 

Evan received a BFA in Film from the Conservatory of Theatre Arts and Film at Purchase College and an MFA in Animation from the Savannah College of Art and Design. While studying Film in New York Evan was able to intern at Blue Sky Studios on Horton Hears a Who! and Ice Age 3. At SCAD he was able to intern at Adult Swim on Squidbillies and Aqua Teen Hunger Force.

Before teaching, Evan worked as a Trail Crew Leader for the Montana Conservation Corps and the Adirondack Mountain Club where he taught at-risk youth Environmental Stewardship, Leadership, and Trail Building skills, while living in the wilderness and building trails for Hiking, Biking, Horseback Riding, and OHVs.

Growing up in the Adirondack Mountains provided many defining adventures that have shaped a prevalent theme throughout his work involving the idea of Home and how it relates to defining our place in an ever-changing landscape. His characters are explorers; traversing imagined worlds in search of themselves.
 
Evan has a modest toy collection containing relics of his childhood as well as new designer toys, that often make appearances in his work. Major influences that are ingrained in his DNA are Jurassic Park, the original Planet of the Apes, Harryhausen's stop motion creatures, and Calvin & Hobbes.
 
From 2013-2019 Evan taught Animation and Film in New Mexico and Utah. He recently moved to Grand Junction in the Fall of 2019 to join the Art &  Design department at Colorado Mesa University where he continues to teach Animation and Film.
When not teaching or making films, Evan can be found exploring the wilderness with his wife and adopted dog.