40 WEST ARTS DISTRICT WELCOMES Margret Guntren as inaugural Poet Laureate in 2021

Lakewood, CO – 40 West Arts District welcomes Margret Guntren (she/her) as our inaugural Lakewood West Colfax Poet Laureate, beginning in August 2021. As Poet Laureate, Margret will lead free programming and develop literary poems and short works for the West Colfax community.

Margaret, an educator and administrator with a specialty in linguistically and culturally diverse education practices, enters their role as a 40 West Artist Poet Laureate with passion and cheer. “During a year when isolation was the norm, we have gotten used to being apart, but sometimes together. Or too together and then needing to be apart. Or neither together or apart but just there. Waiting…I bring a love of things local, a sweet spot for theater and bulletin boards and art shows. I bring a latte (everywhere). And maybe, just maybe, I bring a little cheer to this crazy year as we begin to remember how to be together.”

“40 West Arts is committed to all forms of art, and we don’t often get to see the joy of the written word in gallery settings,” says Executive Director Liz Black. “West Colfax has a long history tied directly to the written word, including famous works like Jack Kerouac’s On the Road. We’re honored and excited to bring Margaret on to continue our advocacy work for a diverse array of art forms, and feel she will make incredible contributions to our District and corridor’s storied history.”

The 40 West Poet Laureate will conduct youth, family-friendly and/or senior activities in our community. They will also submit original works that honor the legacy and future of Lakewood’s West Colfax corridor. While we revel in the creativity, emotion, and impact of the visual arts, 40 West Arts celebrates all forms of human expression—and as one of our founding champions said “it’s 40 West Arts with an “s” for a reason!” (Thank you, Harvey!) As such, our district has always had a commitment to arts of all kind—including the literary arts.

40 West Arts is a non-profit, state-certified creative district along Lakewood’s historic West Colfax Avenue with the mission of energizing West Colfax through community art spaces,  experiences, exhibitions, and events that engage the whole family. We are an inclusive organization with a commitment to creativity that inspires artistic experimentation for both the novice and professional, and expands the creative, cultural, entrepreneurial, economic, and physical vitality of our community. Create, connect, and celebrate with us.

40 West Arts would like to thank our partners, the West Colfax Community Association, and the Lakewood-West Colfax BID for making the Poet Laureate possible.

To learn more about Margret’s tenure, stay connected with 40 West Arts on social media, and via our monthly newsletter. More information at: www.40WestArts.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Katy Zeigler, Director of Communications
40 West Arts, WCCA, Lakewood-West Colfax BID
katy@40westarts.org | https://GoWestColfax.org