Photo by Allison LeCain

At the age of five, someone walked up to Darren Mahuron as he was drawing a picture and asked him if he wanted to be an artist someday. He looked back at her confused and said, “I’m an artist now.”

Art has always been a passion for Mahuron, one that has influenced him from a very young age.

Mahuron had a babysitter starting at the age of four. She had a son, Mike Morris, who was a huge influence on Mahuron’s artistic life. Morris was a drawer at the time and is now a professional photographer. This shifted Mahuron’s artistic direction, too.

As a child, Mahuron was always more interested in drawing than schoolwork, but it wasn’t until 2004 that he became interested in photography. He taught himself how to use Photoshop, as he has always been very technology savvy.

“Photoshop felt very natural to me,” Mahuron said.

In January of 2006, Mahuron opened Summit Studios and branched into doing commercial art, which is his main focus now. He describes his style as commercial art with an artistic bend. In his artwork, Mahuron does not try to convey a particular message. His goal is simply to communicate with the viewer somehow, in any way possible.

“Art represents personality,” Mahuron said. “There are no walls up. You have to reach for it – [the meaning] is not just right there on the surface.”

With Mahuron’s photography, each shot is different. He doesn’t focus on one major theme for all of his works, though he does have a series of pieces based on the same idea. He said he doesn’t know where a lot of his ideas come from – they just pop into his head.

Though Mahuron might be considered an artist, he said he doesn’t like the typical artist persona. He focuses on making his studio not a “stuffy art environment”. He believes some artists would be down on him for doing something so commercial with his art.

“I do what I want to do,” Mahuron said.

Mahuron has two daughters, 8 and 10, and a wife who supports what he does fully. He often uses them in various photo shoots. He said his wife is a huge help when it comes to thinking of creative ideas.

The goal of Mahuron’s photography is to show things that make people stop and think. He wants the viewer to stop and get stuck on one photograph.

He succeeds in this by making his pieces so different from the norm. His photography ranges anywhere from two people robbing and blowing up a bank, to a young girl cutting off the hair of her baby doll, to a scared looking girl sitting in the middle of a lake, kept afloat by sitting inside an umbrella.

One of Mahuron’s most shocking photographs shows a family sitting in the middle of a forest at a dinner table. A young girl is cutting her hand with a huge knife as the mother uses the blood to paint a vase of white roses red. This type of style makes any viewer wonder what the artist is trying to portray.

“They should question something in themselves and their own thought process,” Mahuron said.

Photos below courtesy of Summit Studios

Had enough time to think?  The correct answer (of course) is Fort Collins, local music and rock ‘n’ roll.

If those weren’t the exact words you had in mind, you’ve come to the right place.  Welcome to The Playlist, a guide to all things involving local music in and around Ft. Collins.  Whether you’ve been a part of the scene for a long time or are interested in a little something homegrown to liven up your iPod, it’s never too late to get educated on the sounds of your own backyard.

Ft. Collins is arguably the center of the Northern Colorado music scene.  The Aggie Theatre in Old Town regularly lends its stage to acts such as Social Distortion and Tech Nine.  Tour buses for Foreigner and Willy Nelson can often be spotted in the parking lot of the Budweiser Events Center just down the road in Loveland.

Part of what makes Ft. Collins such an eclectic mix of auditory delights is the influence of the student body at CSU.  Campus has played host to a wide variety of big name acts, from Colorado heavyweights The Fray in 2006 to Lupe Fiasco in 2008.

Names such as these may hog all the space on marquee boards and fill the coveted Saturday evening slots at venues, but they all had to start somewhere.  At one point, even the biggest names were local.

Case in point: In 2005, Tickle Me Pink formed in Ft. Collins.  According to their official MySpace page, the band rose quickly, releasing two EP’s on their own before catching the attention of Wind-Up Records in 2008.  Their first full-length release, “Madeline,” was greeted by a sellout crowd at the Aggie and receives regular airplay on the radio station Channel 93.3.  Still in their early 20’s, their MySpace biography bills them as “one of the biggest bands in Colorado.”

But local music is not only about the prospect of eventual nationwide name recognition, tour buses and groupies.  It is about experimentation, fun and boundless energy.  But most of all, it is about music made by music lovers, for music lovers.

The possibility of finding something that fits your own unique tastes is endless.  Enjoy indie rock with a healthy dose of violin?  Check out the three-piece Stella Luce.  More inclined towards funky bluegrass?  The five person outfit Good Gravy! might be right up your ally.  In the mood for ukulele-playing singer/songwriters with a penchant for creating YouTube video’s?  There might only be one, but you’ll find her in Danielle Ate the Sandwich.  Looking for a bit of good old fashioned hard rock to get you in the mood before a Friday night binge?  The whiskey-loving five-piece Give ‘Er Hell will put some fire in your veins.

No matter what your cup of tea, Ft. Collins is home to a rich underground of musicians just waiting to have their music heard.  The Playlist will supply you with all you need to become a connoisseur of the Ft. Collins local music scene.  You’ll find info on venues, artist interviews, concert reviews and much, much more.

However, if you just can’t wait to delve into the scene, an excellent resource is the Fort Collins Musicians Association Web site.  You’ll find an extensive list of bands arranged by genre with links to their personal Web sites.  Dig around, get your hands dirty, and you’re bound to find something you like.

The incredible thing about becoming involved with any local movement is the people.  MySpace is a good place to get a glimpse of what exactly you’re looking for, but if you do discover a band you like, go and check them out.  Say hi after the show and let them know you appreciate what it is they do.  Buy (never steal) their album.  But most of all, take the opportunity to connect with a vibrant community that represents the musical tastes of our city.

a personal challenge…

Have you ever scrolled through your iPod, trying to find that same old Rolling Stones album you’ve listened to a hundred times, and just happened to stop on the vintage B-side you never knew you had? Well, I haven’t, but I think I’d like to.

It’s easy for music to get lost once it’s digitized. Maybe it’s because good old analog devices can’t fit in my pocket. Maybe it’s because people can afford to steal more Mp3’s than physical CD’s. Maybe I really don’t care about all 12 tracks on Kesha’s new CD, but downloading it was the only way to get the single.

Whatever the reason, files on a computer don’t stick out the way a pile of CD’S and records does. I guess you could call me a musical democratist: all music deserves to be listened to, even the lowest, oldest digital dregs.

With this in mind, I’ve set a challenge for myself. I’ll be keeping a personal “musiclogue” (like a travelogue for music) through blogspot. If you’re interested in hearing my game plan, want to join with me on your own sonic journey, or just want to discover the funky stuff I find in the nearly 11 days of music I have on my iPod, check my blog. It will be updated every week, and I promise it won’t disappoint.

High above one of the baskets, I stand sheepishly next to my roommate on a bleacher when the band, cheerleaders and Cam (the two-legged) Ram take to the court to hype up the crowd. The fraternity that has just filled the bleachers next to me begins to cheer and sing: “I said I’m proud, to be, a CSU Ram!” Meanwhile, I stand there laughing, embarrassed at the entire situation; the noodles, the painfully happy cheerleaders and the fist pumps to fight! Fight! Fight!

This immense school pride is all foreign to me. Back in England at the University of Leicester, we have only one charity sports event each year.  Even though it is against our rival university, it is still poorly attended because school pride is just not our thing. We don’t have a band and just barely have what constitutes a cheerleading team; they take 15 minutes to form a wonky pyramid before chucking someone into the air, only to fall awkwardly and kick another in the jaw (I am not exaggerating, I’ve witnessed this).

As for school colors, I’m not sure the majority of students are even aware of them. Our sports teams rarely play in the original maroon and green, and the merchandise in our bookstore is in every color aside from the correct ones. Apparently no one wants to buy an off-brown hoodie.

So as I stand in Moby Arena, I’m desperately trying to embrace this culture. But it is just too weird for me. The fight song makes me cringe every time I hear it, and as I join the fist pump on the last few beats I feel as though I’m betraying my culture; one that stands and watches while shouting expletives at the opposing team due to their sporting inabilities.

There are no frills, no half time show and no ‘go team.’ We play serious sport: We don’t put on a special show for the spectators; the game is the show.

I know I will never feel completely comfortable at an American sporting event for these reasons, but despite the feeling of violation I have when the game ends, I love the idea of team spirit and school pride. It defines the American character; always willing to support each other and always positive. It unites people and gives everyone a place in a society with a common goal, making students believe they are at the best university there is and no one can take that away.

How did the American psyche develop so differently from the English one?

Part of me wishes that the English could express themselves similarly so that the next time I play a soccer game, I have a sideline chanting my name. Even if I make a handball or score on my own goal, I’ll get a pat on the back.

I know this is a ridiculous hope though. We can’t incorporate school colors, mascots, cheerleaders and all the other additions without the magnificent cheesiness that American’s seem to pull off without batting an eyelid. Regardless, it never seems as though anyone is that proud of going to my university despite its notable status. People are always willing to acknowledge that another university is superior.

Obviously our university experience is incredibly different. When we begin university, we are encouraged to go out to clubs and drink. We are taught that the university is purely an academic institution with a few sport clubs tacked onto the side.

Here, on the other hand, we have Ram everything: Ramapalooza, RamCT, Ramweb and now the new edition of Ramwiches! Students are almost brainwashed into loving Colorado State.

This “brainwashing” begins at the beginning of the semester with Ram Welcome. Everyone is assigned to a Ram Welcome leader who leads them in activities that pummel Ram pride into even the most rebellious individual.

It is frankly quite frightening to watch this indoctrination process, but it does leave everyone feeling happy to be here and overtly proud of CSU, evident from the sounds of freshmen chanting outside my window for the first week of fall semester!

Despite my seemingly dower descriptions of English culture, not expressing excitement and pride is a trait I am proud to have because it makes me English. At the same time, I am glad American’s express themselves in a different way; it would be boring if we were all the same.

Claire Danes (“Romeo and Juliet,” “Stardust”) played the part of Grandin almost to a tee in the television movie, and took the audience on an emotional ride through the frustration, the heartache and, finally, the clarity.

The film begins Grandin’s journey at her aunt’s ranch. She gets fascinated with the gate as it opens and closes. Soon she sees an intricate design in her head that plays out on-screen. It involves what it seem to be complex math skills and dimensions. But she still has a hard time dealing with other people, so she bonds with the cattle and other animals.

From her experience that summer, she spent her lifetime pursuing an education dealing with cattle, which ultimately led to some pretty innovative thoughts. She also published many articles for Beef magazine.

The vision of the story was just as impressive as the life presented in it. Grandin sees everything in an extreme visual sense. Director Mick Jackson (“Volcano,” “The Body Guard”), took that piece of information and made the film enticing. Whenever a euphemism is uttered, the audience is shown what Grandin imagined. When her respected science teacher, Professor Carlock, asked her to remember all her pairs of shoes, the screen showed every shoe she had seen in her lifetime, ticking by like a set of fast moving pictures.

This film ultimately provides hope for everyone affected by autism. Don’t be fooled into thinking this is a film full of heart ache and despair; there’s a tinge of humor, and when the film has ended, it will leave you breathless and wanting more. Grandin is an inspiration, and I urge everyone to see the movie, or at least watch the trailer.

Grade:  A

Stephen King drew inspiration for his ‘70s book “The Shining” (which was eventually made into two movies) from the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park. “Catch and Release,” a romantic comedy with Jennifer Garner and Kevin Smith, was filmed mostly, if not entirely, in Boulder in 2006. “Independence Day” was partly filmed at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs in 1996.

And what does Fort Collins have? While we can’t exactly say we’ve had any close encounters with the Hollywood kind, we can’t say that FoCo is a total stranger to the film business:

Jon Heder (star of “Napoleon Dynamite”) was born here October 26, 1977. But don’t get too excited; he moved when he was 2 years old to Salem, Ore., where he was raised.

Jake Lloyd (little Anakin Skywalker in “Star Wars, Episode I”) was born here but also moved in 1994 to jumpstart his film career.

A scene from “A League of their Own” was filmed in the South College Fieldhouse in the early 1990s.

Most recently, Claire Danes will star in an HBO original movie, “Temple Grandin,” a story about an autistic CSU animal sciences professor. The film debuted on Feb. 6 and a film premiere was held in the Lory Student Center Theatre.

So when you think that Fort Collins has no famous connections, I hope you look back to this blog and remember that all the other “famous cities” are just overrated anyway. Think about it: Half the scenes from the original “Shining” (starring Jack Nicolson) aren’t even shot in Stanley Hotel. Heck – they weren’t even shot in Colorado. As for the television remake, it flopped like Boulder’s “Catch and Release.” And Colorado Springs’ “Independence Day?” … OK, fine, there’s nothing wrong with that movie. It continues to overshadow Fort Collins.

Stay tuned soon for a review of “Temple Grandin.” As always, keep checking back for other new blogs – I plan on attending the Boulder International Film Festival this weekend and am hoping for some juicy sightings. I appreciate the attention.

Editors Note: Stacey was not able to attend the Boulder International Film Festival on Feb. 11-14. For information on the festival and how to get involved in the future, visit the BIFF Web site.