The 21st National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils showcasing works by members of the Oil Painters of America is on display through July 21 at the Evergreen Fine Art Gallery, 3042 Evergreen Parkway. OPA’s membership is more than 3,600 professional oil painters from the United States, Canada and Mexico but only 200 are selected to participate in this show. Works by 27 Colorado artists are included. Awards exceed $80,000.
Meet you at the corner of Gem and Mineral
More than 35 vendors selling minerals, beads, artwork, fossil and jewelry will be at the 59th annual Four Corners Gem & Mineral Show scheduled Friday through Sunday at the La Plata Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave. in Durango. Activities for children, a gold-panning booth, tools, displays, hourly door prizes and raffles are also part of the three-day show. Admission is free. 970-385-6850,
Light the way to bug-free safety
Just because it’s achingly dry in Colorado doesn’t mean there aren’t mosquitoes. Thermacell, the company that makes heated shoe insoles for hunters and high-altitude hikers, now offer a DEET-free outdoor lantern that repels mosquitoes, black flies and no-see-ums. ThermaCELL says the lanters create a 15-by-15-foot bug-free zone around your patio, campsite or fishing spot. The lanterns don’t use open flames or hot wax — so you won’t run afoul of fire bans. And separate repellant and lighting switches allow use of one, the other or both. Uses four AA batteries and an included butane cartridge to warm the repellant, a synthetic copy of pyrethrum. $22.99-$31.99 online at ; also available at Wal-Mart, Home Depot and major sporting-goods stores.
Ironing in a little enthusiasm
The Denver couple who made a home-based business out of helping people applaud the things they love — yes, we’re talking about Carl and Rachelle Reichley, whose “Yay! Life!” and “Yay! Bacon!” magnets, T-shirts, and general approach won worldwide fans and has appeared on “Oprah!” — have now made it possible for you to put an exclamative affirmation on whatever comes to your making hands. Iron-on transfers with 39 of the most popular “Yays” cost $8.95. Wouldn’t a T-shirt that says “Yay! Zombies!” go over well on your next zombie crawl? Or “Yay! BBQ!” on an apron? Or, perhaps, the other way around. Available at gift and specialty stores or
