In this episode of State of Art, host Bree Pappan sits down with Pueblo artist and storyteller Kennedy Pugh to explore the personal journey behind Mirror Image, a performance rooted in family history, identity and the Black experience in Southern Colorado.

Pugh discusses how his genealogy research became more than a search for names and dates. As he traced his family history, he uncovered stories that helped him better understand his own identity and the generations that came before him. That journey helped inspire Mirror Image, which blends spoken word, jazz, blues, gospel, storytelling and personal narrative to explore Black life and cultural heritage in Pueblo and Southern Colorado.

The project recently received a $3,000 Folk and Traditional Arts Project Grant from Colorado Creative Industries, part of a statewide program supporting projects that preserve, celebrate and document Colorado's cultural traditions. CCI describes Mirror Image as a work that tells the layered story of Black life in Southern Colorado through traditions and personal narratives passed from one generation to the next.

Bree and Kennedy talk about genealogy, family, memory and the power of art to preserve stories that might otherwise disappear. It is a conversation about looking into the past and discovering that what we find there can change the way we see ourselves today.

In this episode of State of Art, host Bree Pappan sits down with Pueblo musician and entrepreneur Jesse McCoy to talk about Don’t Go to Pueblo, a new DIY music festival that turns a familiar knock against the city into a celebration of Pueblo’s independent music, art and creative culture.

Presented by Bedfires Records, the two-day festival takes place Oct. 2-3 in downtown Pueblo, bringing together punk, metal, alternative, indie and electronic music alongside local artists, vendors and businesses. The event describes itself as “100% local,” built by Pueblo and for Pueblo.

McCoy joins Pappan to discuss the idea behind the festival, Pueblo’s DIY music scene and the importance of creating opportunities for local musicians and creatives. The conversation also explores how music, entrepreneurship and community can work together to challenge outside perceptions of Pueblo while strengthening the culture already being built here.

The festival opens Friday, Oct. 2, at Analogue Books, Records & Bar, followed by the main event Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Gold Dust Saloon, featuring six Pueblo bands and a limited capacity of just 100 attendees.

There is also a community purpose behind the music: 100% of ticket sales will be divided evenly among CASA of Pueblo, SafeSide Recovery and El Pueblo History Museum.

State of Art is a Pueblo Star Journal podcast exploring the artists, musicians, makers and creative voices shaping Pueblo and Southern Colorado.

In this episode of Bree on a Budget, Bree Pappan introduces listeners to a special Business Spotlight on Serendipity Boutique, the city’s buy, sell and trade clothing boutique where affordability, sustainability and community come together on Union Avenue in Pueblo's historic shopping district.

Serendipity Boutique is owned by three Pueblo-native sisters who took over the former Downtown Farmgirl in late 2025 and transformed it into a business inspired by their late mother’s love of clothing, resale shopping and finding a great deal. The boutique has since returned to Union Avenue, opening its new location at 308 N. Union Ave.

Bree talks with the sisters about what it takes to run a family-owned business while keeping their individual strengths at the center of the operation. Felicia Cover and Jessica Krall live in Pueblo and manage the shop’s day-to-day operations and marketing, while Stephanie Minson, based in Denver, oversees the financial, business and human resources side. Together, they share weekend duties, special events and the work of building Serendipity’s presence in the community.

The conversation also explores the growing appeal of resale and consignment shopping, giving clothing a second life and helping customers stretch their dollars without giving up style. Bree also looks at Serendipity’s commitment to Colorado-made products, local partnerships, charitable giving and its plans to make the Union Avenue storefront more than a place to shop.

It is a story about three sisters, one Pueblo business and a simple idea at the heart of Bree on a Budget: Finding a great deal can be good for your wallet, good for your community and good for giving something old a new life.

In this episode of “State of Art,” host Bree Pappan sits down with Pueblo steel sculptor Eric McCue at the Pueblo Star Journal studios in downtown Pueblo, Colorado. Their conversation explores McCue’s artistic journey, creative process and enduring connection to the Pueblo community.

McCue shares the story behind his commission to create the Vitruvian Man for the Leonardo da Vinci Museum. He discusses interpreting Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic study through sculpture and the experience of creating a major work for one of Pueblo’s newest cultural attractions.

The conversation also turns to McCue’s current solo exhibition, “Textures and Tantalizing Turns: The Works of Eric McCue,” at the Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center. Two years in the making, the exhibition brings together sculptures, paintings, new creations and familiar works that reflect the development of McCue’s artistic voice.

Pappan and McCue offer listeners a closer look at the ideas, materials and experiences behind his work. The episode also highlights the role artists and cultural institutions play in shaping Pueblo’s identity and sharing the community’s creative story.

Where has Jocelyn been?

In this episode of Soul Fresh Soul Clean, Jocelyn Martinez and Gregory Howell catch up after a busy month that has taken Jocelyn beyond Pueblo and into the growing world of retreat chef services. Jocelyn shares what life looks like behind the scenes as a retreat chef, from planning and sourcing to preparing meals and creating memorable food experiences for guests.

But the journey does not end when the retreat is over. Jocelyn talks about bringing those experiences, ideas and energy back home to Pueblo, including SoulSmile Health & Wellness' involvement in community events such as Bike the Bessemer in September.

The conversation then turns toward what is coming next with Jocelyn in the Wild, a new on-location adventure that will take Jocelyn and Gregory out of the studio and directly to the farms, farmers and producers who help feed our community. The journey begins on Pueblo's St. Charles Mesa with Musso Farms, as we explore where our food comes from, meet the people who grow it and discover why buying local matters.

For Jocelyn, supporting local agriculture is not simply something to talk about. It is central to how SoulSmile approaches food, wellness and community. Jocelyn in the Wild will give viewers and listeners an opportunity to experience that philosophy firsthand as we travel throughout Pueblo's agricultural community.

We also look ahead at what's next for SoulSmile, including upcoming retreats, new adventures from the road and updates on the cookbook project.

Join us for a conversation about the life of a retreat chef, bringing those experiences home, supporting Pueblo agriculture and getting ready to take Jocelyn in the Wild.

Subscribe to Soul Fresh Soul Clean and follow along as Jocelyn and Gregory explore the people, places, farms and food that connect us to Pueblo.

Watertower Place is one of the most ambitious historic preservation and adaptive reuse projects in Colorado, but bringing a century-old industrial landmark back to life is anything but straightforward.

In this episode, Pueblo Star Journal Managing Editor Gregory Howell sits down with developer Ryan McWilliams for an in-depth conversation about the project's progress, the realities of restoring historic buildings, and why development paused following the COVID-19 pandemic. McWilliams explains how historic properties differ from new construction and why adaptive reuse projects require a different regulatory approach. Rather than forcing historic buildings to conform to standards designed for new construction, preservation projects rely on carefully considered alternatives that protect public safety while preserving the architectural character that makes these landmarks irreplaceable.

The discussion also pays tribute to the late Dana Crawford, the nationally recognized preservation pioneer whose work transformed historic neighborhoods across Colorado and inspired generations of developers to see opportunity where others saw decay. McWilliams reflects on Crawford's enduring influence and why visionary leadership, informed public policy, and collaboration between developers and local government are essential to preserving communities' historic assets while preparing them for the future.

The conversation concludes with a broader call to action for local government and community leaders. As Pueblo continues investing in its historic buildings, McWilliams argues that successful preservation depends on collaboration, flexibility, and a shared understanding of the unique challenges these projects present. By embracing adaptive reuse and working together to solve problems, communities can preserve their architectural heritage while creating vibrant spaces that serve future generations.

More than a conversation about one building, this episode explores how historic preservation can become an engine for economic development, community identity, and long-term revitalization.

To learn more about Watertower Place visit www.pueblowatertowerplace.com.

When disaster strikes, communities often discover their greatest strength is one another.

In this episode of Soul Fresh, Soul Clean, host Jocelyn Martinez and co-host Gregory Howell reflect on the Aspen Acres Fire and the remarkable response from Pueblo and Southern Colorado. Jocelyn shares how SoulSmile Health & Wellness became a World Central Kitchen contractor, preparing meals for firefighters and evacuees, while offering a firsthand look at the resilience, compassion and determination she witnessed in Beulah and throughout the fire-affected communities.

The conversation explores how Pueblo's farmers, ranchers, food producers and local businesses stepped forward to support relief efforts, demonstrating why strong local food systems and trusted community relationships matter long before an emergency begins.

As the discussion turns toward hope, Jocelyn celebrates the arrival of the summer farm season and introduces listeners to the Soul Smile and Quarter Acre Farm Stand, encouraging everyone to support local growers and strengthen the connections that nourish both people and communities.

Join us for an inspiring conversation about service, resilience, local food and the power of neighbors helping neighbors when it matters most.

State of Art | Aaron Foster: Finding the Funny in Life's Chaos

What happens when comedy becomes a survival skill?

Recorded live at Blo Back Gallery in Pueblo following a sold-out performance, State of Art welcomes comedian, actor and former HGTV host Aaron Foster for a candid conversation about the art of making people laugh. Foster shares how stand-up comedy became his way of navigating life's uncertainty, from mental health and Hollywood to the realities of aging, creativity and finding purpose through humor.

Known for his darkly honest and deeply relatable style, Foster reflects on the stories behind his solo tour, Mostly Jokes, his years performing at legendary comedy clubs across the country, and why authenticity continues to resonate with audiences.

More than an interview about comedy, this episode explores vulnerability, resilience and the creative process behind transforming life's most difficult moments into connection and laughter.

Recorded live on location at Blo Back Gallery in Pueblo, Colorado with host Bree Pappan.

State of Art is a Pueblo Star Journal podcast celebrating the artists, performers, musicians, writers and creative thinkers shaping Southern Colorado's vibrant cultural community.