Tonight on studio 12, we celebrate 45 years of PBS 12 with a look back at the stories and people who helped shape our station's legacy.

Also, we hear about the tough policy decisions and major planning efforts our state and city leaders are facing in this week's CIO with Kyle Dyer, plus a look at how generation Wild is helping families connect with nature.

And a special performance from Denver Zone, Jess Parsons, all of that and more right now on studio 12.

From the Five Points Media Center in the heart of Denver, Colorado.

This is studio 12.

Hello.

And thanks for joining us on studio 12.

I'm Ryan Hare.

For nearly three decades, Dominick de Zoete has helped shape the voice of PBS 12.

Both behind the scenes and in front of the camera.

From starting as a volunteer to hosting and producing Colorado Inside Out.

Dominick has worn many hats during his career at the station.

As we celebrate our 45th anniversary this year at PBS 12, we sat down with Dominick as he reflects on the stories, the people, and the experiences that made his time here so unforgettable.

So I had grown up watching an embarrassing amount of TV, but never knew I could do anything about it professionally.

So when I graduated from college, I had a business degree in marketing and management cycle do marketing and management.

Well, I didn't find the exact right marketing job and had two jobs at a college that just were not for me, just were really frustrating and I had gotten to a point at my second job after a particularly sour meeting, I said, I'm gonna do something about TV.

I was talking about the 1996, so I pulled out a phonebook, which probably for some of your viewers, wants to explain what that is, but pull out a phone book to call every TV station in the entire town to say, would they take on a volunteer?

The last number I called was PBS 12, and gracefully, it was right before their March pledge drive, and their volunteer coordinator said, well, I don't have an internship, but we would take volunteers for a pledge drive.

And I said, I'll take anything.

So I came in to answer the phones and the March pledge drive for 1996.

And as I got here, as people know the answer, the phones for the little break in between the shows.

But when your life doing live breaks back then you would have time in between to talk to the crew.

So the crew and volunteers.

And as we were taking a break and just talking about I'd really love to get an internship, the floor director at that time, Susie Aikman, a long time legend here at PBS 12, said, well, you know, we take volunteers on the crew, don't you?

I was like, no, no, I've been here a whole day, you know.

So she walked me back to the control room where the volunteer sign up chart was, and I signed up for every should I possibly could.

I didn't know a zoom handle from a focus knob, so I knew nothing about television.

But they took me in.

PBS 12 was always had a spirit of, bringing in folks and and learning from there.

The very last shift wave of that Sunday night, I was doing graphics, which depth was right in front of the director, at, in the control room.

And I was talking to the engineer who was sitting next to me about, I want to get an internship.

And Barbara Bailey, who was directing that night, said, well, I could use an intern.

I said, well, that's great.

I had no idea what she did.

She had no idea about me, except I was just talking about it.

She said, we'll talk to me Wednesday and, we'll talk about it.

I went into work on Monday and quit, said, I'm going to get an internship, working for free at PBS 12, to pay the bills.

I waited tables, moved back in with my parents two years after graduating college.

They were so proud.

But I became barbecue Bailey's production intern, now barbecue Bailey.

Created a variety of award winning documentaries in the late 80s and early 90s.

But she also created, along with the gym at that time, Ted Crystals Colorado, Inside Out.

So my very first job here at PBS, twirl was an intern on Colorado Inside Out.

And I loved it.

And I was a part of that program to my last day here at PBS.

Well, I eventually worked my way up leading that department and really just a fantastic, productive, wonderful team in production.

They did the heavy lifting.

I did more paperwork.

Over the years, I began to oversee programing content, eventually as station manager with, with development, marketing and, and fundraising.

And it's really, I think the theme here at PBS 12 now and has been for 45 years, is you wear a lot of hats, but you wear them with with pride and you wear them with happiness because you get to work with some amazing people.

Cal Dyers, the fifth host of Colorado Inside Out, when it premiered in 1992, Ken Hamblin, who was a radio talk show host back then, was its original host.

And that lasted for about a year.

The original four top that wasn't always rotating, but it began to always included our friend Pella Calhoun.

So she's been on for the very first episode till now as Peter Boyles, the next host and the longest running host of Carol.

Inside Out would always call her accurately.

She is the heart and soul of Colorado inside out.

Peter hosts the show until 2007, and that's when Ross, chosen from CBS Colorado, did a wonderful job when he, got his law degree and then expanded his law career.

That eventually, led to a, district attorney's office.

He couldn't host the show anymore.

And that was in 2013.

Well, he had served as both its well as all its production intern associate producer.

When Barbara Bailey retired, in 2000, I took over as executive producer.

And then I took over as its host, in 2013.

I always told people the part of PBE, a part of Colorado inside out, that is the best part.

What's your favorite episode?

What's your your moment?

It's the five minutes before the show starts that we can't record and we can't share with the audience for legal reasons.

We tried, it's when everyone comes in with what they've heard.

So Patty and Eric and Pan and everybody else who's on that wonderful panel comes in and like, I just heard this and can you believe that before the cameras turned on to be a part of that, both when I was working on the crew to hear it as a producer through the headset, and then to be as the host, just listening to stories.

That was always my very favorite moment, and it was from the beginning they did that with Peter.

They did it with Raj to do with me.

I'm sure they do it with Kyle.

It's, it's also a program that it's not only near and dear to my heart, but I know it's near and dear to so many in the Colorado community.

Now, here at the 45th anniversary of of PBS 12, Colorado Inside Out is in its 33rd season, the longest running public affairs show in Colorado history, the second longest running TV show of any kind in Colorado.

Once it has its 42nd season, it will outlast Blinky.

So like fun Club because it was starting Colorado Springs and and Denver technically has the record for 41 years.

Right behind it is Colorado inside out.

It's always been civil.

It's always had a little bit of a tongue in cheek attitude, and it's always stayed on what matters to Coloradans.

And that, started from the very beginning of how was created by Barbara Jim Bailey and, proud to know that I was a part, small part of its legacy and that it continues today, with Kyle and her panel is is really a treat to see.

But I think also a statement to its impact in Colorado, people are still drawn to the program because you don't get that kind of analysis that is both, bipartisan.

It is, significant and it's relevant.

That's hard to find.

And I'm proud to see that it continues today with a great host and a great panel.

I've been able to recognize the the long list of gifts that PBS 12 has given me, starting with its people and all the different people I've been able to work with, the different projects have been able to be a part of, and the fact that it, as an organization, has made such an impact in this community.

So I get to see that come back.

I still share my lessons of what I learned from so many great people here with people.

Now that I consult with and I get to say, you know, I learned this, this is how I scraped my knee as a manager who helped me up, whether it be Kim Johnson, who worked here, really as my boss for my entire career, to Heather Dalton, who is, we we both went to junior high together, or we were both interns together.

We both work together here.

She's the reason sounds on 29th in so many other great programs exist here at PBS.

12.

We work together hand in hand.

She's like my TV sister.

Really?

To everyone in between.

There's so many good laughs.

Another two hours, really.

Not for everybody.

But Heather Dalton had a great idea to include live performances here in our studio.

It wasn't like we were sitting on a bunch of money, but she came to me.

I was a part of, I was running the production department, and I literally basically had a little bit left over what I'm talking about.

A little bit of budget left over.

I'm talking about what we would have spent on paperclips and duct tape.

She turned that little bit of budget into 13 magical episodes.

And it was not only her amazing talent, but her leadership of the team that everybody was excited to do whatever they could to make that particular show great.

That spirit has always been a part of PBS 12 for 45 years.

It is that spirit to deliver something special to Coloradans and doing everything in your power to make it happen, regardless of budget.

Because once you could prove it that it made an impact, the support would come.

And it did.

When looking back at some of the big issues we had to cover, we have the honor to cover here at PBS 12.

What I always took great pride in, and this is part of the station's ethos, is we always provide it at the local relevance and conversation to even a large issue.

Clearly.

911 we'll we'll stand in history as one of the pivotal moments, in the world.

But when it came to Colorado's point of view, so much focus was on national global perspective.

We knew conversations were happening locally.

We hosted episodes of Colorado Inside Out Live, including members of both the Jewish and Islam communities, imams and rabbis talking about what it meant of what religious stances really meant.

There was a much deeper conversation to be had and to host local people, local, really ambassadors of our community, to talk about those larger national global issues here in our studio was a great honor.

It was also a great honor to be, part of the full international coverage of the Democratic National Convention in 2008.

We worked with our partners at, CBS Colorado and for the first time, for us, this this was a big deal.

New stations do this every day, hundreds of times.

But for us to go have crews to shoot, a story that day, bring it back, edit it and put it on.

That night was was a big deal.

That's not how PBS 12 has ever been built and certainly wasn't built in 2008.

Being a part of that and knowing that we are providing a different local angle, really what PBS has done for 45 years was not only an honor but a privilege, and it's something I take great pride in.

It includes everybody.

Everybody that was we brought back barbecue Bailey out of retirement.

Hell, Dalton lit a crew.

We had all of our editors doing things.

We had it took an all hands on deck, plus some effort.

But that that was important for our community to see.

It was different from all the national coverage and was what was special, both for Colorado and for us during my era.

We, it's a national issue, came to PBS and we took it on head on.

Arthur, a beloved, kid's show was, one of the very first, shows of its kind to include a program that will Arthur's friend, has two mommies and that, I want to say this is probably the late 90s, maybe 98 and 99.

That was a big issue.

We think about it nowadays.

You think you've got to be kidding me, but a lot has transpired in 45 years and PBS throughout history.

Not only did we air the program, we were front and center.

There were PBS stations that said, no, we're not going to air it.

We aired it.

We aired it again in primetime.

We did an episode of Colorado Inside Out Live, all about the episode.

We brought in people to talk about it, to debate it, people on both sides.

It wasn't just one sided.

We hosted and convened those conversations.

So when there were issues like that, that was our cue to lean in.

Not to run and hide or to ignore gay rights and homosexuality, programs, just talking about it, having the having the, the courage to talk about it, the issues that weren't being talked about, these were not only documentaries that PBS created for Colorado, but they also got them nationally distributed.

And that was a big deal because those conversations were happening in some of those stations in different parts of the country couldn't go create that programing.

PBS 12 did and made that difference in other markets.

We know the those are risks involved.

Funders, comments from other viewers who don't want to see this kind of stuff.

You put yourself out there, but Ted Cruz is a, one of the very first folks that came to the station, mid 80s, in the early 80s.

He was here very early, eventually became a general manager, was general manager when I started, like to say, if we're not pissing somebody off, we're not doing our job.

And that's why he was the one that found that that gave the green light.

And this would have been, gosh, again, early 90s, we were the only PBS station in America that would air the Lambda Report eight news and issues about, about and for, the Gtk+ community right next to the Rush Limbaugh show, that little example.

And I've used it a thousand times, that is, PBS 12 in a nutshell.

We we should feature all voices.

We will go there.

And if you don't like it, tune in tomorrow.

Our media environment has always been in a state of change.

Really?

You look past the last 45 years.

PBS 12.

First of all, it was just a handful of local stations, and then cable came.

Well, why would you want public media?

Because now I have the Food Network.

Fast forward to the internet era.

Like, well, if I had 500 website, 5 or 1000 websites, why do I need public media?

I can go get any information I need.

Yes.

But was it geared to an audience?

So these are the voices that you need to hear in your community that aren't they can't afford a huge platform.

Are you hearing the underserved voices?

That's where PBS was for so long.

Now that we fast forward to today, it's very easy to hear, well, gosh, I don't even watch TV anymore.

I, I everyone's watching YouTube or a million other platforms, but are there organizations looking out for me, for the voices that I need to hear on the issues that are important to me and my neighbors?

Yes there are.

It's called PBS.

There is still a desperate need for some organization to look out for our community, to provide those issues, to provide that analysis, to provide that platform for voices.

We will not here.

Oh, well, they can get on YouTube.

Okay.

There's billions of videos on YouTube.

Are you going to all by yourself, find that voice from your community that can tell you about the history of five Points?

Maybe, probably not.

The very best searchers aren't going to find that.

That's where PBS 12 and other public media make its impact, and why it needs to hopefully exist for another 45 years to bring those voices to our community, where even the most elaborate algorithm simply can't do, what it all comes down to, to me, are two tenets of PBS 12 Meet your audience, where they are, and that could be with stories or in different rural parts of Colorado.

We still have translators getting our signal out all the way across eastern Colorado, because the audiences have always been important, whether it's going to be on their phones or on any platform, they need to see our stories.

And then second of all, through all those different technological changes, what remain true is the story matters.

It could be in 4K eight K by now they probably have 16 K. I've gone from the cameras that you had an entire full VCR to carry with you, and tripods that weighed more than your intern.

Two cameras that were smaller than your phone, or you had eight different ones in the studio covering eight different angles.

If you weren't covering and telling an important story, it didn't matter.

The technology can change.

The ways we deliver, stories can change, and they will continue to do so.

But the value and impact of those stories remains the same.

So you concentrate there.

Or we, including the issues that people need to know about, are we telling the stories they need to know, and are we including the audience in that discussion?

That's what's always important.

The way to do it is always going to change for Colorado instead of live.

When it first came on the air in 97, maybe 98, it was answering the phone in very old school.

You're on the air.

By the time that show ended and we moved on to studio 12, it was here's everyone's live tweets and live reactions, but it was still including people's voices that people, wherever they were watching you, they could be part of the discussion.

PBS told started that way in 1980.

It continues to be that way now, and that's what's most important.

After all the technological changes and the ones to come.

Supporters of PBS 12 for 45 years and am still going have said yes, keep doing this.

We will fund and support that courage to include those voices from our entire community, especially the ones I have not heard.

When you have a chance to look back on your career and say, this is where all that impact was made and appreciate it, then your job is to share it.

So really, what I've what I've concentrated on now is to share everything that was so generously given to me with others and really just appreciate the impact I get to be a very small part of because of what was started 45 years ago.

I'm Dominic, Missouri.

I'm very proud to say happy anniversary PBS 1245 wonderful years with these 45th May be the platform for another great 45.

Thank you for making such a difference in my life and for the entire state of Colorado.

Look out for more of our 45th anniversary interviews as we honor this special time in PBS 12 history.

It's almost back to school.

And if you're a parent looking for outdoor fun activities to do with your kids before school starts, there's a nonprofit called Generation Wild that is partnering with Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Get Outdoors Colorado to give you some inexpensive and easy ideas.

PBS Twelve's Erika McLarty took her own kids along to explore the program.

Take a look.

I want to catch another dragonfly generation.

While there's a movement across the state of Colorado to get more kids and families outdoors.

It was created by Great Outdoors Colorado, which is a foundation of the state that invests a portion of the lottery proceeds into outdoor recreation and conservation projects across the state.

And then we also have our statewide communications, social change campaign that is all about bringing easy tips for parents across the state of Colorado to get outdoors with their kids any time of year.

I think there's some of their Generation Wild campaign is designed to.

The program works in schools, libraries and state parks like this one.

So I think what's really unique about Cherry Creek, we're in the heart of Aurora, so we're an urban park.

So we often have to balance capacity and in protecting our natural resources.

And if you're a parent that wants to get your kids outside, but he help figuring out what to do with them.

Generation wild 100 things to do before your 12 list gives you plenty of ideas.

An easy guide you can do right outside your front door at a local city or state park.

Today, we've explored Cherry Creek State Park with some birdwatching.

Wow, looks so pretty!

It looks like at last we created our own fossils.

We've also looked at some of the different plants that are here and done.

Some leaf rubbings.

Visiting a state park is a great way to just go on an easy nature hike through the woods to explore and listen to the bird calls and see what you can find.

Cool.

Yeah.

Well, you know, it's been a great partnership to be with Gogo Generation Wild.

Just inspiring people to learn about the outdoors and knowing that you can do all these fun things.

And it doesn't cost any money.

Digging a castle or rubbing leaves or, you know, just having that partnership to engage people of all ages in all walks of life.

Oh, look at this.

Flowers.

You're so pretty.

We're all so busy in our lives.

Parents are busy with work and driving kids to and from activities before and after school, and kids lives are busy.

But it really only takes five, ten, 20 minutes spending that time each day outside.

We'll see benefits in kids with reduced stress and the earlier we get them exposed to spending time in nature, it's been proven that they will become lifelong lovers of spending time outdoors, and are more likely to spend that time for their own personal health.

Find a piece of work to your day.

You know some kids families, they may not know where to go.

They may not feel like they have the equipment.

You know, there are a lot of activities in Colorado where you feel like you have to have the best gear to be able to go do those, and that's just not the case.

And if getting the gear feels like a barrier to you, don't worry.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has stuff you can rent.

You can also go to your local library and get a backpack of gear.

So we headed to our local library to check out the Generation Wild Adventure Backpack.

It's free to any child making outdoor access more affordable for families.

It was easy to do and had all kinds of great things in it, like a state park pass.

Nature guides, hiking poles, walkie talkies, binoculars, and more.

You want to go and learn about boating.

We have life jackets and canoes and kayaks and paddle.

If you want to do birding, we partnered with the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies.

They have binoculars and bird books.

If you want to learn archery.

We have our own archery trailer.

So what?

That shouldn't be a barrier to anybody.

And for those kids that, well, are still asking for a screen.

Colorado State Parks and Wildlife has an app for that.

So we have an app called Agents of Discovery.

You can download it for free.

And on there, it's kind of like Pokemon Go.

So we make admissions and the missions are challenges.

And you go and you you go and you walk a trail and it pops up on your phone.

So you're using your phone for good.

So you're learning about the park or learning about nature.

And then at the end you can go to our our visitor center in the campground and get a special prize.

You can start simple, like reading a book under a tree using a fallen tree trunk as a balance beam, looking for insects, or like maybe going ice skating or fishing.

And then there's even hike a 14 are on there, which is a really Colorado activity to do.

It might be a little bit of a stretch, so you can always start somewhere easy on the 100 things to do that.

Well did you see the giant white bird?

It's really close up.

It looks, and it had pretty long legs and it's got a youthful beak.

There are been studies on the brain that show that spending time outdoors, you have less rudimental session on those kind of negative thoughts.

And it helps be kind of a place where there's less stress and you can come as a solace.

And so even if you only get to spend five, ten minutes outside, walking through a park, that is something that will bring lots of benefits to your day.

So it's kind of over there.

Generation wild is really investing and creating that next generation of kids who are going to care about the environment.

They're going to be those champions for recycling, but also champions for our public lands.

So whether it's hunting for leaves or befriending a bug.

So to you, I don't know that there was that label Generation Wild Cruise.

You don't need a fancy trip to have a wild time outdoors.

This is the coolest place ever for kids.

Well, I'm Erica McLarty.

For more information on Generation Wild and to download their free 100.

Things to Do Before You turn 12 list, head to Generation wild.com.

We are one year away from Colorado, hitting a major milestone.

But before the celebrations begin, leaders across the state are already feeling the pressure.

From challenging policy decisions to major planning efforts.

Kyle Dyer and her team of panelists on Colorado Inside Out chat about it all.

Hey, Ryan, it's great to see you this week.

So while we just passed our seats 149th birthday, and there are big plans for next year's 150th.

There's a lot that needs to get done this month.

August looks to be big and a real test for our leaders at the state level, and those in the city of Denver who are having to make some tough decisions.

Here's listening to part of this week's Colorado Inside Out.

As we start August, before we know it, it is going to be Monday, August 18th, and that will be the day or sometime that week when the special legislative session is expected to begin.

And the 18th is also expected to be the day that City of Denver employees will find out if they have jobs or not.

Despite the budget issues facing both the state and the city, the push is also on for some more spending and some new projects.

I think it's dizzying because there seems to be this push to move forward.

Yet there's still like, you know, we can't really go full steam ahead.

A million here or a million there soon.

You're talking about 1 billion shortfall in Colorado, which the legislature is going to have to deal with.

So of course, we're going to have to have a special, special session.

And if they can do it on the 18th and get it done, good luck to them.

But as everyone says, they've had to cut a billion last year.

So now looking at another billion, 1.2 billion is what they're not expecting to get because of the big beautiful bill that's going to be so hard.

Then you look at Denver, which is also going through maybe half a quarter of a billion in cuts that are leading to layoffs.

We're not going to know which those are for several more weeks.

But on Wednesday, I went to the announcement about the Downtown Denver Authority spending spree.

It's great because that's not coming out of the coffers, that's paying for salaries.

But it's a big disconnect when you think we can pay for these projects.

But we can't pay for our employees.

What you have to hope is some of those projects and some several of them are very good, will bring in more tax revenues.

So Denver will do better, but it's still going to take a long time until we see those coffers fill up again.

Allen.

And between the especially the state budgetary issues are a reminder to me of why I'm unaffiliated.

You've got the Democrats blame the congressional Republicans for getting the big beautiful bill through.

And then you've got the other folks saying, well, you know, Coloradans were better fiscal stewards of the Democrats in the legislature.

We're better fiscal stewards.

We wouldn't be in this situation.

And, you know, like, Senator Moberly said the other day, there's going to be, you know, it's going to be pain.

You're talking, as Patty mentioned already, that 1 billion shortfall and having to find another billion.

But I really would like to hear people, especially during this special session, think more in terms of solutions instead of all the finger pointing.

And then on the city side, as a former city employee, you know, I've been through a couple of, you know, furloughs and things like that, but never a situation where you get to sit around and if you get the email or you were out that day and I just want to send out, you know, thoughts to all city employees who are having to go through that.

It seems like a rough way to find out you're no longer needed.

Right.

It would seem like there'd be a little runway in there, but that literally, from all accounts that I've seen, is you find out the day and then you're.

Yeah.

Adam it does feel like budget woes all around.

I mean you look at the city, we're talking about potentially hundreds of positions being hit by these layoffs.

We know the city already did about 9000 employees with mandatory furloughs.

Save them about $10 million.

But we're talking about that $250 million budget hole.

And I cannot imagine a world where they make that up simply through layoffs.

So it means there's going to have to be other, other constraints or factors at play.

And then we also have a, you know, billion dollar bond potentially coming to the city, which some argue when you're in a fiscal crisis, a bond is the way to actually generate revenue and complete projects.

Others would say probably not a good time to to go out and seek a bond.

For the state financial situation, I think the larger question is what are they going to do?

They can reduce reserves.

They talked about 15% to 9%.

They can simply just do straight cuts and pass a lot of responsibility to local governments, who will have a hard time making up shortfalls?

They can look at ballot measures to raise revenue locally.

But again, the complicated thing is when we're looking at tax code, which is largely statutory, the state does have some ability to make change.

But we also have Tabor, which means they can only do so much and are confined by the rules at play.

So it's going to be, as often said, a very painful special session.

Right.

And they have to meet for three days.

Is that right?

A minimum of three days to pass a bill.

That seems like a lot to do in three days.

Okay, Christy.

So I think what's interesting is the complaints you hear from legislators, specifically the liberals in charge of the legislature, often don't match what you hear from the people.

Like the legislators are out there blaming Tabor, saying, oh my goodness, we can't raise revenue because Tabor doesn't allow us to do it.

They've actually asked the voters to allow them to raise revenue.

Time after time again, voters say no.

70% of Coloradans consistently support Tabor, which means it's Democrats, unaffiliated, and Republicans like they want our legislature to live within their means.

And they keep saying, oh, we can't do it.

When you look at $1.2 billion shortfall, if you look at the size of the entire budget, it's a $44 billion budget.

That's 3% of the budget we're asking you to cut as the legislature.

How many families across Colorado have had to cut 3% from their budgets because of inflation?

And yet, you see leaders in the legislature complaining that this is just impossible.

I think it's not.

And I think the second point is that where's this $1.2 billion going?

It didn't evaporate.

It's not lost.

It's going into the pockets of families.

Part of it, 500 million of it is the overtime, the cut in overtime taxes.

You no longer have to pay taxes for the 2025 year that the legislature said, you're going to pay it again in 26 and state taxes, but it's in the pockets of people, and people want their money.

They don't want the government to have it.

That's the reality I think our legislature needs to live with.

All right.

Well it will be interesting month.

And I assume there are people working as we speak trying to get everything in order.

So when they do all come together we'll see what happens.

That is just one of the four topics we discussed on the latest Colorado Inside Out.

You can watch the full show any time at PBS 12.org, on the PBS passport app or on our YouTube channel.

And Sio is also a podcast and can be found on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

And we're already talking about what the stories will be discussed on next week's Sio.

So tune in Friday at eight here on PBS 12.

Next we meet Colorado artist Sadie Young, a multimedia and crochet creator who's transformed the Denver Art Museum into a vibrant, emotional playground.

Her latest exhibit, The Tangled Self, created with spectral art space, invites visitors to literally step inside the mouth of monsters through color, texture, and fiber.

Sadie explores why we sometimes see the negative parts of ourselves more clearly than the good, and at the heart of her art is a personal thread, a connection to her grandmother who taught her how to crochet for the very first time.

This is bad.

Yeah.

The biggest part of the mess.

It's, like, hard not to smile when you're doing it.

It's such a funny thing to do with yarn, but.

And then I do the edges where I always do the edges.

Last hand is so cool.

Yeah.

Yeah.

You tend to get fast at crocheting when it's all you do for six months.

Yeah.

Crocheting in and of itself is it's like a puzzle trying to figure out, like, how to make the exact shape.

My name is Sadie Young.

My grandma.

Very young.

She taught me how to crochet.

I am Sadie's, Sadie Young's grandmother.

Where you crochet fast, Sadie.

See me?

Oh, yeah.

I always tell people this little story.

She was probably, I don't know, 7 or 8 years old or maybe younger.

She wanted to learn how to crochet.

I was like, maybe four.

And she taught me how to do just like a simple, like, base chain.

So I taught her how to chain.

I don't know if you a chain is just one stitch after the other and it just makes a long rope.

Tommy had a chain, and then I was convinced that I was going to make the longest chain in the world and, like, break a record at, like, four years old.

So she was going to break the record.

So we lived in a three story, three level with the basement house.

I just like made chains nonstop up and down her four story house.

So she made that chain long enough to go all the way, all down the stairs and all over.

Yeah, that was the start of it.

That's how she started.

And that was the only thing I taught her.

The rest is on her.

Right now it's just one, one, two, three, 4 or 5.

Over and over is the part that I'm at.

Yeah.

At first she would do like crochet beanies, caps and just little animals.

She made me a little animal and she made up the pattern.

She didn't.

Yeah.

She just does it.

I like the idea of making stuff that is accessible, like affordable.

So then that just evolved into this.

Well, we're inside of my, new installation called The Tangled Self at the Denver Art Museum.

It's giant, crazy, super colorful fiber art installation.

And that represents our inner monsters as well as the positive aspects of ourselves.

She just went way beyond any of my capabilities in I think it was 2021.

I did my first really big yarn installation, at spectral Art Artspace.

Picture Arts Space is a gallery and an immersive experience in Denver on South Broadway.

One of the staff members at the Art museum had actually visited spectra, and it was not one.

That installation was up.

They just kind of came and saw one of our immersive and then reach out to me and interviewed me just to kind of like, I don't know, kind of vibe, check it with me and like, all that.

And they kind of told me about all these like different opportunities that they had here for artists and specifically told me about the Precor area and how they wanted something that was interactive and immersive and, how much they loved the immersive that spectra.

And then they said I could do it.

I was like trying to think of like, different things to do.

And then I was like, you need to follow your heart.

You want to do fiber art.

So it was kind of like the first time in ten years where I did my art just for my art.

That wasn't a part of spectra.

Almost a year ago today is when I kind of, like, really started.

We met in this phase, and then it really took off from there.

And I did the full plan and.

I started crocheting, and I was so delighted that she asked me to make the little leaves for the vines.

It was like an average of like 12 hours a day, I would say, of either crocheting or, tufting.

So pretty much nonstop.

When I'm crocheting, it's not my hands or like my wrist.

Like most people think it's my back and like my neck.

It's like spinal stuff.

I didn't realize, like, crocheting that much and like that often and consistently, like daily.

What a toll it actually takes on your body.

It's actually like a very physically.

I don't I don't know if demanding is the right word, but, yeah, I went through some like, chronic pain just because of, like, sitting and like just the position that I was in.

So I think that was like the hardest part was just getting through the, the pain and figuring out how to say, I actually bought like four new chairs during this project to try and figure out, like, the best way to sit, because I wasn't used to sitting that much, especially when I was like working in spectra.

It would be like two three days in the studio if I was lucky.

And then I'm standing all day at spectra.

When I first started college, I was a psych major, so I did three years of psychology in college before I switched to art.

That is really what inspired the concept behind this and then personal experience to I Crochet monsters, because there's a lot of freedom in crocheting a monster, because it doesn't have to look like anything specifically.

And it's fun and it can be silly, and it's a silly way to represent something that can be dark.

Like they're named after what I was dealing with at the time, in a way.

So, like when I was making Defeated the Dragon, I think there was like, I can't remember exactly, but I remember feeling defeated and then being like, okay, I'm going to make a dragon.

But I just remember feeling that feeling, and it's like a very human thing to, like, kill these feelings and you're not alone if you feel them.

It helped me, like, deal with it so much, just like making it.

And I was like, oh, that wasn't so bad.

I'm like, I'm not defeated.

I I'm resilient.

I can make it through this, you know?

A lot of them were kind of like what I was dealing with at the time that I was making them, and that's where their names came from.

My group from where I live all went, and they were just all amazed.

When I build immersive experiences, whether it's this one or the ones at spectra, I really want them to be accessible and I really want them to be inclusive.

I don't build these things for adults, for kids, for rich people, or middle class or poor people or like, I don't build them for specific people.

I build them so that they can be interacted with or enjoyed by everybody.

Her tangled self is very just.

It's just good.

Makes people think.

But in high school, I had this mindset that art wasn't like what you go to school for?

I'm selling my art for a living.

I'm doing pop up art shows like I'm literally doing this.

Why wouldn't I go to school for it?

So I think the signs are always there, but I think it took me taking that 3D art class and that art history class to realize like, oh dude, you're doing this, like, and this is everything that you love in school.

Art history is psychology, sociology, anatomy, theology.

It's like all these things and history.

I loved all of it.

And and philosophy, it's like all in one.

This is what you want to do.

You're already doing it.

She's my idol.

Really she is.

I'm very proud of her.

If people like come in, then they're like, oh, I'm so inspired by like, you're immersive.

Like I'm going to go home and like, do something in my art or like the art here.

Just made me want to go home and paint.

It's like, that's amazing.

So if we can inspire you to create in any capacity because it is a very healing thing if you let it be.

That that's amazing.

Conceptual.

I hope that people come in and know that if they are feeling some of these like negative feelings, that they're not alone, and then maybe like icing on the cake, they feel like they are worthy or enough or resilient or any of that, or loved or any of those things that can just like maybe they needed to hear that, and then they leave feeling like they did.

When you can do something you love and hopefully make living at it, that's success.

the Tangled Self exhibit is open right now at the Denver Art Museum and runs through September 9th.

For more information, visit Denver Art museum.org and for more information on Katie and her work, you can go to her website at spectra Art, Space.com.

As you have seen here on studio 12.

We've featured a lot of great gardening segments with our Denver Urban Gardens, or Dug, as they're called for short.

They are one of the largest independent networks of food producing gardens in the country.

They have 200 community gardens and food forests across seven counties in metro Denver.

And as we discovered in our storytelling, Doug is much more than just gardens.

Take a look.

Hi, my name is Judy Elliott.

I'm director of Compost and Garden education with Denver Urban Garden.

So Denver Urban Gardens, we are one of the largest nonprofit, independent community garden organizations in the US.

We started in the late 70s, unofficially, with one garden in northwest Denver.

And in that garden, our garden leader met a group of young women who had come from their country saying, isn't there a place in Denver where we can recreate our cultural traditions of food and heritage and connection to family?

So the garden leader said, I don't know.

Let me go talk to the person in the church right there.

So the garden leader talked to the person in the church who said, absolutely lutely.

We'll donate this plot of land and make it a community garden.

So today we are at our Grove Community Garden, which is a community garden.

And it's also our citywide composting demonstration site.

We are right off of Colorado Boulevard and 13th be right next to, you know, and a lot, which is actually owned by National Jewish Hospital.

It is very urban.

It is very loud.

When we teach compost classes, we have microphones to drown out the noise.

Here I've got all my peppers for the season.

Fresno, Shishito.

Some Greek chamomile, which is a Thai pepper.

So gardens?

Absolutely are important for food access.

They're also important.

Many of our gardens are on land in the inner city.

That has very little in the way of a tree canopy canopy on heat islands where grocery stores are not available.

Yes, you're such a good mind.

From our start in 1970 with four gardens, we now have almost 200 gardens, 20 food forests, many, many education programs.

And we're proud that of those 200 gardens that we had, only four of the gardens we no longer have.

So that's a pretty good testament to what we're doing for sustainability and resilience.

Our gardens are always managed by volunteer garden leaders, so nobody is prohibited from growing.

If they don't have the funds to rent a plant, they operate on a pay what you can basis.

I'm never done.

I mean, I do plants like printers and thing at home, but I'm never planted vegetables.

I think what distinguishes them from backyard gardens is that you or I might have in our home.

Is that their way of joining cultures?

So I gather you're not, a fan of the how bananas.

Very interactive.

Hey, I've got a new pepper.

Do you want to try it?

I've got new tomato type one.

Try it.

Whether they are in under-resourced communities or whether they are in the community.

So a little bit more resource.

They bring people together with from different cultural traditions, different growing styles, people who might not in everyday life know of each other and know of their strengths.

So they're a way of joining community.

We're lucky in this community garden because we have a really tight knit group.

And I really like it now.

It's just a nice little plot, and I've met a lot of people.

So this garden got me through Covid.

Actually, I joined in 2020 when everybody was stuck inside and I was going stir crazy and I joined the garden.

And I found my people.

I don't usually join a lot of things, but this has been kind of nice for me because I like to see things grow and watch them.

I get a little anxious, like, hurry up and grow.

But, you know, it's been fun to watch things.

So I like to think that that we don't just provide the space, but we're there to adapt our resources and our trainings to what community we need.

Definitely to share and to have a sense of community outside.

I think over the winter, people are, you know, tired of being inside.

They want to get out in nature.

I love the way you've planted things like corners.

All the gardeners share what they know about weeds and what works and what doesn't.

Teaching the skills for people to grow their own food.

So we're not providing food.

We are helping with food, access plants and then teaching people how to grow those.

To learn more about Denver Urban Gardens and how to start your own compost bins, visit Doug Talk.

We close tonight with sounds on 29th featuring Jess Parsons, as she evokes the classic singers and songwriters of the 70s while bringing her heartfelt lyrics, rich melodies and folk inspired storytelling to Denver's Globe Hall.

Thank you for joining us for this episode of studio 12.

Follow us on social media and catch more stories on YouTube.

We'll see you right here next Tuesday at 8:00 on PBS 12.

I'm Ryan Hare.

Have a great week.

Boo boo boo boo.

You boo boo boo.

You.

Don't you know I've waited a long time.

But you know.

Just fall by the wayside.

Don't you know I've waited a long time for this?

Can't you see the fruits in the season's not to say things you want to hear.

Can't you see the fruits in the season's?

My dear?

There's no holding on to what they say.

Words do work way.

You can grab them tighter as you come.

But sometimes just wasting time.

Don't you know the truth is a landslide.

Ride.

It all be taken by surprise.

Don't you know the truth is a landslide.

Maybe.

There's a hold on to what they say.

Words don't work that way.

You can grab it tighter as you can.

But sometimes just waste time.

There's no holding on to what they say.

Words don't work that way.

You can grab them tighter as you can't sit tight.

Just wasted time.

Sometimes just wasting time.

You woo hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo!

You.

So, in the process of you, you're saying that you found, like, a second family here?

What kind of venues would have been then?

Like your second home?

Like, what were the places that you really connected with?

Yeah, I feel like, you know, in a few of the projects that I've played and like, especially we spent I mean, in my list of two, it's like a ton of time at the high dive, like so much time and then, syntaxes and around anymore.

But, Jonathan always did such a beautiful job.

He had meadowlark first and way back in the day, I used to go to open mics there.

And then, you know, years later when Anson decks, you know, he would just book you whenever you needed a show.

It was like it took such good care of you and helped you promote it.

And it was, you know, always such a great experience.

Also, what place would you go to?

Did you have any special connections with going and seeing shows at places?

Were there any venues that were special in that regard?

Or like were you hanging out high dive for years when like, I mean, this is throwing it way back, but like when Ben used to put it there, he brought in some like killer indie like people that like, he would just go and, you know, it was the kind of place where you would, like, actually check the calendar for, like, who's like, even if you didn't know them, you would, like, look and just go check things out.

And it was I feel like some amazing shows I saw there back when I was a very young musician, you know, very malleable.

And, it was it was cool.

Do you think that played a big role in you feeling like you like.

Well, as far as your artistic development, being able to have someone like that?

Yeah.

I mean, I grew up in a really, really small town, so I didn't see really.

I mean, live music consisted of church.

That was it.

And so as soon as I got here, I just I couldn't get enough of it.

I just felt like I had to take in as much.

Just a sponge.

I was, I like, needed to see it.

It's.

Which town was that?

It's called it's liberal.

Kansas.

It's like the southwest corner of Kansas.

I grew up there.

My family, most of them are still there.

How big is it?

Oh, like 15,000.

It's a tiny town, but, yeah, it's in the middle of nowhere.

It is nothing.

It's not like close to anything else.

It's like out there, all of the day are falling away.

And like.

Why?

I'm picking up pieces of a love that live for me in kind.

In running for myself.

It seems like I've traveled so far.

But running of circles.

And you seem to forget where you are.

Say what you want.

That's what you need.

Loving so much.

It's no guarantee.

To say what you want.

That's what you need.

Loving so much.

It's no guarantee I love, I love.

I found myself searching for answers I already know.

Retracing steps is much easier than making your own.

Acknowledging my scars.

So much of me wants to deny.

Me.

For all the better ones you are creating I smile.

I say what you want.

If that's what you need.

Loving so much is no guarantee.

But say what you want.

That's what you need.

Loving so much is no guarantee.

But say what you want.

That's what you need.

Love, love.

Loving so much stone.

Guarantee.

Say what you want.

That's what you need.

Love is so much so differently.

Love you.

I you you.

You you.

I.

Need.

You.

Thank you.