WARD — From marriage to business, partnerships vary in life, but one duo has been collaborating in art as well as matrimony for over 45 years.
Heidi Kummli and Gregg Tarantino, owners of Heidi Kummli Designs & American West Design Co., are not a gallery, but a married couple who make art for a living. Their work is inspired by many aspects of their lives, including nature and history.
In addition to her pastel paintings, Kummli creates beaded jewelry and mixed-media art. She also enjoys incorporating unexpected materials into her work, many examples of which can be found throughout the studio.
From handcrafted furniture and shrines to crosses and one-of-a-kind creations, Tarantino's woodworking reflects a passion for craftsmanship and creativity.
Kummli and Tarantino are award-winning artists, with Tarantino recently winning first place for his wooden carved chest at the Gilpin County Arts Association show.
Living off the grid on 14 acres surrounded by national forest with two dogs and the animals they call “neighbors,” and making art every day allows them to show their work in their home studio.
Today, they continue collaborating on a few pieces where “beads meet wood.”
Heidi Kummli Designs & American West Design Co. is at 274 Bigbee High Road, Ward. You can call them at 303-589-5985 or learn more by visiting heidikummlidesigns.com and americanwestdesignco.com. You can find them on Facebook at facebook.com/profile.php?id=100049647312998 and facebook.com/profile.php?id=61587801540370.
