NOON — About

History

In 2016, a group of artists established NOON in Saguache, Colorado. It's first facility, The Range, is in the nationally landmarked Gotthelf and Mayer Mercantile Warehouse historic adobe building, constructed from 1878 to 1893.

NOON was named for the time on the geological clock where the past becomes the future.

Vision and Values

NOON envisions a vibrant San Luis Valley supported by ample arts and culture programs for youth and adults, with in-depth opportunities for community members and visitors to exchange ideas, stories, and creative practices. NOON is working towards a state-of-the-art San Luis Valley exhibitions and archives facility, with collaboration between regional cultural centers for local resource stewardship.

NOON values diverse, free programming, and compensation for educators that honors their experience and talent. NOON supports artists of all ages and abilities. NOON prioritizes preservation of San Luis Valley art and cultural archives. NOON is building regional capacity for geographically isolated small rural communities to work together, and for collaboration with artists, writers, organizers, schools, senior centers, libraries, and museums. NOON upholds high standards for professional care of artists, artworks, and communities.

People

Staff

Adrienne Garbini (she/her)

Executive Director

Adrienne Garbini is an artist, writer, curator, researcher, and organizer living in Saguache. She's a founding board member of NOON and a coordinator of the San Luis Valley Colcha Embroidery Project and The Range. Adrienne is the Chair of the Town of Saguache Historic Preservation Commission, and a board member for the Saguache Child Care Council. She has more than twenty years of curatorial, organizational, and teaching experience working with all ages of artists. She became NOON's first Executive Director in 2025.

Trent Segura (he/him/él)

Programs Manager

Trent Segura is an artist, researcher, and writer based in Denver and Saguache, Colorado. Trent coordinates the San Luis Valley Colcha Embroidery Project and NOON programs. Trent came to colcha embroidery through his great aunt Tiva Trujillo who lived and worked in Saguache. He is a member of the contemporary art collective M12 Studio.

Teaching Artists

NOON works with teaching artists from across the San Luis Valley region and nationally, including artists Maria Eufemia Barela, Belinda Garcia, Patsy Garcia, Donna Madrid Hernandez, Aurora Martinez, Julia Mondragon, Sandra Ortega, and Susan Walanski.

San Luis Valley Colcha Embroidery Project
Board of Advisors

Katie Dokson (she/her/ella)

Katie Dokson is a 7^th generation ranching family in the SLV of Colorado and 17^th generation to northern New Mexico. Dokson is an artist and author, and currently the SLV Community Engagement Manager for History Colorado. Dokson has worked in preservation, production, research and outreach for the Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area for a decade. Her volunteer work includes the Maestas Case Commemoration Committee, La Sociedad Protección Mutua de Trabajadores Unidos (SPMDTU), Visit Alamosa Destination Development Committee, and the San Luis Valley Rural Journalism Institute.

Mimi Madrid (she/they/he)

Mimi Madrid, Fortaleza Familiar Executive Director and Co-Founder, is a detribalized Indigiqueer Mexican Xicanx media creator, writer, and organizer with over a decade of experience uplifting communities in Denver, Colorado. A passionate collaborator centering youth, families, and reproductive justice, Mimi has developed and led impactful organizations, programs, events, and curricula centering LGBTQ+ folks, Indigenous youth, survivors of violence, and immigrant families. Their mixed-media and storytelling expertise—spanning video, assemblage, installation, graphic design, and campaign-building—has amplified missions of justice, health, and community well-being.

Donna Madrid Hernandez (she/her/ella)

Donna Madrid Hernandez is a San Luis artist that began her colcha embroidery work in 2007 through a workshop with NEA Heritage Fellow Josephine Lobato. She is a native of the town of San Luis, the oldest town in Colorado. She teaches colcha embroidery to all ages and coordinates a monthly stitching group in San Luis. She is a Sociedad Protección Mutua de Trabajadores Unidos (SPMDTU) member.

Board of Directors

Penny Bruce (she/her)

Penny Bruce is an experienced organizer, storyteller, seamstress, educator, and retired librarian who specialized in children’s programming in her career. She has lived in Saguache, Colorado since 1993.

Alex DeCarli (he/him)

Alex DeCarli is an artist, curator, carpenter, and builder living in Saguache. He is a Town of Saguache Trustee. He is the founder of the record label Stone Poem. He has 15 years of experience in art installation and fabrication.

Adrienne Garbini (she/her), Ex-Officio

Alexandra Lane (she/her)

Alexandra Lane is an artist based in Hudson Valley, New York. Prior roles include Assistant Director of Development and Administration at SculptureCenter in New York and Studio Manager of the Oldenburg/van Bruggen Studio.

Theodore Kennedy (he/him)

Theodore Kennedy is an artist and project manager based in Michigan and New York. He has previously served on the boards of the Ann Arbor Film Festival and UnionDocs, and currently serves on the board of directors of the Flaherty Film Seminar as treasurer.

Marisa Williamson (she/her)

Marisa Williamson is a project-based artist who works in video, image-making, installation and performance around themes of history, race, feminism, and technology. She is an Assistant Professor of Visual Art at the University of Virginia with a research focus on Blackness. She also serves on the board of New City Arts, a non-profit community arts organization supporting Charlottesville-area artists.