Cuin, David
David Cuin
1942 -
Originally from Warwickshire, England, David travelled to the US on business, consulting on synthetic running tracks and artificial turf fields. In this country, his clients included such names as Yale, Princeton, Georgia Tech, Fordham, and the University of Maine. During his travels he met a woman conducting training for AT&T; Danna would not only become a factor in his decision to move to the States in about 1981 but would also become his second wife.
While science had dominated his life up until then – art had never played a role – David found himself being drawn to galleries, attracted in particular to watercolors. In the mid-'80s he began taking watercolor classes in New Jersey, using his eye for perspective and his attention to detail to successfully capture the nuances of color and structural design that inhibit many other artists.
After their move to Evergreen in 1992, Danna became interested in creating with stained glass. They would later team up to produce art objects from fused glass. In retirement, the two devoted a great deal of time to perfecting their skills in what had started out as hobbies and were able to market their works to the public through as many as 13 galleries at one time.
With annual trips back to England, he returned in 1999 with the idea patterned after Oxford Art Weeks, a tour of artists' studios that gave participants a glimpse of what it takes to produce a piece of art. The Oxford event was quite large, encompassing various districts of the city being featured on a rolling schedule over a period of weeks.
Open Door Studios would spring forth from that idea.
Working with Kate Loomiller and Pat Morrow, David coordinated the first tour of about 20 artists' studios in the Evergreen area, encouraging demonstrations of works in progress and interaction with art enthusiasts who wanted to know more about the process. With a garage transformed into a workshop for firing glass and a room devoted to painting, one stop on the tour produced two very talented artists.
Kate Loomiller would become the official coordinator for the next eight or so years, giving it firm footing. The success of Open Door Studios is based on the mechanics and effective signage that is put up and removed in a timely fashion, says David. The popular event occurs each fall in September. It's a success if "it serves a function in the community and people find it worthwhile," he comments modestly.
David's other contributions to the community include serving on the board of the Evergreen Artists Association for nine years, two as president (1999-2000), during which time he was effective in boosting membership approximately 150%. He was also influential in starting art classes in Evergreen (prior to an art center) "anywhere we could that was free." A place to teach had long been an issue, a need which Center for the Arts Evergreen now meets in large part.
He was invited to serve on the first Master Planning Committee for Buchanan Park in about 2000.
David has been a thoughtful advocate of the concept of an arts center. He assisted in the founding of Center for the Arts Evergreen and has been an instructor there ever since. He served on the Evergreen Arts Council Board as well as the Art Center Advisory Board in the early days, being a resource on the subjects of exhibitions and jurying.
He has been teaching watercolor and fused glass since 2000 and began teaching one-day workshops on watercolor at the Foothills Art Center in Golden in 2011.
He volunteered his time as artist-in-residence for Ann Simpson's 8th grade classes at Evergreen Middle School, working with the teacher and students to produce glass projects and later teaching linear perspective.
David's soft-spoken and gentlemanly demeanor, coupled with his willingness to seriously contribute with a much-needed businesslike approach have made him an effective part of this community in myriad ways.
Source: David Cuin
