Sue Wright

As a child, Sue Wright was the sort of girl who preferred baseball to piano. Growing up in a suburb of Chicago, when there were still traveling art teachers, she loved drawing pyramids in art class.

As she grew older, Sue kept her love for baseball and travel, while her interest in art developed into a love of photography, ceramics, and, more recently, card making.

“They make great hostess gifts instead of bringing wine,” Sue said. “I could sit all day and do cards.”

Sue is one of the front desk volunteers and an important part of helping the Durango Arts Center keep its doors open. She answers the phone, greets visitors and helps customers in the gallery—and she loves every minute of it.

“It’s just a really fun job,” said Sue. “I’ve always enjoyed it here, and I love greeting people.”

Sue moved to Durango with her late husband in 1994. One of their daughters had moved to the area—Sue and her husband had had three children, which included twins—and they had visited her and loved the area. Before their retirement, they owned a travel agency, which they had begun in Nashville. After three years, they sold their company and moved to Silver Spring, Maryland, which is right outside of Washington, DC. They operated another travel agency for an additional 28 years.

“That was really where I got my first love of working in an atmosphere I really enjoyed. You exude happiness and people want to deal with you,” said Sue. “Every day it was a lot of fun.”

She has kept the same attitude in regards to her job at the arts center. Soon after she moved here, she discovered the arts center, and she’s volunteered at the arts center ever since, with a brief break of two years to volunteer at the old location of Mercy Regional Medical Center.

As to why she volunteers, Sue’s answer was simple: “I’ve always loved the arts. I’ve always done artwork.” She added, “I think when you grow up with art, it continues through your life.”

She said that she enjoys the job the most when she’s busy. “The busier the better,” said Sue. “I really love it and I love to see the arts show. It’s just a really fun job.”

She also enjoys working the arts center staff. “They’re friendly people to work with,” she said. “I’ve really enjoyed that. They’re just a good bunch.”

She said that Jeannie Berger, who coordinates the volunteers, puts together a great volunteer celebration as a thank-you to all the volunteers. “She appreciates all of us and what we do. I just enjoy coming here in the morning. I think it’s wonderful to have this in Durango,” said Sue. “It’s a good arts center. We have wonderful galleries here, but this is the arts center.”

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