Art activist urged others ‘to let their artistic side shine'

He was always there. At nearly every art opening in the city for 15 years was a figure wearing black and a bemused smile.

Gerry Riggs - who committed suicide Sunday at age 57 at his Pagosa Springs home - was a champion of art and artists. His official position was the director of the Gallery of Contemporary Art at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs until he retired in 2006. But friends and colleagues say his greatest contribution was using the weight of the institution to function as the connective tissue of the art community.

"Gerry had more impact in the arts in Colorado Springs probably than anyone in the past 25 years," said Rodney Wood, longtime local artist, gallery owner and director of the Business of Art Center in Manitou Springs. "Gerry was the guy. He knew everyone in the art community. He was a community art activist."

He presented high-quality shows that challenged other gallery curators. He promoted thought-provoking fare that challenged the community, such as the piece in the 1995 "Old Glory" show that invited viewers to stand on the flag. And he made space for up-and-coming local artists, giving them hope in what was a barren landscape for homegrown art.

"He encouraged all sorts of people, myself included, to let their artistic side shine," said fellow art activist Tom McElroy. "He was a great supporter of everybody else's stuff. Nobody made an effort to be as inclusive as Gerry was."

That's what many remember - unwavering support, tempered by unfailing aesthetic discernment.

"He was a tireless advocate for contemporary art," said former Gazette arts writer Mark Arnest. "He really did make the Gallery of Contemporary Art into a center of local arts. It was the most reliable place in town to see great art that you hadn't already seen."

Wood called himself, Riggs and McElroy the Three Curmudgeons. Riggs was an irascible, outspoken personality, whose opinion was valued because he was so frank. He was a restless spirit and an enemy of complacency.

"He was a force," said artist Sean O'Meallie. "Sometimes you couldn't quite wrangle him or calm him down. His brain would just be popping. He had a drive that nobody could match, but most people I know liked to be in the wake of."

When Riggs took over the Gallery of Contemporary Art in 1992, he developed one of the few places in Colorado Springs for contemporary art. O'Meallie was one of many artists who benefited from Riggs' vision, getting exposure in his gallery on his rise to prominence.

Riggs' tendrils spread out from his gallery - he was, for example, on the secret jury of the Art on the Streets program for years, a member of the trouble-making Art Police, and on the board of the Fine Arts Center.

"He was one of the vocal few who believed in the power of art, and in Colorado Springs, Gerry was not preaching to the choir," Wood said. "It was his duty, but art is also Gerry's passion."

But art wasn't his only passion.

When Riggs retired, he was the envy of many of his friends, moving to Pagosa Springs to ski 150 days a year and play drums in a band. But last year he suffered a serious crash on the slopes, and he'd been unable to pursue either of those loves. Riggs was treated for depression.

"Gerry's reason to live was to ski hard and fast, and he was facing the likelihood of never being able to ski like that again," O'Meallie said. "He also recently lost his father, who he adored."

Riggs was the last surviving member of his immediate family. Friends and family are planning a local service to honor Riggs, but details are pending.

This time, it will be everyone else's turn to be there for him, wear black, and witness the web of people he connected.

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CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0226 or bill.reed@gazette.com