Over 200 miles from Denver, past the RMCAD campus, through the foothills, over the Rocky Mountains, and onto Colorado’s western slope lies the charming community of Hotchkiss. This small mountain town of about 900 people, nestled within the North Fork Valley, is a thriving hub for creativity, thanks in no small part to one local organization.
The Creamery Arts Center resides in downtown Hotchkiss, inside the town’s old dairy-processing building, from which it takes its name. Since 2006, the non-profit community arts organization has served as a hub for artists, travellers, and residents alike. Their offerings include adult and children’s art classes, along with engaging exhibitions for the community. While dozens, if not hundreds, of people are responsible for the Creamery’s success over the past 20 years, one name in particular is taking the organization in an exciting and new direction!
Melanie Hoshiko, Executive Director of the Creamery Arts Center and RMCAD alumna, says, “This is a place where relationships matter, and community thrives.” According to her, the center’s success as a creative hub in the North Fork Valley is not despite Hotchkiss’ small size but because of it.
“We’re rural, and we’ve got a different vibe than the city.” As an artist and program manager, Hoshiko views the Creamery not just as a place where art blooms, but where relationships flourish.
Reflecting on RMCAD
Throughout her career, Hoshiko’s devotion to her relationships is not only clear but is the fire that keeps her engine moving. The relationship between mentor and artist, the relationship between artist and artwork, the relationship between artwork and audience, and perhaps the most important, the audience’s relationship with themselves. As such, she enrolled at RMCAD in 1994 to study Fine Arts and quickly began making meaningful connections and exploring the boundaries of different media. Every day, her confidence grew as she worked closely with her highly influential faculty mentors.
Hoskiko credits two educators in particular with making a lasting impact on her style and philosophy: Clark Richert and Charles Parson. She shares that these educators “really took us under their wing. Which meant everything to me.” As her faculty mentors offered guidance, Hoshiko came into her creative voice more and more.
Every experience was an experiment. The more she tested her limits, the more she learned. “Charles Parson used to take us out dumpster diving for metal scraps and stuff to weld. He was the one who encouraged me to try things like using a chainsaw!”
Through these relationships, Hoshiko wasn’t just learning what it means to be an artist but also what it means to be a role model. In 1998, she graduated from RMCAD. Always an engaged and exemplary student, she even served as her class’s Valedictorian. “Those were some of the best days of my life, going to school at RMCAD and getting to work closely with the professors,” Hoshiko reflects.
Beyond Graduation
As a working professional, she went on to become an exciting artist on the local Denver scene. In 2000, Westword Magazine recognized her show, “Traverse” in its “Best of Denver” selection as the Best Solo Sculpture Show, Emerging Artist. Her name grew in the Denver art community during the early 2000s as she exhibited work at The Arvada Center and the Denver Museum of Contemporary Art, but that was only half her journey.
Reflecting on the power that strong mentorship had on her life, Hoshiko decided to take some time off from her full-time art career and focus on giving back to the community as a Youth Treatment Counselor. Stepping away from art for the time being wasn’t easy, but Hoshiko knew she wanted to aid children and pass on the gift of a strong mentor, saying, “It’s always been in my heart to be a public servant because I love community.”
Years passed, and Hoshiko’s life continued to change. When the last of her children moved out of the house, and she and her husband became empty nesters, she knew it was time for another change. The couple began exploring all over Colorado for a new community to call home, and then they found the charming hamlet of Hotchkiss.
“I’d never been out here before. We went to visit, and I was amazed. I loved the art, the outdoors, and all the beautiful peaches growing nearby. That’s the culture that I fell in love with!” Relocating to Delta County, she continued working in education at the Grand Mesa Choice Academy. Far from the hustle and bustle of city life, Hoshiko found new peace in the serene landscapes of Colorado’s Western slope.
Heading West
In Hotchkiss, inspiration struck Hoshiko once more, but not all at once. Getting involved with the North Fork Valley Chamber of Commerce connected her more deeply with the community, which soon led her to the Creamery Arts Center. Seeing the creative hub that the center served inspired her, so in early 2025, she agreed to join the Creamery’s board.
But, as Hoshiko will tell you, “There are so many different artists here doing so many different things, you just get ideas,” and so she began to create again. After all this time, it was the same drive to give back to the community that had once prompted her to set aside the arts that now motivated her to return to her craft!
Nervous that she was rusty, because she “took way too long of a time off from making art,” Hoshiko decided to shake the cobwebs off by trying something new. Jumping into photography, she could feel the start of a new creative era. “Being around all the artists here in the North Fork Valley really helped me to get started again. Since it has been a while, my art has evolved. I’ve changed. So my art has changed.”
Taking Charge
As a board member, Hoshiko was a driving force behind the Creamery’s major transformation. She strongly advocated for clearing out years of accumulated artwork—helping the board come to a shared decision to return pieces to their original artists and make space for new voices in the gallery. Working tirelessly alongside fellow board members, she contributed to the immense hands-on effort required to deep clean and repaint the nearly 9,000-square-foot space—an ambitious undertaking that resulted in a fresh, welcoming environment for the community.
That was only the beginning. With the support of her fellow board members, the Creamery became the spark for something new and energizing in Hotchkiss. In partnership with the Creative Coalition, Hoshiko and others helped launch the Hotchkiss Art Walk, bringing local businesses together and turning the downtown corridor into a vibrant, collaborative arts experience.
What began as a single initiative quickly gained momentum, as more businesses joined in—creating fresh energy, increased visibility, and a shared sense of excitement throughout the heart of Hotchkiss.
Already so deeply involved in the day-to-day life of the Creamery that many in the community had assumed she was already in the role, her position became official in February 2026 when she was named Executive Director.
She describes the transition as “a natural one, because I had the time to build relationships with the artists and the people in the community.” In her role, she curates exhibitions that highlight local voices, organizes art classes for children and adults, and continues to foster a strong sense of community at the Creamery.
Thinking Locally
Doing big things starts with starting where you are. Whether you are creating one-of-a-kind pieces or forging new relationships, it helps to start locally. Melanie Hoshiko continues to do astounding work because of her love for her community. Even almost 30 years after graduating from RMCAD, she continues to grow and learn both personally and as an artist.
“What I love about this gallery is that we’re a community. We have artists at all levels. We have really successful artists, and we have artists here who have never shown [their work] before. So having the combination is great. There’s no snobbishness here. It’s just a feeling of mentorship!”
Explore Fine Arts at Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design
From designing lasting galleries to curating traveling exhibitions, there’s a lot to learn in the world of fine art. If you are interested in learning the art of curating and aspire to become an art curator, then you may want to consider a fine arts degree program that provides you with an extensive foundation in the arts.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design allows you to explore a variety of artistic media and discover the works of artists from around the world. This skills-based degree program will enable you to establish a foundation that you can build upon, giving you the skills and knowledge required to pursue art curation positions. Request more information about our degree programs today.
