‹‹ Colorado Matters

March 18, 2026: The state of friendship in the US; Breaking the ‘starving artist’ stereotype

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A woman in a jacket stands with her arms stretched out, in front of three large scrapmetal statues of bighorn sheep.
Courtesy: Shanachie Carroll
Fruita sculptor Pavia Justinian stands in front of the public art she was commissioned to create at the Redlands Roundabout in Grand Junction

There’s a loneliness epidemic. Yet the vast majority of people report having a friend. What gives?! We ask friendship expert Natalie Pennington, assistant professor at Colorado State University and co-founder of the American Friendship Project. Then, families of children with developmental disabilities brace for state budget cuts. Also, Western Slope artist Pavia Justinian on life as a professional artist ten years and counting. And a gift of bison with deep cultural and historical significance.