Tellurado Studio Art by Markus Pierson - A Tale of Lone Coyotes

Tellurado

By Markus Pierson -

2024

Limited / Special Editions available in 3 sizes

“The dream train advances across the night sky, faithfully sending wayward dreamers back toward their stated intentions. The train’s conductor knows this journey well, for while many choose to dream, few choose to stay the course. When morning comes he’ll likely see his passengers go astray all over again. This, he knows. He’s seen it all before, as has the moon, whose momentary distraction will be just that. His thoughts are centered on a particular coyote, one he nicknamed “The Night Wanderer.” To the Moon, The Night Wanderer seems very different tonight. At last, he seems “Fulltented” – But I’m getting ahead of myself.

For many moons now The Night Wanderer has trekked through the Rockies. His only intended destination being wisdom, his only fear being coming up short of that destination. He chooses to wander alone and at night for the same reasons you and I might; namely, that the niggling naggings and platitudinous protestations so common in crowds and cities these days only made him more of a stranger to himself, making his destination ever more elusive. Even riding along on The Dream Train, with it’s optimistic vibe and hopeful chatter, proved to be too distracting for him. So, off went, a lone coyote on a lonely journey.

A mental hike is much like a physical one, in that having an efficient stride is essential. It was for this reason that he first began to ‘Pare Down’ his vocabulary by turning two, or even three, words into one. At first, the combinations were simple and obvious: Back and Forth became “Barth”; Climb and Descend became “Clescend”; Over and Over Again became simply “O’gain.” He both liked and disliked the effect this ‘Paring Down’ had, for while he enjoyed the open space he now had in his mind, he also noticed there was something missing. Something big.

He continued paring down words. Change and Opportunity became “Chapportunity”; Time, Effect, and Energy became “Tifforgy”; Peace, Calm, and Tranquility became “Pelmquility”; Kindness and Sincerity became “Kincerity”; Community and Home became “Comme”; and Contentment and Fullfillment became the word I used a variation of earlier, “Fulltentment.”

With these new tools, he pursued wisdom with increasing vigor. He spoke his thoughts aloud and with conviction as he hiked mile after mile through the darkness, his only audience the Moon, until one night when he finally reached his destination. He was leaving a town he’d spent a few of the best days of his life in, but as he ascended up, he stopped, looked back, and realized he was just too wise now to simply be on his way.

He knew he would never stop wandering completely, for after all, his travels had led him to himself, but neither would he ever truly leave that little town in the canyon, for it had filled the empty place inside him. At last, he’d arrived at his final destination: Wisdom. For those of us who’ve also traveled this trek and known this feeling, I’ll use the Night Wanderer’s words to say this:

May barth we go, clescending O’gain, to the comme we’ve found, wasting no chapportunity and expending whatever tifforgy required, to drink in the pelmquility and kincerity of the place that finds and fills what’s been missing inside us; a place The Night Wanderer predictably named, “TELLURADO.”

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The Cast

Coyote Series Artis Markus Pierson and TELLURADO owner Mitch Schwenke throwing up the signature “Viceroy Victory” pose celebrating a beauty of a day while playing Creekside in the northern Maine backyard of Markus Pierson. TELLURADO STUDIO, a cozy refuge in its 3rd year, offers up exclusively the Fine Art of the “Coyote Series”, cool logoed outdoor provisions and excellent Craft Cocktails. A place to hideout, hang your hat and throwback one of our famous Oakwood Smoked “Old Fashioned” while taking in the tales of reckless footloose souls, crazy romance and philosophy by Coyote Series Artist Markus Pierson.

Markus Pierson

The Artist

The Coyote Series, inspired by the Joni Mitchell song Coyote, was created by Michigan native Markus Pierson in 1986. Markus is much more than just the creator; after 36 years he has become the muse and inspiration for thousands of dreamers, adventurers and romancers. And not necessarily in that order.

After a near-fatal bout with Crohn’s Disease, Markus dove in hard, painting billboards by day for a living and working into the night on his “Coyotes.” To the wall above his desk he taped these words, “No one works this hard and this smart – and has it come to nothing.” Within a year, he walked out of Artexpo in NYC with commitments from 110 art galleries across the country.

Today you could find Markus spending time with his wife Sher and their 4 dogs at the “Optimism Farm” in Maine. Painting, writing or a brisk workout on his motocross track, his days are happy and his “Cup of Gratitude” full.

Mitch Schwenke

The Proprietor

Owner, operator, bartender, cook and chief bottle washer, Mitch, the Viceroy of all the worlds dreamers, had been dreaming of setting up shop in this gorgeous ol’ mining town for several years. Those dreams and the bountiful journey to get here became reality in the fall of 2020. Chances are you’ll catch him in shorts, a ballcap and his Harley parked out front but don’t let that fool you. As a four-decade restaurateur by trade, he has just enough experience to be dangerous and pull this off … or pull the wool over your eyes. He also owns the Blue Coyote Supper Club in Ft. Myers, Fl. going on 21 years.

Alex Avedikian

The Utility Player

What happens when you toss 3 parts designer, one part shady bartender and a smidgeon of bathroom attendant in a gunny sack? Well that would be Alex … aka “Alvin.” When he’s not humping at his Graphic Design and Web firm in Minneapolis or shoeing some old horse on his farm in southern Minnesota, ya might find him torching a “Smokey” at the bar, tightening up the next piece of “Swag” or cursing the aptly named POS system at the studio. He doesn’t grace us with his presence nearly enough, but when he does you have two choices … either run for the hills or tighten up your laces for the wild ride. Let it go Baby!

Sarah and Kyle

Kyle and Sarah

Mixologists and Host Extraordinaires

Kyle and Sarah, hailing from complete opposite corners of the Universe, vastly different brain washings and a tad bit o’ contrast in lifetime throwdowns, offer up watered-down libations, a few white lies and plenty of verbal abuse. Naaah, just jivin! A pair of the towns best… twisting up country club pours, sneaky inside Telluride knowledge and smiles from ear to ear. Are ya here yet?

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