The Modbo presents September’s First Friday: “Tooth & Nail,” new work by Ashley Urban.  An L.A.-based artist, Urban’s show will feature a panoply of media, from drawings and paintings to wearable art, replete with an element of installation.  The opening reception is from 5:00 pm until midnight on Friday, September 7th. The show runs through Friday, September 28th. The Modbo is located in the Arts Alley in downtown Colorado Springs at 17C E. Bijou. Find the stretch of Bijou that is between Cascade and Tejon, and go south down the alley. Street parking is available, but The Modbo recommends the lot on Cascade just north of Bijou, which is only  $1 after 3 pm. The Modbo can be reached at themodbo@gmail.com, themodbo.com, or 633-4240. ‘Tooth & Nail’: This body of work is an homage to the ways in which the artist has learned to cope with, heal from, and grow gracefully from the traumatic events of her life and the human experience of misery which she used to believe defined her. Learning to transform out of an existence that felt hopeless, victimized, pessimistic, self loathing, and damaged beyond repair, she has fought tooth and nail to develop a deeply intentional moral philosophy; that pain and creativity can be used as a fuel to feed the flames of healing and higher being. The philosophy of ‘Tooth & Nail’ also concludes that we must acknowledge and accept the beasts that are our inner sufferings. However, it is necessary to diligently tame them with ravenous creative expression, appreciation for nature, the pursuit of knowledge, forgiveness, gratitude, integrity, respect and empathy, the endeavor to inspire others, fierce exploration of the unknown outside of and within our own psyches, the release of ego, and sharp focus on the discipline of continually growing rather than living in fear. Ultimately, this starts with finding and holding onto love and tenderness for one’s self. Mother nature and the natural order of the world is vicious. And even more...