Over the past 43 years, artist Charles Collins has distinguished himself by becoming the most awarded artist in the history of the Taos Fall Arts Festival; being officially claimed by Millicent Rogers Museum as a “Taos Master,” and selected as the inaugural exhibition artist for the Guthrie Center in Massachusetts, which culminated in a prestigious show at the museum of New Mexico’s Governor’s Gallery. At the Governor’s Gallery opening, he was further honored by then Governor Gary Johnson, who issued a proclamation declaring that August 6th be “Charles Collins Day” in New Mexico.