Photographers salute Boulder’s open space →

 

By Tyra Sutak For the Camera

Posted:   03/02/2013 01:00:00 AM MST

 


This work by Milos Tomajko is among the images on display at “Lands Through the Lens.” (Courtesy photo)

If you goWhat: “Lands Through the Lens” photo exhibit in conjunction with Boulder County Parks & Open Space


When: Friday, March 8, through Friday, April 19. Opening reception 5-7 p.m. Friday, March 8

Where: The Dairy Center for the Arts, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder

Tickets: Photo exhibits are free

Info: 303-440-7826 or thedairy.org

Etc.: The Dairy also will offer three other photography exhibits and two films. The exhibits are “A Neurotic Erotic Alphabet” by Boulder’s Paula Sussman (Parents, it carries a PG-13 rating); “Sand & Snow: Inner Mongolia,” by 10 American photographers, and an “In-Focus Gallery” by Jim Steinberg, a Steamboat Springs-based travel and nature photographer.

The films are “Journal de France,” a self-portrait of photographer and filmmaker Raymond Depardon, and “Gregory Crewdson: Brief Encounters,” a documentary that offers unprecedented access to the photographer. There will be a discussion with a guest to be determined after “Journal de France” screens at 7 p.m. Wednesday. After “Gregory Crewdson” screens at 7 p.m. Thursday, local artist Angela Beloian and sibling filmmakers and still photographers Marco and Gonzago Corvo will lead a talk.

Boulder County is home to 97,000 acres of open space, much to the benefit of the athletic and outdoorsy crowd that calls the area home.

But it’s not just the thrill-seeking mountain bikers, the dedicated trail runners or the solitude-seeking hikers who routinely enjoy Boulder County’s bountiful open space land. BoCo’s art community is stepping outside the studio and hitting the trails to find creative inspiration and to immortalize the natural beauty of Colorado through their own eyes.

“We always hear a lot about the recreation community — mountain bikers and hikers — utilizing the open space, but there is another under-recognized group of open space lovers,” said Karen Imbierowicz, Boulder County Parks and Open Space partnership coordinator.

Through mid-April, Boulder County Parks and Open Space is teaming with The Dairy Center for the Arts to celebrate those outdoor-loving artists and National Photography Month by hosting an exhibit to showcase stunning photographs of the flora, fauna, farmlands, forests and residents of local county parks and open space land.

Nearly a year in the making, the “Land Through the Lens” exhibit will run March 8 through April 19 and will feature work by nearly 60 amateur and professional photographers of all different ages.

“Over 400 photographs were submitted, and of those, 100 were chosen,” Imbierowicz said. “There are a lot of landscape photos, but there are also some wildlife photos and some different types of artistic photos, as well.”

Photographs by 46 adults and 10 youth, chosen by Dairy Center photography jurors, will be on display in the nature-inspired exhibit. Five prizes will be given away in the adult category, including a People’s Choice award and a Commissioner’s Choice award along with three prizes for the top photographs entered in the youth category. All prize winners will be announced at the exhibit’s opening Friday. Along with the unveiling of the prize winners, opening night will feature light appetizers by Guillaume’s European Catering and desserts by Piece, Love & Chocolate. There will be an Artist Talk from 4 to 5 p.m., followed by the 5-7 p.m. reception.

All artwork will be for sale, and a portion of the profits will be donated to the Parks and Open Space’s sister organization, the Boulder County Parks and Open Space Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to creating opportunities for people to enjoy Boulder County’s open space.

RAW is spreading word of underground artists →



By Tyra Sutak For the Cameradailycamera.com


Posted:   02/22/2013 09:49:49 AM MST


February 22, 2013 4:59 PM GMTUpdated:   02/22/2013 09:58:54 AM MST

If you goWhat: “Discovery,” presented by Boulder RAW Artists

When: 6-10 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24

Where: Absinthe House, 1109 Walnut St., Boulder

Tickets: $10 in advance, $15 at the door

Info: rawartists.org/boulder

Etc.: This is an over-21 event. Happy-hour food and beverage pricing will be offered 6-7 p.m.

Artists run wild in the city of Boulder, whether they’re sculpting fascinating pieces out of metal as commissioned centerpieces for city parks, hanging one-of-a-kind fine-art prints and stunning photographs on the walls of art galleries and local coffee shops or putting on myriad art-centric events to celebrate and share the talent housed within the city.

To that end, the Boulder chapter of the RAW Natural Born Artists Organization is throwing one heck of a big art show Sunday at the Absinthe House in downtown Boulder to promote and elevate the careers of 30 promising underground artists working in the area.

This will be anything but a typical gallery show.

“There’s going to be performance, there’s going to be art, there’s going to be food, there’s going to be massage, there’s going to be a fashion show — there are a lot of different things going on,” said Giulia Pecone, RAW’s Boulder Showcase director.

Started in Los Angeles, RAW has become a strong voice for underground artists looking to build their portfolios and make connections with potential supporters and buyers of their work. In the four years since the organization’s inception, RAW has expanded in the United States and now has a presence in more than 50 cities, including Boulder and Denver.

“There are a lot of really good artists out there who deserve recognition,” Pecone said, “and RAW is trying to bring that opportunity to people that


This work, from Ryan Forbeck’s “Seven Deadly Sins” collection, is part of the artist’s debut at a RAW event. (Courtesy photo)

have really worked hard to get where they are.”

Pecone and her team work diligently year-round to produce exciting promotional events for emerging local artists. Held quarterly throughout the year, each Boulder RAW art show showcases about 30 artists whose submissions have been chosen by RAW.

Unlike the serious and calm atmosphere found at most art shows, a RAW event is high energy and includes everything from live DJs, to fashion design, to film, to performance art, to photographers and mixed-media artists interacting with the patrons. Live artists will take their scheduled turn in the spotlight throughout Sunday’s show, while photographs and work by fine artists will be displayed all evening.

“A lot of artists and a lot of great people that live in Boulder do artwork, and we really want to represent them in a way that is showing them off in a professional way but also a fun way,” Pecone said. “There’s never a dull moment when it comes to a RAW event.”

Plight of Burmese refugees inspires artist →

 


By Tyra Sutak For the Camera
Posted: 12/29/2012 01:00:00 AM MST

 

Carmen Melton s “Reflexion” will be among the works on display during the “Our Neighbors, Ourselves” multimedia exhibit in Denver. (Courtesy photo)
If you go

What: “Our Neighbors, Ourselves” multimedia art exhibit

Where: CORE New Art Space, 900 Santa Fe Drive, Denver

When: Friday, Jan. 4, through Sunday, Jan. 20; gallery hours: noon-6 p.m. Thursday and Saturday, noon-9 p.m. Friday, 1-4 p.m. Sunday

Info: 303-297-8428, corenewartspace.com, artdistrictonsantafe.com

Etc.: To learn more about Project Worthmore, visit projectworthmore.org

A fortuitous meeting with one family in her community compelled Carmen Melton, a Denver-based artist, to take a closer look at the people and individuals around her.

And what she discovered inspired her to organize “Our Neighbors, Ourselves,” a multimedia art exhibit. The exhibit, benefiting local nonprofit Project Worthmore, runs Friday through Jan. 20 at CORE New Art Space in Denver’s Art on Santa Fe District.

Melton was first introduced to Project Worthmore when she met the founders, Frank and Carolyn Anello, at her daughter’s school. Project Worthmore is dedicated to providing support for the more than 2,000 refugees from war-torn Burma now living in the Denver area, and the Anellos’ work inspired Melton to offer support of her own.

“I’ve always tried to find a way to do something with my work that was more far-reaching — a special impact kind of thing,” Melton said. “It struck me that this was this thing that I wanted to do.”

After meeting several Burmese refugees and families, Melton decided to transform her upcoming art exhibit at the CORE New Art Space to show images and portraits of the Burmese people that have become her friends and neighbors. Through her many nationwide connections in the art community, Melton was able to encourage more than 50 artists to donate work, all of it interpretations of images of the Burmese people. The art is based mostly on photography featured on the Project Worthmore website done by Steve Gumaer, co-founder of Partners Relief and Development, a registered charity also focused on assisting the people impacted by the war in Burma.

Melton said the artwork donated for the upcoming show has been inspiring and is some of the best work she’s seen from artists who typically create custom artwork based on commissions.

“When you’re doing something that you know is going to be donated to a cause, you’re not worried about making it perfect,” Melton said. “People are freer to do their best work when they don’t have something imposing on them.”

All proceeds from “Our Neighbors, Ourselves” will be donated to Project Worthmore.

The exhibit will kick off during the Art District on Santa Fe’s First Friday Art Walk, 6-9 p.m., with light appetizers and drinks available.

Melton hopes that “Our Neighbors, Ourselves” will inspire others to take a closer look into their own communities.

“People don’t have to travel thousands of miles or pay thousands of dollars to do humanitarian work,” she said, “it’s right here in our own backyard. We just need to open our minds and our hearts to what’s going on around us.”

Boulder pianist makes another run at elusive Grammy →



By Tyra Sutak For the Camera

Posted:   12/08/2012 01:00:00 AM MST




Peter Kater is in good company at the 2012 Grammy Awards ceremony, where he waits on the red carpet behind Tony Bennett. (Courtesy photo)

Related

Kater’s nomineesPeter Kater albums (by year they were released) that have been nominated for a Grammy Award:


2004: Red Moon

2005: Piano

2006: Fire

2007: Faces of the Sun

2008: Ambrosia

2009: In a Dream

2011: Wind, Rock, Sea & Flame

2012: Light Body

For most Boulder residents, Grammy night means getting together with friends, dressing up in whatever ballgown or tux is collecting dust in the closet, sipping a Grammy-themed cocktail and spending a few hours of time being wholly invested in the best musicians on the scene today.

But for one Boulderite, Grammy night means so much more.

Peter Kater, a multiplatinum-selling pianist/composer, learned Wednesday night he had been nominated for the 2013 Grammy Awards for Best New Age Album for his work, “Light Body.” And not long after, the congratulatory texts and emails from family, friends and peers began pouring in.

Though he has seen his name on the list of Grammy nominees seven times before, Kater says it’s always an exciting moment.

“I saw my name, and it was a huge rush and an affirmation,” he said. “I felt thankful. It was a big deal.”

Kater, who was born in Germany, got his start in music at age 7, when his mom demanded he start playing the piano in their New Jersey home.

And, now, the 54-year-old will be eagerly waiting to hear his name called for the first time as he sits among the well-dressed, cream-of-the-crop of the music business at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Feb. 10.

“Getting nominated is an amazing thing,” Kater says. “I’ve been nominated seven times (before) and haven’t won. I know, it’s kind of stupid to complain about.”

Considering he is in a category that has been won by the likes of Peter Gabriel, Pat Metheny, Enya and plenty of Kater’s mentors, including cellist David Darling, Kater realizes the journey and the nomination are just as important and humbling as the win.

“The main thing to focus on is we’re all in it together, and it’s an honor to be there,” he said. “And you know, someday I’ll win. Maybe this time, maybe next time.”

Despite having fallen short in his quest to return to Colorado with a Grammy, Kater continues to remain optimistic and enthusiastic and supportive of his peers. The New Age category is mostly home to instrumental artists but has also included a variety of vocalists.

“New Age music is kind of a throw-away category for music that doesn’t really fit anywhere else,” Kater said. “There’s a degree of soulfulness in the music that comes from a heart-centered place.”

Music actually led Kater to Colorado. He credits John Denver as a huge driving force in his decision to initially relocate here in the ’70s. Songs such as “Rocky Mountain High” and “Country Roads” ignited a curiosity in Kater, just out of high school, as he sought creative inspiration for his music.

Kater spent four years in Maui before returning to Boulder in 2011.

“There’s a bit of an edge here,” he said of his adopted hometown. “There’s something that’s kind of resonating — it’s active, not passive. It’s agitating, and I want to dig deeper and explore that creative edge in myself. It becomes a need almost.”

As a Grammy Awards red-carpet regular, Kater’s quite familiar with all the festivities associated with the glamorous evening — pre-Grammys party attendance, having a range of stylish outfits from which to choose, knowing how to work the red carpet, sometimes sneaking back through the press line more than once.

And, of course, meeting legends such as Tony Bennett, Ringo Starr, Chick Corea and Robert Plant.

Whether he walks away from these Grammys a winner, Kater plans to continue to create and produce his own music as a Boulder resident.

“I haven’t done my best record yet, I’m always looking forward to getting back to it,” he said. “I guess that’s why I still do it after all of these years — I’m still totally interested in it.”

And if Kater were to come away with the big prize in February, he knows exactly where he’d keep it.

“I joke around and say that I’m going to put it on the counter of my favorite sushi bar in Maui,” he said, “but realistically, I’ll probably keep it in my bedroom somewhere.

“It’ll be nice to look at.”

Downtown a nice venue for great outdoors


By Tyra Sutak For the Camera

Posted:   11/03/2012 01:00:00 AM MDT




This head-turning photo by Rob Palmer is among the works you ll see at Nature’s Edge Gallery. (Courtesy photo)

If you goWhat: Nature’s Edge Gallery


When: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, through mid-January

Where: Swiss Chalet, 1642 Pearl St.

Cost: Free

Info:

Sue Palmer:

sooselene.com

Rob Palmer:

falconphotos.com

Fi Rust:

focus-on-nature.com

A new art gallery has made its way into downtown Boulder and will be featuring award-winning images by three Boulder-based artists who specialize in capturing unique images of scenic natural landscapes, entertaining local wildlife and the overall spirit of the great outdoors.

Located in the Swiss Chalet in downtown Boulder’s east end, Nature’s Edge Gallery is the collaborative effort of wildlife photographers Rob Palmer and Fi Rust and fine artist Sue Palmer.

“We were trying to come up with a name that would actually fit most of our artwork, and that’s how we came up with the name Nature’s Edge — because it’s kind of like photography on the edge of nature,” said Rob Palmer, an award-winning wildlife photographer whose work has been featured in several publications, including National Wildlife Magazine, Nature’s Best Magazine and Audubon Magazine.

As a falconer, and former biology teacher, Rob Palmer’s connection to birds of prey runs deep and is very apparent in his work. He has produced captivating shots of bald eagles scuffling in midair, burrowing owl chicks yamming it up for the camera and falcons majestically gliding below a beautiful blue Colorado backdrop.

Born out of demand from a loyal following gained by all three artists through a series of periodic art shows, the Nature’s Edge Gallery will include artwork by each artist through



Fine artist Sue Palmer’s print “Snowy Volcano with Sun” is on display at Nature’s Edge Gallery. (Courtesy photo)

mid-January.Featured alongside Palmer’s birds of prey and other various photos of Colorado wildlife are photos by Fi Rust, who eloquently captures life in the Rocky Mountains for wildlife inhabitants, and Colorado landscapes and other paintings by Sue Palmer.

“It’s standout stuff that isn’t your normal, run-of-the-mill wildlife photography,” Rob Palmer said.

Group marks 50 years of BUFFoonery →


By Tyra Sutak For the Camera

Posted:   10/29/2012 04:00:00 PM MDT




The CU BUFFoons, an a cappella group, have been going strong since 1962. (Courtesy photo)

If you goWhat: The CU BUFFoons’ 50-year reunion


When: Friday-Sunday

Where: Various locations around Boulder and the University of Colorado campus, including CU’s home football game with Stanford at 4:15 p.m. Saturday

Info: cubuffoons.com or cualum.org/back2boulder/reunions/buffoons/

For many people, the mention of a cappella evokes images of Lea Michele and the rest of the “Glee” cast parading through the halls of their fictitious high school, singing pop songs from the past decade in perfect harmony and performing choreographed twirls.

But for a group of past and current members of one University of Colorado Boulder singing group, a cappella means so much more.

And so many more years. It was 1962 when Colorado’s oldest collegiate a cappella group was formed on the CU campus. Modeled after and inspired by the prestigious Yale Whiffenpoofs, the CU BUFFoons began performing locally.

“Just the fact that we got something going on the CU campus; we used to sing at the sororities and dorms, just drop by and sing. Those were happy memories,” said Oakleigh Thorne, who founded the CU BUFFoons 50 years ago after serving as musical director for the Yale Whiffenpoofs.

Now in its 50th year, current and former BUFFoons — the group is composed each year of 13 elected male undergraduates — will be reuniting during CU’s homecoming weekend, Friday-Sunday to celebrate their half-century of existence.

Any reunion of a group of singers wouldn’t be the same without a performance, and former and current members of the group will perform Friday at the Pearl Street Stampede and Saturday at Folsom Field just before CU kicks off its football game with Stanford.

Joe Riedel, a current CU senior who is second tenor and business manager for the BUFFoons, is ecstatic he got to be a part of the storied group.

“It has definitely been the best decision of my college career,” Riedel said, “These guys are musicians, and we all have the same attitude about music.”

The current CU BUFFoons will perform its fall concert at 7 p.m. Nov. 10 at Old Main. Admission is free.

HALLOWEEN IS SNEAKING UP: DO YOU HAVE PLANS YET? →

 

Posted by tsutak in Daily Camera, EventsOctober 4, 2012

Halloween is sneaking up: Do you have plans yet?
By Tyra Sutak For the Cameradailycamera.com
Posted: 10/04/2012 02:32:01 PM MDT
October 14, 2012 2:47 PM GMTUpdated: 10/14/2012 08:47:43 AM MDT

Click on any photo to see full gallery (Updated Oct. 14, 2012)

Goblins, ghosts and ghouls — oh, my! With acres and acres of sprawling cornfields and pumpkin patches, coupled with historical roots dating to the mid-1800s, Boulder and its surrounding cities have become the perfect location to catch the Halloween spirit.

This Halloween, local farms and businesses are offering up a steady stream of Halloween- and fall-themed events, including a corn maze shaped like Peyton Manning, rows and rows of pumpkins, costume contests, live music, spooky haunted houses and cemetery tours.

Whether you have a sugar-loving mini goblin, are seeking an outing for the entire family or just want an excuse to wear tights and a wig for an evening, you might find the perfect event below.

FUN FOR ALL

Ollin Farms Pumpkin Festival, 8627 N. 95th St., Longmont; Oct. 14

Snag the perfect pumpkin, fresh heirloom tomatoes, winter squash, roasted chiles, beets, carrots, apples and other farm-fresh vegetables to make the perfect fall meal. More information is available at ollinfarms.com.

“Bedtime Stories: A Legendary Haunted House,” Boulder High School, 1604 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder; weekends, Oct. 19-31

This is the main fundraiser for the school’s theater department, and the students might be on to some good scare tactics when they say: “All your favorite childhood memories are coming back to haunt you.” Open 7-11 p.m. Oct. 19, 6-11 p.m. Oct. 20, 7-11:30 p.m. Oct. 26, 6-11 p.m. Oct. 27 and 6:30-10:30 p.m. Oct. 31. They have a special, less-scary day for youngsters, 1-4 p.m. Oct. 28. Cost is $10 for adults, $5 for students/seniors. More details are available at ecornell0669@bvsd.org or 303-440-4395.

YA YA Farm Apple Fest, 6914 Ute Highway, Longmont; Oct. 20

There’s nothing like picking your own apples,

This father and son make quite the skeleton crew in Longmont s 2011 Halloween Parade along Main Street. Who knows what terrors we ll see in this year s parade. (Longmont Times-Call)drinking some apple cider and snacking on apple cider donuts to get in the fall spirit. And don’t forget the hayrides. Festival entry is $15 per person for patrons 8 and older (tickets must be purchased in advance, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the third Saturday in October. Learn more at yayafarmandorchard.com.

Monster Dash 5K & Kids Race, Old Town Louisville; Oct. 27

Mix fitness with fun at the second Monster Dash 5K in Old Town Louisville. The Spooky Sprint is perfect for the little ghouls, goblins of all ages will enjoy the Monster Mini-Mile and adults can challenge themselves in the Monster Dash 5K. Costumes are highly encouraged. Find out more

Peyton Manning might stir fear in opposing defenses, but it s only at night that Fritzler s corn maze dedicated to the Denver Broncos quarterback gets really scary. (Courtesy photo)at http://monsterdashrun.com. For more details, go tohttp://monsterdashrun.com/home.html.

Anderson Farms Fall Festival, 6728 County Road 3-1/4, Erie; through Oct. 31

In addition to Colorado’s longest-running corn maze and pumpkin patch, Anderson Farms offers live music (Oct. 13-14 and Oct. 20-21), seed survival education for the little ones, zombie paintball and the infamous after-dark Terror in the Corn Maze (recommended for ages 7 and older). For more information, visithttp://andersonfarms.com.

Cottonwood Farm’s Halloween Pumpkin Patch Fall Fest, 1535 N. 75th St, Boulder; through Oct. 31

Open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day. Play in the corn and straw bale mazes, free of charge. Plenty of pumpkins, natural Halloween decorations, hayrides, friendly farm animals and a farm stand featuring local honey also are offered. For more details, go to cottonwoodfarms.com.

Fritzler’s Corn Maze, 20861 County Road 33, LaSalle; through Oct. 31

Get lost in the Fritzler Maze every Wednesday through Sunday through the entire month of October. By day, the maze is an intricately shaped design of Denver Bronco quarterback Peyton Manning, but by night, the

Erik Paulsrud, left, does the heavy lifting after he, Ulysses Paulsrud, Amy Hayes and daughter Lillian Hayes narrow their pumpkin choices at Munson Farms (Cliff Grassmick/Daily Camera)labyrinth transforms into the haunted and very spooky “Scream Acres.” For more information, go to http://fritzlermaze.com/index.html.

Red Wagon Organic Farm Pumpkin Patch, 7694 N. 63rd St., Niwot; through Oct. 31

Farm stand and U-Pick pumpkin patch with straw-bale maze and farm animals. Peaceful, rural setting on an organic vegetable farm. For more details, go to redwagonorganicfarm.com.

U-Pick-Em Pumpkins and Corn Maze, Rock Creek Farms, Broomfield; through Oct. 31

A fun play area for the family offers kids the chance to go wild, jump around on hay bales and slide down super slides. Enjoy a tasty caramel apple after you complete the corn maze, and don’t forget your $6 U-Pick-Em pumpkin before heading home. Find out more at rockcreekfarm.com/explore-the-farm/family-fun-area.

Banjo Billy’s Ghost Story Tours, Boulder; every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in October

From Macky Auditorium to the haunts roaming the cemeteries, Boulder is full of ghosts — and for $22 per adult and $12 for children 6-12, the folks at Banjo Billy’s bus tours will introduce you to all of them. Tours sell out quickly, so check out banjobilly.com/banjo-news for ticket information.

El Dia de los Muertos Celebration, Longmont Museum; through Nov. 4

This monthlong multi-event celebration includes Dancing Skeletons (for kids 7-10) on Oct. 13, a Kids Ofrenda Workshop on Oct. 21 and a family celebration on Oct. 27. There’s plenty more to do, so check out ci.longmont.co.us/museum/education/day_of_dead.htm.

Fall Harvest Festival, 13912 County Road 19, Miller Farms, Platteville; through Nov. 15

Check out the tractor rides, petting zoo, corn maze and pumpkin patch — and harvest your own veggies. And if you’re brave — check out the Haunted Adventure through Halloween night. Entry to the festival is $15 per person. Discounts are available for active military, police, EMTs and firefighters. Learn more at millerfarms.net/events/fall-harvest-festival .

Wagon and horseback rides, 6120 State Highway 7, Aspen Lodge Resort & Spa, Estes Park

What better way to experience the fall colors in the high country than on the back of a horsedrawn wagon? Enjoy dinner and ride for $50 per person. Wagon and horseback rides are available from noon to 5 p.m. every Sunday, as weather permits. For more information, go to aspenlodge.net/index.php/activities/events.

KID FRIENDLY

Lyons Spooktacular Halloween, Main Street, downtown Lyons; Oct. 27

Activities in Sandstone Park from 3-5 p.m. on the fourth Saturday in October include live music, pumpkin carving, mask making, pumpkin ring toss, pumpkin bowling and a costume contest. The Lyons Halloween Parade will march through downtown Lyons beginning at 6 p.m. and wil be followed by trick-or-treating at participating businesses. Learn more at townoflyons.com/index.php/2012-halloween.

Longmont Halloween Parade, downtown Longmont; Oct. 27

Parade starts at 10 a.m. followed by trick-or-treating at local merchants, a scary-story time at the Longmont Library and make-and-take crafts, also at the library. For more information, check out ci.longmont.co.us/rec/special/halloween.htm

Munchkin Masquerade, Pearl Street Mall, Boulder; Oct. 31

Rain or shine, this gathering, from 2 to 5 p.m., of costumed munchkins trick-or-treating at shops on the Pearl Street Mall is an annual hit. Get more details at boulderdowntown.com/events/munchkin-masquerade.

ADULTS ONLY

The Gold Hill Inn Murder Mystery Dinner, 401 Main St, Gold Hill; Oct. 20

Murder Mystery Dinners at The Gold Hill Inn include hors d’oeuvres, champagne, a three-course meal — and, of course, a murder mystery. Tickets are $65 per person. Learn more at goldhillinn.com/murder.html.

DeVotchKa’s Day of the Dead Ball, Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St., Boulder; Oct. 26-27

Upholding an annual tradition, Denver band DeVotchKa is back and kicking off the Halloween weekend with Friday and Saturday shows. Tickets, at $29.50 per person, are available for both shows and can be purchased at bouldertheater.com.

The Shining Ball, 333 Wonderview Ave., The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park; Oct. 27

Spend the weekend before Halloween at one of the most haunted places in America. The eccentric costume contest promises to be outrageous, and you might even see a real ghost or two. Sorry, but the murder mystery dinner the previous night is sold out. Get more details at stanleyhotel.com/halloween.

The Motet plays Parliament-Funkadelic, Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St, Boulder; Oct. 31

The Motet will be playing to a crowd of costumed fans and have promised to throw a wild and raucous psychedelic Halloween dance party of epic proportions. For more information, visit bouldertheater.com.

Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams Halloween Costume Party, Oskar Blues Grill & Brew, 303 Main St., Lyons; Oct. 31

Wofford, also a children’s book author, and his band return to Oskar Blues to entertain the partygoers at the Oskar Blues Halloween Costume Party. Music is from 8 to 11 p.m. Get more details at oskarblues.com.

Click on any photo to see photo gallery Frightmare Haunted House, 108th & Old Wadsworth, Westminster; through Oct. 31

If you like dark, scary places filled with ghosts and goblins around each corner, this haunted house is for you. It’s open Sunday through Thursday from 7 to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 7 to midnight. For more info, visit thefrightmarecompound.com.

Skrillex,1st Bank Center, 11450 Broomfield Lane, Broomfield; Oct. 31

Skrillex will be playing his electronic music at the 1st Bank Center again after a successful Halloween show last year. Tickets are $50 in advance and $60 at the door. Get the scoop at 1stbankcenter.com.

Get your art jewelry fix at NoBo’s First Friday →

 

By Tyra Sutak For the Camera

Posted:   09/29/2012 01:00:00 AM MDT

 

If you goWhat: NoBo Art District First Friday

 

When: 6-9 p.m. Friday

Where: The NoBo Art District runs along Broadway from Lee Hill Road south to Pearl

Info: http://cargocollective.com/noboartdistrict,meetup.com/BoulderMetalsmithingAssociation or bethmerckeldesigns.com

Ask any gallery owner in Boulder which medium of art is their bestseller, and nine of 10 responses will be “jewelry.”

Wearable art, or art jewelry, has become a fashionable and affordable way to support local artists and galleries. And when it comes to jewelry, it’s the one-of-a-kind pieces with contemporary flair that are highly sought after. And that is exactly the kind of artistic touch that local metalsmiths are working to create.

When artisan jewelry designer Beth Merckel made the move to Boulder in 2009, she fell in love with the city but realized one thing was missing: the support from fellow metalsmiths she had come to know while learning her craft in Northern California.

“There weren’t a lot of options for a ground-floor metal work in Boulder,” Merckel said. “I always wanted to live in Boulder — and when I moved here, I realized that the only thing missing were my metalsmithing friends back home.”

So Merckel went to work creating her own network in Boulder by founding the Boulder Metalsmithing Association. Her first meet-up group consisted of only four local metalsmiths, including herself. But since that initial gathering, that group, plus nearly 160 additional members, have been meeting and connecting on a monthly basis to discuss new techniques, artwork and opportunities.

With the Boulder Metalsmithing Association creating so much interest in metalwork, Merckel sought out a location where the group could display its work.

Then came a case of what Merckel describes as “people who know somebody helping people who need something.” She was connected with Jerry Gehringer of the North Boulder Metalsmithing School, where Merckel and other members of the Boulder Metalsmithing Association have been displaying their work during NoBo Art District First Friday events since January.

“People are interested in art jewelry and in the school and what we do,” said Merckle, who mostly works with silver, gold and gemstones to create strong, yet feminine pieces. “Our first showing was really positive. It’s difficult to find a venue for showing jewelry, and we’re delighted to be part of the NoBo Art District’s First Friday.”

Look for Merckle and fellow jewelry artists such as Carrie Appel, Mollie Stauss, Barb Amador, Shar Louis, Amy Sanders and Michele Conn at the NoBo Art District’s First Friday next weekend.

Art event remains true to its roots →

 

By Tyra Sutak For the Camera

Posted:   09/29/2012 01:00:00 AM MDT

Updated:   10/04/2012 03:16:21 PM MDT

 



Bill Border discusses his artwork with Jane Saltzman at the 2011 Open Studios Fall Artist Tour. (Courtesy photo: photosbypinque.com)

If you goWhat: Open Studios Fall Artist Tour


Where: Various studios in the Boulder area

When: Noon-6 p.m., Oct. 6-7 and Oct. 13-14

Cost: Free and open to the public

Info: http://openstudios.org, http://openartsboulder.org

(This story was updated on Oct. 4, 2012, to add the website for OpenArts.)

Let’s rewind to 1994, when the Boulder art scene was seamlessly thriving in a fantastically disorganized way. Members of the tight-knit art community were working solo at the time, straining to garner attention and generate sales for their handmade designs.

It was during this time that Gary Zeff got the notion that those artists needed an avenue to gain recognition in their communities. So he conceived what would become the Open Studios Fall Artist Tour.

A Boulder wood-turner, Zeff reached out to the local art community with his idea and gathered 84 artists to participate in the initial tour. He stipulated that each artist must offer an educational element, and he got funding from sponsors such as Ideal Market and Allegro Coffee to stage the event in the first two weekends of October 1995.

Fast forward to 2012.

More than 100 artists are finishing up preparations to host art enthusiasts from noon to 6 p.m. on two weekends, Oct. 6-7 and Oct. 13-14. Professional artists excelling in nearly every artistic medium will be offer live demos, show off their workspace and attempt to sell their artwork.

“The event remains very similar to the initial tour in 1995. Buy a map, go around town to visit studios and engage with the artists. It’s about people engaging with artists in their studios,” said Bill Capsalis, executive director of OpenArts, which was an offshoot of Zeff’s original concept. OpenArts, a Boulder-based nonprofit, also includes the Open Arts Fest and the Clementine Studio, which provides experimental art classes for students of all ages.

Although a map isn’t required to partake in the Open Studios Fall Artist Tour, Capsalis believes it provides the best experience. The maps show each participating artist’s studio location and are organized by medium and studio number, thus making it easier for art lovers to seek out and find the exact style of artwork that will please their palate. Maps can be purchased from OpenArts (openarts.org/donate) for $10 (plus shipping and handling) and at various retail locations in Boulder (also available on the website). All proceeds from map sales go toward the production of the Fall Artist Tour.

OpenArts will kick off this year’s fall tour with a reception in the Canyon Gallery at the Boulder Public Library (1001 Arapahoe Ave.) from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday. Artwork by each of the artists participating in this year’s fall tour are currently on display in the Canyon Gallery and will continue to be featured in the library through Oct. 14. Entry to the opening reception is free of charge and an assortment of snacks will be served.

“The artists exhibit at the library is gorgeous this year,” Capsalis said. “It’s a big public event, and the artists are really involved.”

An estimated 1,000 art enthusiasts attended the opening reception at the library last year, and a similar crowd is again expected at this year’s event.

Capsalis recognizes the hard work it takes for the artists to prep their studios and ready themselves for the throngs of people who will step through their doors during those four days in October. He also knows how beneficial the tour can be for those artists.

“There’s a serious business element as well as an educational element going on,” Capsalis said. “People are buying directly from the artist, and the artist can talk about the piece and take commissions, as well.”

He also sees benefits for art enthuisasts:

” . . . It’s a perfect opportunity to engage with people in the community and even artists doing amazing work in their own neighborhood — plus it’s just an enjoyable way to spend a fall day.”

Art flourishes on Niwot First Friday →


Galleries, shops enliven downtown

By Tyra Sutak For the Camera

Posted:   09/07/2012 04:26:10 PM MDT

Updated:   09/07/2012 04:27:54 PM MDT




Anne Postle of Osmosis Art and Architecture in Niwot. ( Paul Aiken )

Art walks in SeptemberFriday, Sept. 7


Pearl Street, Downtown Boulder 6-8 p.m., firstfridayboulder.com

NoBo Nite Out, Broadway from Lee Hill Road to Pine Street 6-9 p.m.,noboartdistrict.org First Friday Art Walk

Downtown Louisville 5-8 p.m., louisvilleartsdistrict.com

1st Friday Art Walks, Old Town Niwot 5-8 p.m., niwot.com/events/art_walk

Friday, Sept. 14

Second Fridays Downtown Longmont 6-9 p.m., www.downtownlongmont. com/arts-and-entertainment/fridays

Friday, Sept. 21

Art Night Out, downtown Lafayette 4-9 p.m., cityoflafayette.com/ index.aspx?NID=565

A little over three years ago, Anne Postle, owner of Osmosis Architecture, decided to use the additional space in the front of her downtown Niwot location to expand her business to include an art gallery — a decision that would eventually influence modernday Niwot’s First Friday Art Walk events.

Housed in a historic brick church building on Second Avenue, Osmosis Gallery has grown significantly in the past few years, displaying a variety of artwork from more than 40 Colorado artists.

‘There is art everywhere,’ says Postle. ‘We have art in every size, medium and price range.’ Postle isn’t kidding.

Colorful artwork blankets the walls of both floors of this building. Even the landscape surrounding Osmosis is brimming with art, and the beautifully-manicured sculpture garden and back patio have become a main attraction for visitors of the gallery.

Along with fellow Niwot galleries — Manifest Art Gallery, Nomad Gallery and Little Bird — Osmosis Gallery opens its See ART , 2d

Article Continued Below

See ART on Page D02

Artflourishes for First Friday in NiwotContinued from 1D

doors from 5-8 p.m. every first Friday of the month and invites people in to browse through the gallery while enjoying live music and a selection of appetizers. Additional artists will also be showing work in the Emporium Building on Second Avenue and a selection of local shops and restaurants in the downtown Niwot and Cottonwood Square areas will also be offering up special hours and discounts for art enthusiasts strolling through town.

‘Niwot is a very vibrant community,’ says Postle, who sees the town come to life on the first Friday of the month. ‘There’s a lot going on here and the town gets hopping!’ On Friday, Sept. 7, Osmosis Gallery will be featuring new work by four different glass artists as part of Niwot’s First Friday Art Walk events, including glasswork by Dee Crouch — a longtime Boulder resident and former emergency room doctor who left a 22-year career in medicine to pursue his MFA at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Although several neighboring towns host Art Walk events on the first Friday of each month, Postle says that First Fridays in Niwot are definitely worth a visit.

‘Niwot is a charming historic town with beautiful patios, wonderful restaurants and great stores and shops to wander in. There’s really a mix here — not just fine art but crafts, western art, wonderful quilt and jewelry shops; there are so many places to go.’ Contact Tyra Sutak at tyra.sutak@gmail.com.

Boulder Creek Hometown Festival runs Labor Day weekend →

 

Summer’s last gasp

By Tyra Sutak For the Camera

Posted:   08/27/2012 09:41:49 AM MDT

Updated:   08/28/2012 04:49:46 PM MDT

 

 

 

Fire Marshal Dave Lowery takes a bite of on of the Chili Inferno Cook Off entries at last year’s Boulder Creek Hometown Fair in Boulder. ( MARK LEFFINGWELL )

CORRECTION: This story originally misidentified the band Cracker.

 

Just as the Boulder Creek Festival marks the beginning of summer in the Boulder area, the Boulder Creek Hometown Festival is a sign of summer’s end.

In its 14th year the Hometown Festival which runs Saturday through Monday, has gained a reputation for being the relaxed baby brother of the popular Boulder Creek Fest which celebrated its 25th birthday in May.

“The Boulder Hometown Festival is the bookend of summer,” says Boulder Creek Events Director of Communications, Meg Denbow.

Unlike the exceptionally busy Boulder Creek Fest that draws in visitors from all over with a wide variety of vendors and activities, Denbow says the Hometown Festival “was created as a hometowny event that is much more intimate and easier to navigate with a lot of activities for the entire family.”

The three-day festival is composed of multiple events split into east and west event areas located on each side of Broadway Street on the banks of the Boulder Creek.

If you venture to the west side of Broadway to the municipal building lawn, you’ll find the Sports Kids Expo featuring demos and interactive events put on by vendors such as ABC Kids Climbing, Vail Resorts, Avid4 Adventure, and Athlete’s Honey Milk. You’ll also find a climbing wall, an obstacle course, a bungee trampoline and a zip line. Other Hometown west events include the 3rd Annual Family, Fun & Fitness 5K on Monday, a pie-eating contest, the Big Wheel 500 race and festival favorite, the Great Zucchini Race — an event where kids creatively decorate and strap wheels on a zucchini before racing it down a five-lane wooden ramp.

On the east side of Broadway, you’ll find live music in the bandshell (located off of Canyon and Broadway) by popular local performers such as Girls on Top, Fierce Rabbit, Mojomama, Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams, Rebecca Folsom, the Informants, and first-time Boulder Creek Hometown Festival performers Cracker — a nationally touring alt-rock group performing in the bandshell from 7-9 p.m. on Saturday night. The east side of Broadway is also where you’ll find the Classic Car show on Sunday as well as the Chili Inferno Cook-Off which is held from noon-4 p.m. on Monday and will feature chili recipes cooked up by local professional chefs, cooks and citizens. Celebrity judges for this year’s Cook-Off include Boulder Mayor Matt Applebaum, and KBCO radio personality Ginger.

Hometown Festival east also plays host to nearly 100 art booths set up along the creek. Unlike the Boulder Creek Festival, Denbow says the art booths at the Hometown Fest showcase Boulder-area artists and every booth is easy to get to.

Among the many artists displaying work, you’ll find work by Boulder painter, Phil Lewis, who is known for putting a colorful twist on nature paintings. Cowboy’s Sweetheart will also be displaying rustic, hand-crafted jewelry along with other artwork such as handmade leather goods by Dying Breeds, artwear by Nina Paul Batik, and fair trade accessories by Threads Worldwide.

“You can find everything from $5 trinkets to expensive paintings at this festival,” Denbow says.

Festival activities run from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday.

“This festival is a good way to rediscover your community,” Denbow says. “You may have heard of some of the events, but you don’t really get it until you see it for yourself.”

August art walks: Artist tries to capture ‘heightened color’ of dreams →


Boulder’s Annette Coleman among May art walk attractions

By Tyra Sutak For the Camera

Posted:   07/29/2012 08:29:57 AM MDT

Updated:   07/29/2012 08:30:43 AM MDT




Ellen Spiller, of Boulder Arts and Crafts Gallery, prepares one of the works of David Mayhew. ( CLIFF GRASSMICK )

Art walks in AugustFriday, August 3


First Friday

Pearl Street, Downtown Boulder

6-8 p.m.

firstfridayboulder.com

NoBo Nite Out

Broadway from Lee Hill Road to Pine Street

6-9 p.m.

noboartdistrict.org

First Friday Art Walk

Downtown Louisville

5-8 p.m.

louisvilleartsdistrict.com

1st Friday Art Walks

Old Town Niwot

5-8 p.m.

niwot.com/events/art_walk

Friday, August 10

Second Fridays

Downtown Longmont

6-9 p.m.

downtownlongmont.com/arts-and-entertainment/fridays

Friday, August 17

Art Night Out

Downtown Lafayette

4-9 p.m.

cityoflafayette.com/sectionindex.asp?sectionid=78

It was 41 years ago when a small group of local artists came together to form the beginnings of the Boulder Arts & Crafts Gallery — a current familiar sight on the 14th block of the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder, and one of the oldest and most successful cooperatives in the U.S.

The year was 1971, the place was a waterbed store on Broadway Street, and the people were local artists searching for an opportunity to take charge of their artistic visions and to sell some artwork.

It was a symbiotic relationship.

The waterbed store had wall space and was seeking a way to bring new customers in the door, and the artists had artwork with no place to display it.

Forty-one years and two locations later, the Boulder Arts & Crafts Gallery is now owned by 37 artist-owners and has become a go-to place on Pearl Street to find gifts for just about everyone.

“It’s a really comfortable gallery and there’s something for just about everybody here,” said Ellen Spiller, one of the 37 artist-owners and local ceramics artist. “We’re trying to focus on local artists who have a following because we would like to support them.”

The gallery currently carries everything from fiber and ceramics — to glass, wood work and metal work as well as photography, a variety of paintings and the gallery’s most popular item, handmade jewelry–all produced by over 200 local artists.

“It’s a local stop. When you come you’ll see your friends and people you know,” says Spiller.

Aside from being a longstanding business on the Pearl Street Mall, the Boulder Arts & Crafts Gallery is also a leader in downtown Boulder’s First Friday art events. Every first Friday, the gallery hosts an artist reception which includes new artwork on display by six to 10 artists, live music (performed by artists currently showing at the store), beverages provided by Atlas Purveyors, and an assortment of healthy snacks to dine on.

Colorado photographer David Mayhew is one of the artists showing new work during the August First Friday reception at the Boulder Arts & Crafts Gallery. As a storm chaser, Mayhew delicately captures the dramatic colors and beautiful landscapes, stormscapes and skyscapes created by nature. Mayhew will be on hand from 6-8 p.m. on Friday to chat about his unique artwork and recount the stories behind his captivating pieces.

Contact Tyra Sutak at tyra.sutak@gmail.com.

June art walks preview: Longmont sculptor to offer clay demonstration →

 

Muse Gallery in Longmont puts on interactive events on Second Fridays

By Tyra Sutak For the Camera

Posted:   05/27/2012 09:10:40 AM MDT

Updated:   05/27/2012 09:11:55 AM MDT

 

 

 

Longmont Council for the Arts Executive Director Joanne Kirves stands next to sculptures by Duane Farquhar. ( Matthew Jonas )

Art walks in JuneFriday, June 1

 

First Friday

Pearl Street, Downtown Boulder

6-8 p.m.

firstfridayboulder.com

NoBo Nite Out

Broadway from Lee Hill Road to Pine Street, Boulder 6-9 p.m.

noboartdistrict.org

First Friday Art Walk

Downtown Louisville

5-8 p.m.

louisvilleartsdistrict.com

1st Friday Art Walks Old Town Niwot

5-8 p.m.

niwot.com/events/art_walk

Friday, June 8

Second Fridays

Downtown, Longmont

6-9 p.m.

artslongmont.org/longmont-colorado-art-festivals-events

Friday, June 15

Downtown Lafayette

4-9 p.m.

cityoflafayette.com/sectionindex.asp?sectionid=78

Muse Gallery, located in the heart of downtown Longmont, has been a gathering place for the community to view artwork created by local artists for the past 11 years. Muse provides a venue for local artists to showcase their work, making art more accessible to the public through free, family-friendly events that occur on a monthly basis.

This upcoming Second Friday, June 8 at 7 p.m., Muse Gallery will be hosting local ceramic and sculpture artist Duane Farquhar as he describes and demonstrates techniques used to create his unique and lighthearted artwork. During the interactive event, the public will have the opportunity to follow along as he creates a new sculpture using clay.

Farquhar is a former IT specialist turned artist who draws on his sense of humor to turn ordinary materials into fun works of art. After leaving his career in computers, Farquhar enrolled in art courses at Front Range Community College where he recently graduated with a degree in fine arts. He is mostly known for his clay work but also creates sculptures made of metal. For the most part, Farquhar takes a surrealist approach to his artwork by distorting and exaggerating physical features in his pieces and using a combination of different metal objects to recreate human characteristics.

Farquhar is currently one of the local resident artists with artwork featured in the main gallery at Muse Gallery through June 30. Featured artwork in the main gallery changes every two months and admission to the gallery is free.

Joanne Kirves, Executive Director of the Longmont Council for the Arts, the nonprofit that runs the gallery, is thrilled with the community support that local artists and art programs have been receiving.

“There’s a solid core of artists that live and work in Longmont,” says Kirves, “there’s a good sense of collaboration and a certain synergy going on in downtown right now.

Along with providing space for artists to showcase their work, the LCA also supplies administrative support, educational classes in grant writing, fundraising assistance, and marketing, promotional and community outreach support.

The Longmont Council for the Arts is also behind the monthly art events that occur downtown on the second Friday of every month. Second Friday events include gallery openings and receptions, performance art shows along Main Street and artists talks and demonstrations.

Contact Tyra Sutak at tyra.sutak@gmail.com.

Boulder’s Annette Coleman among May art walk attractions →

 

By Tyra Sutak For the Camera

Posted:   04/27/2012 11:00:00 AM MDT

 

 

 

Multimedia artist Annette Coleman works on a collage piece in her Boulder home. ( PAUL AIKEN )

Art walks in MayFriday, May 4

 

First Friday

Pearl Street, Downtown Boulder

6-8 p.m.

firstfridayboulder.com

NoBo Nite Out

Broadway from Lee Hill Road to Pine Street

6-9 p.m.

noboartdistrict.org

First Friday Art Walk

Downtown Louisville

5-8 p.m.

louisvilleartsdistrict.com

1st Friday Art Walks

Old Town Niwot

5-8 p.m.

niwot.com/events/art_walk

Friday, May 11

Second Fridays

Downtown Longmont

6-9 p.m.

downtownlongmont.com/arts-and-entertainment/fridays

Friday, May 18

Art Night Out

Downtown Lafayette

4-9 p.m.

cityoflafayette.com/sectionindex.asp?sectionid=78

Boulder painter Annette Coleman tries to capture the subconscious on canvas using unique techniques. Born and raised in Colorado, Coleman now works out of her North Boulder studio, creating “layered” works of art filled with retro images, delicate patterns and pastel colors that represent “the images that occupy the dreamstate, the fragments that we remember and the symbols that evoke the message of a dream.” Using an interesting combination of science and creativity, Coleman has honed a technique involving the use of heat-sensitive film on a heated canvas to create a coloring effect that adds a certain movement to her collages.

“I dream in heightened color, drenched and saturated, and I’m at a loss as to how to recreate it for the viewer. I try to show the changing brush of my mind with my heat sensitive canvases,” she says.

Coleman has recently begun experimenting using a liquid crystal-based film that responds to heat by changing color which produces a multi-hued visual effect making “the invisible visible” — a statement that inspires much of her artwork.

When Coleman isn’t busy producing her own material, she stays busy promoting other local artists and art events in Boulder using her Twitter account along with the weekly radio show she hosts on which guest artists are invited to help answer questions and cover discussions going on in the local art community. Coleman is an avid participant of the budding art scene in North Boulder as a frequent instructor for the “PaintAbout” mini-workshops held during NoBo Nite Out on the first Friday of every month. From 6-9 p.m. on May 4, Coleman will be teaching hands-on collage workshop at her studio located at 1245 Norwood Avenue, #42 in North Boulder.

“I encourage each student to express their creative talent in a safe, non-judgmental environment. I ask students to bring images that they have collected, including old family photographs and magazine clippings,” Coleman says. All other materials needed — including additional magazine clippings, paint, glue and a base board — will be provided by Coleman.

A $25 workshop fee is due at the time of the class. Reservations are requested in advance and can be made by contacting Annette Coleman directly at 303.941.8887.

PaintAbout workshops are taught by a variety of North Boulder artists on the first Friday of every month. A complete listing of upcoming workshops can be found athttp://noboartdistrict.org.

Contact Tyra Sutak at tyra.sutak@gmail.com.