Crested Butte, CO
Downtown Crested Butte, August 2-4
Daryl Price, Swamp Music, acrylic, 30 x 40.
This story was featured in the August 2019 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Get the Southwest Art August 2019 print issue or digital download now–then subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss another story.
SOME 12,000 VISITORS flock to the Rocky Mountain town of Crested Butte, CO, every year to attend the Crested Butte Arts Festival. “It’s the largest event in Crested Butte during the summer,” says executive director Chelsea S. Dalporto-McDowell. “And it’s become one of the most sought-after art events in the West.” Which is why the event organizers pull out all the stops for this juried, three-day art extravaganza. The 47th annual festival kicks off on Friday, August 2, on historic Elk Avenue, where visitors can peruse an array of artworks while enjoying live entertainment, culinary treats, and the alpine scenery.
-
- Jack Pine, Cobalt Webbed Fluted Bowl, glass, 15 x 14 x 15.
-
- Aaron Hequembourg, Anguish, mixed media, 56 x 18.
-
- Seth Katz, One-Legged Table, wood, 20 x 57 x 20.
“This is a magical valley,” says Dalporto-McDowell. “I call it paradise. We are surrounded by 12,000-foot mountains. What you see from the festival grounds is awe-inspiring.” As visitors stroll the picturesque avenue, they are also treated to works in 12 different fine-art and craft categories, including painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, glass, wood, fiber arts, and more. The 165 participating artists—chosen by a discerning jury from a pool of more than 700 applicants—hail from around the country and beyond.
Among the group this year are returning talents like Texas mixed-media artist Brice McCasland, last year’s Best of Show winner, and many new participants, including woodworker Seth Katz, whose furniture creations blend modern geometry and organic forms. Representational paintings inspired by Southwestern and Rocky Mountain landscapes pepper much of the show, including colorful pieces by artists like Jennifer Cavan and Vicki Barrett, but many works depict a variety of other subjects and themes, from the traditional to the highly imaginative. This year’s featured emerging artist, Heather Bischoff, created a life-size, immersive installation of an aspen grove, entitled SEE TREES, which visitors can wander through and explore.
-
- Brice McCasland, Many Pretty Flowers, mixed media, 38 x 60.
-
- Julie Roth, Push II, oil, 32 x 48.
-
- By Lindsey Tull.
Multiple artists’ demonstrations and a lively art auction round out the festivities. And there’s plenty of art to explore beyond Elk Avenue, too, notes Dalporto-McDowell. “When you come to Crested Butte, it’s not just the festival you’re coming for. There are a host of galleries here and art events happening throughout the weekend, so when patrons come, they can expect not only the festival to be a highlight of their weekend experience, but our creative district in general.” Proceeds from the festival support year-round, sustainable arts outreach programs in the Gunnison Valley. —Kim Agricola
contact information
970.349.1184
www.crestedbutteartsfestival.com
This story was featured in the August 2019 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Get the Southwest Art August 2019 print issue or digital download now–then subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss another story.
MORE RESOURCES FOR ART COLLECTORS & ENTHUSIASTS
• Subscribe to Southwest Art magazine
• Learn how to paint & how to draw with downloads, books, videos & more from North Light Shop
• Sign up for your Southwest Art email newsletter & download a FREE ebook