art

First Friday Art Walk - Artists, Authors, Dancers, and Food!

Where can you find a place where in a few short blocks, you can experience great art, sculpture, ceramics, book signings, fire dances, great restaurants, and more?  CARBONDALE, COLORADO!!! Watch as I take you through an evening of Carbondale's famous First Friday Art Walk held on the first Friday of every month. This town really appreciates the fine art of living.

 My appreciation goes to featured artist Dáša Baušová and featured ceramic artist, Ginny Beesley for allowing me to photograph them and their fine works. Many thanks also to Ro, Amy, and Holly at the Carbondale Council on Arts and Humanities,  Lori Hutchens, owner of Novel-Tea Shop, authors of "Out of the Canyon" Allison and Art Daily, and the Masri Nar Dance Troupe for bringing great events to Carbondale.

Crafty & Creative Carbondale

The Craft 2 Wear Show was a big hit at the First Friday Art Walk in Carbondale.  The stage was set for the December 4th festivities with single digit temperatures but that didn't stop a large crowd from shopping and dining along Main St.  It didn't slow down Santa either as he was escorted by the elementary school children to the 4th St. bonfire.

I was stationed at the CCAH Gallery and main office doing a variety of things from serving a  hot cider/rum concoction, to passing out fliers about the new Third Street Center, and also taking a few candid photos of the evening.  The hot cider/rum drink was the favorite of the evening as bone chilled shoppers thawed themselves in the Gallery.

I was so impressed with the creativity of the local artists and their displays in the Craft 2 Wear Show.  Who knew that making a purse from tabs of soft drink cans could look so stunning when woven with metallic threads?

Multi-talented Barbara Sophia displayed her handmade jewelry made from hand-picked Hawaiian pearls and her hand-painted silk scarves and gorgeous kimono were on my "must have" list.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Kathy Hansel's creative and stunning handmade jewelry was a feast for the well-dressed woman's eyes.  The rich colors of Kathy's jewelry pallette would give a warm touch to any ensemble. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Felt was also very creatively revealed from fingerless gloves and scarves to children's darling booties. Lovely color combinations with the soft texture of felt made me want to buy everything I saw.


The crowd was quite interesting to watch too. Tonight was the night to wear that crazy stocking cap or fun scarf.  The main point tonight was STAY WARM!  Carbondale has some of the most colorful people. There's something about the residents of a mountain town that makes you want to dig deeper into their background and history.

It's amazing too to see the many volunteers working with the Town of Carbondale and the Carbondale Council on the Arts and Humanities.  Lea Z. for example with her winning smile was hard at work selling Carbondale T-shirts decorated with an advertisement-laden pick-up truck (a nice use of advertising coupled with art.)

I mentioned earlier about the Third Street Center.  This is a project that will be a milestone in the Carbondale arts history.  Carbondale in it's famous tradition of collaboration and recycling will be transforming a former elementary school on Third St. into a 45,100 square-foot home for over two dozen nonprofit organizations. It will serve not only Carbondale but all the areas around in the Roaring Fork Valley including Rifle and Basalt.  The CCAH hopes to move in by March 2010 and the projected completion for all of  the construction is May 2010.  Visit the Third Street Center's website and find out how you can be a part of the history with your generous contributions or volunteer work.

To end the evening, David and I took a brisk stroll down Main St. to find a good restaurant.  In Carbondale, there are so many great places to eat and many are award winning.  We tried to get into the new Hestia but the wait was a litle too long for us.  Obviously everyone else wanted to try out the new place in town too.  We were pretty hungry so we stopped at Russet's and what treat that was!  With the chilly air still inside us, we melted into our chairs with a lovely hot buttered rum and a sweet Turtle Delight beverage.  Delicious hot appetizers warmed our bellies and we were contented for the evening.  Russet's is a great place with friendly service, classy atmosphere and terrific food.  We'll definitely visit there again soon.
 

First Friday Art Walk, Craft 2 Wear, and International Gathering

Carbondale has a First Friday Art Walk each month to promote the arts and downtown businesses.  Last month (November), I had a great time playing the harp on the street outside "The Lift Coffee House" which is a charming cafe with lots of character.  It was comfortably cool on the south side of "The Lift" but as the air got chillier, I got to take the harp inside and continue playing. David and I had a great late supper there after I finished playing the harp.  Wonderful food and fun ambiance!   Next door, at the "Novel Tea Company" (bookstore and gifts), author Carol Ann Wilson was reading excerpts from her book "Still Point of the Turning World, The Life of Gia-fu Feng - Author of the best-selling translation of the Tao Te Ching".  Carol Ann Wilson is a lovely speaker and had shared many interesting anecdotes with us.  The atmosphere at the First Friday Art Walks is so memorable.  The brisk mountain air coupled with the aroma of fine foods from the many award winning restaurants leads you down Main St. One can leisurely chat with friends sitting at the outdoor dining areas or warm yourself indoors with a coffee and dessert.  Carbondale reminds me of a young Taos... interesting shops, lots of artists, and terrific dining.

This Friday will be an especially enchanting evening in Carbondale.  Starting at 5:15 pm the First Friday Art Walk teams up the Carbondale Council on Arts and Humanities (CCAH) and the Town of Carbondale to bring art, hot chocolate, roasting marshmallows, Santa, and much more to Main St. visitors.   I will be toasty and warm in the CCAH Gallery serving wine and bringing that extra, EXTRA special holiday cheer!  The downtown Christmas lights are all shined up and ready to be lit on this magical evening.  I imagine it will look like a scene from a Kinkade painting as the Carbondale Elementary School Choir  escorts Santa from the CCAH Gallery down Main St. to the 4th St. Plaza for a bonfire and goodies.  I hope I can get some photos of this adorable scene.  The shops in Carbondale will be decorated and open for fun Christmas gift hunting.

The Craft 2 Wear for the Holidays is also preparing for a fabulous show this Friday.  Designers, silkscreeners, knitters, and jewelers will show off their wares and provide visitors with great ideas for Christmas gifts.  This should be really wonderful and inspiring because the people in this area are extremely creative.  There's no telling what we'll see this Friday.

From Friday through Tuesday, Carbondale will have a very unique group of visitors.  The 11th Annual International Gathering will meet in Carbondale. It is estimated that about 100 native elders, healers, scholars, shamans, and spiritual leaders from throughout North and South America will hold prayer blessings, ceremonies, indigenous concerts, panel discussions, healing workshops, and community drumming circles  at various locations in the valley.  One location is the Carbondale Nature Park which is one of Sadie's (our dog) favorite places.  A 48 acre park with a great view of Mt. Sopris is a popular place for dog lovers to take their furry friends off leash.

The main heart of this conference is dedicated to help mend the wounds between all peoples and relations with Mother Earth, according to the organizers.  Mt. Sopris is considered a sacred presence and will be a focal point in some of the ceremonies and circles.  Delegates will come from all over:  Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Yucatan, Peru, Venezuela, Fiji, Australia, Alaska, Hawaii, South Dakota, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Colorado and Montana.  I hope to witness some of these events.  It is no surprise to me that Carbondale has been chosen for the conference's location.  There is a special spiritual quality in the air here. Perhaps it is the striking view of Sopris as it hovers over the town with protective arms.