Brief by Central Staff
Event – May 2007 – Colorado Central Magazine
We can remember a time when “Salida” and “artists” were seldom employed in the same sentence, at least not with a straight face. But times have certainly changed, and on Memorial Day weekend, Salida will host an “Artposium” arranged by the Colorado Art Ranch.
According to founder and executive director Grant Pound, the Art Ranch was “conceived in the Wet Mountain Valley of Colorado in the fall of 2005. Inspiration came from the soaring Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the quiet town of Westcliffe, and the fertile ranchlands. I thought that Colorado’s unique beauty and heritage would be the perfect Muse for artists and writers.
“But what could artists and writers give back to the land? Colorado Art Ranch would not only be an artist residency, but a social stimulus for two seemingly contrary goals — land preservation and rural economic development. The art ranch would be nomadic, belonging to all of the small towns of Colorado’s mountain region and introducing artists and writers from around the world.”
Aside from offering residencies in mountain towns, Art Ranch also sponsors Artposiums in various mountain towns, and on May 26-27, Salida will have one, with presentations at the Steam Plant. The theme is “A river runs through us.”
Christo and Jeanne-Claude may be the most famous of the presenters, or that honor might be held by novelist Kent Haruf. Others scheduled to give presentations include David Goldes, Susan Tweit, Geraldine Alexander, Jerry Mallet, John Calderazo, Kent Nelson, Jack Chivvis, B. Strawn, Richard Cabe, Dan Downing, Ray Kitson, Sherrie York, Fred Rasmussen, and Stuart Andrews, as well as our own Ed Quillen.
Registration for the two-day conference is $249, which includes three meals and refreshments, and there’s a discount for multiple registrations. There’s more information, as well as a way to register, at www.coloradoartranch.org.
