News & Happenings
Grand Finale of the Garden Music Series "Death of the Pugilist"
This fabulous concert series will finish with a BANG, with two shows at The Orchard. Death of the Pugilist takes us on a journey to 1800s England to tell the story of a young man in a rough-and-tumble profession. This is an experimental musical ensemble paired with narration directly from author Daniel Mason’s story. Tickets are available HERE.
Early Bird Tickets for Convergent Circus Available Now!
Our newest, and never been done before event, Convergent Circus, is coming up next month!! Inspired by the elements, this immersive art experience will be held at 13 Moons Ranch in alignment with the autumn equinox. Early bird tickets are available now through August 15. Full details on the Events page.
Announcing the Mountain Fair Podcast with KDNK
What makes a place what it is? What traditions and rituals strengthen the soul of a community? How do we discern what is worth bequeathing to the next generation? The story of the Carbondale Mountain Fair is one that answers these, and other important questions. While today's world is changing quickly, the Mountain Fair surviving and thriving for 50 years reminds us that some things are worth honoring and passing on. Tune in to KDNK.org or 88.1 on Tuesdays starting June 29th at 4:00 and hear the voices, the music, and the story behind Carbondale’s treasured summertime tradition. Additional episodes will air on Friday July 16 and Sunday July 18th for two full hours on the music of Mountain Fair. Learn More!
The Winning Design for the 50th Annual Mountain Fair
With much excitement we present the winning design for the 50th Mountain Fair happening this July. This eclectic and über-detailed illustration is by award-winning, local artist, Larry Day. Larry has illustrated for 25+ books and publications.
“Beginning at an early age, I drew everything around me. And what I didn’t draw, I observed. Art became even more meaningful to me after I flunked high school art class, I knew I was onto something bigger than learning macrame and decoupage. I was searching for the emotion of things. And I’ve been at it ever since.”
First Friday Unveiling of Carbondale's Newest Mural
Talented Colorado muralist, Armando Silva will unveil his creation, co-designed by students of Stepping Stones for First Friday, June 4th at 4:00pm. Afterward he will join fellow artists as an extension to the R2 Gallery opening of “identidad Y Libertad” a group show telling the stories of the varied experiences of Latinx people in this country and of those south of the border curated by Gayle Embrey and Vanessa Porras. Learn More
Susanne Clark Artwork Flash Sale
Be sure to stop by the Willits General Store for a 2-day Flash Sale of Susanne Clark’s fun, whimsical and wonderful artwork. Proceeds benefit Carbondale Arts.
June 4-5
12-6:00pm
The Passport Is Back!
Because the Passport was so well received last year, we are thrilled to announce that we are doing it again in 2021. This year’s Passport will support the 50th Mountain Fair happening July 23 - 25, and other key Carbondale Arts programming.
This year's passport features OVER 35 businesses: restaurants, salons, wellness centers, craft breweries, retail, and more! Passports will be available starting June 1st, but you can preorder now! We also extended the usage time frame, passports can be purchased and used June 2021 through June 2022. Pick up from The Launchpad or we can mail to you!
A Look Into the GNB Vault
We’ve missed the creativity, connection, and challenge of bringing the fashion show to life each spring. We plan to bring back the Extravaganza in March of 2022, but until then we thought let's let previous shows inspire and help us remember the magic of GITNB. We called on our dear friend Sue Drinker of Drinker Durrance Graphics, veteran fashion show photographer, to put a compilation together of the show over the years.
Annoucing the Return of the Garden Music Series
Curated by MinTze Wu, this series is designed to celebrate the rich diversity of artistic styles and cultural backgrounds in our place and time. Through innovative collaborations, we explore the layers of our stories and the composite of our passions. This thoughtfully curated series is comprised of four programs, each a different world created with its unique voice and narrative, sounds and expressions, ranging from baroque to folk, from minimalistic to classical, from poetry to modern novella. Concerts will begin at 6:00pm on the grounds of Thompson House Museum. Learn More!
Carbondale Arts' First Ever Golf Tournament: The Golden Putter
Saturday, June 19th the first ever Carbondale Arts golf tournament, The Golden Putter, will be an “18-hole scramble” held at River Valley Ranch. There will be traditional and alternative scoring opportunities for ALL skill levels. Get ready for arts-themed holes, live performances, prizes and surprises! All proceeds will benefit Rosybelle, the Mobile Maker Bus, and our arts education programming. Early-bird pricing available through May 15, space is limited so don’t delay!
Now Accepting Applications for the 3rd Annual Artist Fellowship
We believe that there is great value in fostering creativity and inspiration, which is why we are pleased to announce our 3rd Annual Artist Fellowship Program (AFP), consisting of one grant opportunity of two $1,000 grants from The Alleghany Meadows Fellowship. The AFP is for artists and creatives of any genre, who need some funding to help them further their career, their art, or their ideas. The criteria is fairly open for these grants, and any artist residing within a ZIP code beginning with "816" may apply. Learn More!
Carbondale Arts is Hiring: Education Director
Become part of the dynamic team that helps keep Carbondale vibrant. The Education Director oversees Rosybelle, the mobile maker bus and all activities related to arts education and Carbondale Arts. Responsibilities also include event participation in signature CA events such as Mountain Fair and Green is the New Black Fashion Show. We are looking for a dynamic, independent leader that likes working with a team and well organized with a good understanding of youth+education. Learn More!
RFPs for Muralists!
The Carbondale Creative District (scroll to the Mural Express section) and Carbondale Arts are partnering with Loge Properties, LLC, to produce 2 new murals at 1201 Main Street by the roundabout at Highway 133. Artists and or Art Teams are invited to apply for one or both mural projects (each measuring approx. 11'x15' and 12'x17'). Applications due April 23rd. Learn More!
NESTed ROOTS at R2 Gallery
On display through March 25th “NESTed Roots”, a collaborative exhibition in partnership with CU Boulder’s “Nature, Environment, Science & Technology (NEST) Studio for the Arts program and Aspen-based CORE (Community Office for Resource Efficiency).
The Design Contest for the 50th Mountain Fair is OPEN!
Carbondale Arts is seeking entries for the poster and shirt design for its 50th Annual Carbondale Mountain Fair! For our “Golden Anniversary”, we’re looking for inspiring entries celebrating our brilliant half-century of the fair. Help us illuminate the way for the next 50 years! Submission deadline is April 30th. Learn More!
Carbondale Arts Wins 2020 Non-Profit of the Year!
We are so grateful to our supporters and those who voted for us! Our team is dedicated to building a vibrant community through art and inclusion in the collective human experience. Thank you so much for this recognition and encouragement!
The 42nd Annual Valley Visual Art Show Opens This Week!
One of the valley’s largest and longest-standing exhibitions of work by 50 local artists in a wide variety of media. The Valley Visual Art Show is a salute to the rich array of artistic talents in our area and a venue for emerging artists, established artists and everything in between.
Announcing Light the Night with Love
The American Heart Association and the Carbondale Creative District are joining forces to bring a new event to Carbondale, featuring an interactive HeART Walk from DeRail Park to the Latinx Folk Art Garden. Farolito lanterns created by the Roaring Fork Community will adorn the Rio Grande HeARTway with light installations and surprise performances along the way. Learn More!
New Year, Big Milestone
2021 has brought Carbondale Arts to a big milestone: 50 years of building a vibrant community through art! We’ve got a lot to celebrate and a lot to be thankful for. Stay tuned for updates on all things Mountain Fair, breaking ground on the Youth Art Park; the final installment along the Rio Grande ARTway, an explosion of murals around town, educational offerings both virtually and in-person, dynamic and engaging exhibitions in R2 Gallery, new events and more!
Happy Holidays from Carbondale Arts!
Love+Joy to all of you. We are so grateful at Carbondale Arts for the community we live in. The collaborations we participate in. The educational offerings we share. The incredible volunteer spirit that remains strong through adversity. The inclusion and equity we work hard to upkeep year-round, and the curiosity that keeps us all creating. While 2020 tested this world, we feel we are coming out of it stronger, thanks to you! May 2021 find us safe and healthy, so we may continue working together to create a better world for all.