by Christy Parrott
Among familiar favorites, many new artists are currently on display at the Gore Range Artisans Gallery and Village. The gallery prides itself on exhibiting local, Colorado art that appeals to everyone. Artist and curator Rhea Gallagher explains, “We like to keep price ranges and interests for everyone. We’re expanding into different areas, such as sculpture and fabric art.”
Sarah K. Howe
Sarah K. Howe, a native of the 4-corners area, combines aspects of Greek architecture, flowers and trees for striking contrasts in her colorful photography. Howe captures a cool crisp beauty in her photos that remains inviting, reminiscent of a place once possibly imagined.
Lorraine J. Davis
Many of Lorraine J. Davis’ still life paintings, which concentrate on light and shadow, are also currently available. Davis began sketching at the age of five. Her breath of experience allows her to capture everything from designing brochures to painting the hills of Tuscany. Don’t miss the pair of daisies framed in gold, which manages to take a simple flower and make it fresh and unexpected. Davis currently lives in Aspen and offers affordable painting courses, with more information available at www.ldavistudio.com.
Julie Blanksteen
Julie Blanksteen specializes in stained glass and fabric art. Blanksteen describes her stained glass as a “Fragile puzzle […] amped up on steroids,” explaining, “I find myself looking at nature and the world around me, thinking, How can I recreate that into glass?” The gorgeous stained glass pieces stand in perfect counterpoint to the luxe scarves begging to be touched and worn. Whether capturing the light of colored glass or the texture in locally sustained fibers, Blanksteen’s tactile art captures the senses.
John Henley In his own words, John Henley describes his Crazy Horse sculpture as a “Majestic, yet spooky” take on the classic western ranch horse. There’s a familiarity to the piece, which likely stems from Henley’s use of reclaimed materials, yet he manages to allow the viewer to appreciate a traditional form in a new, innovative way. Henley’s sculpture simultaneously looks like something you’ve always seen and never seen. Because sculpture is a 3-D medium, one could explore various angles and aspects of the piece, indefinitely. Henley retired to Granby with his wife and finds endless inspiration in the local landscape.
Mark Abusamra
Mark Abusamra began his photography career covering major disasters in New York, which taught him to capture important moments with splitsecond timing. This discipline takes new form in his nature photography.
Abusamra has resided in Grand County for the past twenty years and often finds the shifting Colorado seasons his favorite muse. One photo, available at the gallery, captures the precision of a bird sitting on a dandelion. The blur of the dandelion in the background, blowing in the wind, perfectly blends against the sharp image of the bird in a stunning exploration of color, light and focus.
Linda Dewey
Linda Dewey, of Granby, has been making pottery for five years, using various types of firing to produce tangible works of art. A stunning vase, available for purchase, effortlessly combines a study of blue and white, challenging the beauty of any flowers arranged within the piece.
Richard Koller
Richard Koller, Jr.’s acrylic paintings are reminiscent of the great masters, yet as familiar as the views Grand County residents so often enjoy. Koller’s exploration of color manages to soothe and entice the viewer, without overwhelming the art.
Hannah George
Hannah George, a Kremmling native, began painting only a few years ago, and her skills show a master in the making. Her “Minimal Horse” piece is a strong, fluid example of what can be accomplished with spare color and incredible detail. George’s work is available for purchase at the gallery as well as for viewing at Latigo Ranch, where she works as an owner, chef and photographer.
Bill Janson
Artist in resident, Bill Janson, whose work expands to two rooms in his studio just behind the gallery, is a longtime Kremmling resident. Janson began painting over 20 years ago, and he’s turned his passion into a thriving business that allows everyone to take a piece of the area home. “There’s a story with each photo,” Janson explains. “I’m an opportunistic photographer, and the paintings are either a real place or an imagined one. A place I saw, or a place I wish I saw.” Janson has mastered the ability to capture the beauty of our surrounding areas. His wood pieces have been transformed by the wind, water and sun, while his paintings of sky, pine and snow illuminate his favorite colors of brown and blue.
Whether for residents or tourists, the Gore Range Artisans Gallery offers everyone a unique opportunity to appreciate how local artists gain inspiration from the surrounding area. As brick and mortar stores rapidly decline, such a space is invaluable, because, as Gallagher explains, “Artists can get lost on the internet. We give them a base.” For more information on any of the artists, or to submit your own pieces for consideration, contact the gallery in person or online www. gorerangeartisans.com.
