Art Attack

Michael Chavez, curator at the Foothills Art Center (809 Fifteenth Street, Golden, 303-279-3922, www.foothillsartcenter.org) has put together a marvelous group show calledArtists in Residence: Anderson Ranch. As indicated by that title, the exhibit is made up of works by artists who teach or who’ve had residencies at the world famous Anderson Ranch Arts Center (5263 Owl Creek Road, Snowmass Village, 1-970-923-3181, www.andersonranch.org) outside of Aspen.

Founded in the 1980s with special focus on ceramics and photography -- since broaden to include all mediums -- the mission of Anderson Ranch is to promote an understanding of the visual arts through a transitory community of artists dedicated to creativity. Artists, both emerging and established ones, are given a two to six month residency during which they are given studio space and lodging. This is a great luxury in itself with few artists wealthy enough to rent facilities up there in the Aspen area where costs are sky high.

Chavez -- working together with Anderson Ranch president, Hunter O’Hanian -- chose twenty artists working in a broad range of mediums such as painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography, installation and video. Among the selected artists are Doug Casebeer, Matt Christie, Jennifer Ghormley, Ji Yong Kim and Erin Dinsmoor.

There are only a handful of art outfits in Colorado with the reputation of the Anderson Ranch Art Center making this outing at the Foothills Art Center an important exhibit in revealing the state of fine art in our state. There’s only one problem with the show—it closes at 5 p.m. today, meaning if you want to see Artists in Residence, it’s now or never
May 9-July 6, 2008