Trees . . . Art and Soul

Opening Reception Friday, August 19, 5—8 pm

August 19—September 12, 2016

Trees . . . Art and Soul was inspired by the Native American Ute Tribe and their culturally modified “Prayer” Trees. Each artist in this show is interpreting nature and their surroundings to utilize their individual mediums of pen and ink, pastels, clay, metal, and wood.

Show coordinator, Lynn Lee, was first inspired to paint the altered trees of the Ute Indians as she noticed a prayer tree in Stratton Open Space near her home. These altered trees can generally be classified as trail markers, medicine trees, burial trees, story trees and prophecy trees. They are considered to be sacred by the Utes and are very beautiful. Lynn’s pastels evoke the character of each individual tree.

Lampworker, Valerie Bartron, drew her inspiration from a different First Nation source—the Ogalala and their Tree of Life ceremony. Working with colored glass rods and an open torch she creates each bead one at a time drawing on the imagery and colors of the Tree of Life.

Her inspiration came from a private commission and the imagery and prayers for the warriors during the ceremony lined up with her military spouse life.

In addition to the Tree of Life beads Valerie has drawn on her life in Divide and created other beads with pine trees and aspen groves.

Deb Hager seized the opportunity to do something different from her usual functional pottery work. The raku work created for this show portrays trees, butterflies, and birds, Juxtaposing her green glaze with the crackly finish of the raku. “I wanted to emphasize the contrast of new green growth on the trees with a vintage look, to relay the timelessness and fragility of trees as an ecosystem. I also wanted to communicate our reliance on trees for the renewal of our air and the reliance animals have on trees as their home.”

Over the years Jerry Switzer’s wood pile has grown larger and larger as special pieces of wood are stashed away in anticipation of the hidden potential that can be released when placed on his lathe. Jerry has developed a keen eye for unique wood grains, figuring and patterns and is always looking for an opportunity to experiment with new techniques and shapes. His turnings are never stained or dyed, as this tends to diminish the natural beauty of a well-shaped piece of wood. Every piece of cracked, worm-eaten wood is finessed into a completely original work that fully embraces the beauty of its flaws and is firmly rooted in a passion for wood and the state of Colorado.

Additional artists participating in this show are Catie Szabo and Jodie Bliss.