Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2008 - (Page 58) Culture, Heritage and Sophistication A Medley of Live Music Served Al Fresco Beneath the shine of stars, the backdrop of an auburn sunset or surrounded by an endless blue sky, outdoor concerts in Colorado tip the scales of enjoyment. As a result, a litany of upper-echelon musicians make it a priority to play here. Consider: Red Rocks Amphitheater, Morrison; Colorado Chautauqua, Boulder; Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival, Vail; Music in the Mountains Classical Music Festival, Durango; Steamboat Strings Music Festival, Steamboat Springs The soft vibrations of violin strings, the smooth stroke of a brush on canvas and the pathos of an onscreen character. Each stirs us and challenges our perceptions of the world, allowing artists to speak to us with their creativity. It’s true that art thrives in Colorado’s climate; consider these events and art centers — just a few of the multitude. Artistic Enclaves Why limit yourself to just one style or simply one artist? Hop from gallery to gallery and find favorites among the talent of Colorado, or mingle with fellow art lovers along streets dusted in snow. Numerous towns have such a bevy of galleries that collectively they have created art districts that sponsor monthly open-door gallery nights. Consider: Denver Art Walk, Denver; Fort Collins Art Walk, Fort Collins; Salida Historic District, Salida; Sculpture in the Park, Loveland Arts Film Festivals That Steal the Limelight Colorado is gaining a reputation as a springboard for budding talent. Stars with household names already consider parts of Colorado home. And while the luster of often over-hyped festivals in other states has begun to fade, Colorado’s film fests are beginning to garner international acclaim. Consider: Aspen Filmfest, Aspen; Telluride Film Festival, Telluride; Starz Film Festival, Denver Broadway Productions Without the New York Price Tag Resident and touring groups perform both classics in the canon and burgeoning plays, ballets and operas. Since Coloradans are avid about the arts, the quality of these productions result in a lot of rave reviews from nationally recognized critics. Consider: Denver Performing Arts Complex, Denver; Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre, Grand Lake; Creede Repertory Theatre, Creede Fine and Modern Art for the Ages In Colorado, art hangs within art. Colorado has been attracting a number of star-caliber architects — among them Daniel Libeskind — to design structures considered art in their own right. Inside these buildings, Colorado’s collection shines with original pieces from such artists as Warhol (Denver Art Museum in Denver) and Picasso (FAC Modern in Colorado Springs). Consider: Denver Art Museum, Denver; FAC Modern, Colorado Springs; Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver A Slice of Americana at Craft Fairs In the 1800s, pioneers crossed the Great Plains and brought with them the family secrets and traditions of crafting. In Colorado, homesteaders held tight to these traditions, practicing and perfecting them until Colorado became the producer of some of the most creative and highly coveted techniques and pieces. This deep tradition continues and the fruits of generations of work can be found throughout the state. Consider: 4-Corners Arts and Crafts Fiesta, Cortez; Wool Market, Estes Park 58 1-800-Colorado | www.colorado.com http://www.colorado.com
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