Calling all artists for “Album Mutations!”  Album mutations is a community collaboration between CCAH, KDNK and local artists. Artists can choose an album cover from their own collection or get one from KDNK and then embellish, paint, sculpt, collage or delve into multimedia to mutate the album art into something new and original. Album Mutations will hang in the new KDNK Broadcast Learning Center and will be auctioned off on August 29 benefiting CCAH and KDNK.  Finished art due by August 10. Sign up at CCAH at 963-1680 or email amy@carbondalearts.com.

Jennifer Sellers, Poster Contest Winner

The results are in! The Winner of the 2013 Mountain Poster Contest is Jennifer Sellers of Glenwood Springs, and the People’s Choice Award was a tie between Chris Ford and Richard Moquin, both Carbondale artists. If you came by CCAH and voted for the poster contest, you already know that there were some tough choices to make.  CCAH received over 65 poster submissions for this year’s poster contest, including 20 submissions from Rifle High School art students as well as a handful of out of state submissions.  There was also a variety of mediums including cross-stitch, acrylic on canvas, graphic design, stencil, and recycled latex paint. The poster submissions will continue to hang in the Third Street Center through Friday, June 7th.  Thank you to ALL the artists that submitted work and to all the people that came out to vote!

People's Choice Awards, Chris Ford (left) & Richard Moquin(right)

True Nature Healing Arts,  The Town of Carbondale,  The Thrift Shop of Aspen,  Alpine Bank,  Premier Party Rental,  Alchemy,  Barbie Cottrell- Independent Stylist for Stella & Dot,  Fashion Denver,  Aspen Candy Company,  The Sopris Sun,  Sopris Liquor & Wine,  KDNK Community Radio,  Evergreen Events,  Blue Tent Marketing,  GrassRoots TV,  The PAC3,  The Aspen Times, Solar Flair Thermal Systems,  The Post Independent

CARBONDALE AND LAFAYETTE WIN GOVERNOR’S ARTS AWARD

Gov. Hickenlooper today announced that the Town of Carbondale and the City of Lafayette have been selected as the recipients for the 2012 Governor’s Arts Award. They will be honored at the closing luncheon of the 1st Annual Creative Industries Summit on April 13 in Breckenridge.

“The communities being honored by this award have each made a major commitment to the arts and creativity,” said Gov. Hickenlooper. “They have invested in arts centers and downtown arts districts. They have made sure their young people continue to have access to the arts in school, and they have encouraged their citizens and their businesses to support local artists and arts organizations. I offer them each my hearty congratulations for their work to promote and grow Colorado as a premier creative hub.”

The annual Governor’s Arts Award recognizes a Colorado town or city for their collective efforts to enhance their community and their economy through strategic use of the arts. Carbondale Mayor Stacey Patch Bernot and Lafayette Mayor Carolyn Cutler will be presented with the awards, which are original oil paintings by artist John Lintott of Fruita. The artworks will hang in public locations in the respective cities, and a third painting by Lintott will hang in the lobby of the Governor’s Office.

“Extremely honored only begins to describe our reaction to being named a recipient of the 2012 Governor’s Art Award,” said Mayor Bernot. “Art and creativity are attributes that have been interwoven into the fiber of Carbondale for generations. Our community prides itself on our ability to appreciate, teach, and engage in arts and creativity in a multitude of ways. Whether viewed through the beauty of our public art program, our cultural centers and businesses or witnessed by the creative spark that is ignited in the minds of our youth through our programs, Carbondale values art and creative expression. We are grateful and proud to be this year’s award recipient.”

Mayor Cutler said “The Governor’s Art Award pays tribute to our community’s commitment to the arts articulated by the Cultural Arts Commission some years ago. That vision has been carried forward through the collaborative efforts and hard work of the cultural arts community, local creative industries and City staff. It couldn’t have happened without community support, artists, and local leaders. Lafayette is so proud to be honored for our efforts in the arts, efforts that will continue adding value and vitality to our community.”

Colorado Creative Industries, a division of the Office of Economic Development and International Trade, annually convenes a panel to review nominations. In selecting Carbondale and Lafayette as the recipients, the review panel cited each city’s detailed plans for making the arts central to economic and community development. They were impressed with both towns’ commitment to public art and their efforts to support and promote their artists and creative entrepreneurs. The other nominated cities were Aspen, Durango, Greeley, Lone Tree, Louisville, Mancos, Parker and Westminster.

The Colorado Creative Industries division of the Office of Economic Development and International Trade combines state funds with federal funds from the National Endowment for the Arts to promote, support and expand the creative industries to drive Colorado’s economy, grow jobs, and enhance our quality of life. For more information and to register for the Creative Industries Summit, visit www.coloradocreativeindustries.org.

In 2011, the Colorado legislature passed HB11-1031. In brief, it encourages the formation of Creative Districts in communities, neighborhoods, or contiguous geographic areas, for the purposes of:

• Attracting creative entrepreneurs and artists to a community, infusing new energy and innovation which in turn will enhance the economic and civic capital of the community
• Creating hubs of economic activity, thereby enhancing the area as an appealing place to live, visit and conduct business, as well as create new economic activity
• Attracting visitors
• Revitalizing and beautifying communities
• Providing a focal point for celebrating and strengthening a community’s unique identity
• Showcasing cultural and artistic organizations, events, and amenities

The legislation is written broadly enough to ensure that the Creative District concept is relevant to places large and small, urban and rural, well-established and new. Still, they will have things in common: Creative Districts are defined areas that include a mix of uses within their boundaries, and they are typically small enough to be walkable. All include arts/cultural assets and non-profit as well as for-profit creative businesses. Most will incorporate complementary non-arts businesses such as restaurants, offices, retail stores and housing. Districts may offer events like art walks and arts festivals. Often they will include community gathering places such as a plaza or park.