The first snow of the year has fallen, blanketing the landscape in a gentle white layer of beauty. The spirits of those who love fresh flakes falling from the sky are heightened as the onset of winter heralds the arrival of a season that, in the Yampa Valley, is celebrated in many different ways.
What has not cooled is the monthly display of art that is the First Friday Artwalk.
This month the Jace Romick/R-Diamond Gallery, at 833 Lincoln Ave., is featuring art that celebrates the winter season and the sport that helped put Steamboat Springs on the map — skiing. The gallery is displaying the iconic ski photography of Ray Atkeson (1907-1990).
Atkeson is notable for his work capturing the power of the sport from the 1930s through the 1950s. He is known for creating some of the more memorable black and white images of majestic turns being made on the slopes in the western reaches of the United States.
The Depot Arts Center, 1001 13th St., captures the spirit of snow with its Winter Wonderland Member Show that opens Friday with a 5-8 p.m. reception. Works from Jill Bergman, Leslie Lovejoy, Jan Spencer and Jane Sindell will present the season of snowflakes in various mediums including watercolors, linocut with gouache and pastels.
The Platform Gallery at The Depot Arts Center will play host to the works of Erin Branscum. Branscum is a RiverWalk Collective member as well as an art teacher at Sleeping Giant School. Her paintings in oil, acrylic and watercolor capture different views and perspectives from around Routt County. Using her “Texan heritage” as a lens, Branscum presents various depictions of Western culture, animals and landscapes.
Branscum has lived in Steamboat Springs for five years. After moving here from Texas, she became a paraprofessional at Steamboat Springs Middle School. The inspiration and energy she drew from that position inspired her to get her master’s degree in education and to become the art teacher at Sleeping Giant. Outdoor spaces serve as her muse when it comes to the creation of her art. She seeks to continually capture “the beauty of the outdoors, and then share it with the world.”
“I love teaching and have continued my love for art in my free time. I love that I get to do both,” Brasncum explained. “I have always loved creating and making artwork, especially about the mountains and outdoors.”
The Schoonover Gallery, at 929 Lincoln Ave., is featuring the art of Gary Oakley. Oakley is a painter who captures the beauty, energy and mystique of the American West. He uses a square format to build depth through the use of pigments and layers of paint. The result is a work of art that pulls the viewer into the perspective of the piece and the landscape that it captures.
Pine Moon Fine Art will be hosting an art exhibit titled, “Trees: Artistry Through the Seasons,” which opens Friday at 117 9th St. in Steamboat Springs. The show aims to capture the collective power of trees and their ability to communicate, connect and provide stability to each other while also illustrating their life-bringing role in our lives and the lives of animals. All are invited to enjoy the “forest” of art at the opening reception 5-8 p.m. Friday.
Jane Sindell’s “The Barn” captures the mystique and power of Steamboat Springs in winter.The Depot Art Gallery/Courtesy Image
“Boots,” an oil painting by local artist and Sleeping Giant educator Erin Branscum, captures Western perspectives.The Depot Arts Center/Courtesy Photo
View from the Library, a photograph by Abby Jensen, will be part of an exhibit at Pine Moon Fine Art celebrating the power of trees.Pine Moon Fine Art/Courtesy Photo