Live Music in Snowmass & Misc.

One of my favorite signs

Anderson Ranch shares a parking lot with the Snowmass Chapel and Community Center which is tucked into a wooded area near the Brush Creek Trail.  I’m sure it’s no hardship for the Ranch since I’m assuming services are held on Sunday with evening community meetings scheduled sporadically through the month when demand for parking at the Ranch is low.  There is only one parking space that is verboten to all but one person – and that is the minister’s space.  Ya gotta love his/her personalized reserved space!

The chapel is a short stroll over a quaint bridge and Brush Creek

Snowmass Chapel and Community Center

Here’s something you might not know about me – I’m a P.K.  Yes, I’m a preacher’s kid just in case you didn’t get the abbreviation.  My dad was a Lutheran pastor and later assumed the role of protestant chaplain for the US Army.  He served in Vietnam and later toured all over the US and we even lived in Germany for 6 years.  Unfortunately, he died before he retired, but his dream was to lead a small parish and am pretty sure he would have loved living here tending to his flock.

BTW, I fit the profile for most P.K.s  – it’s not something I’m proud of.  My father was actually a fairly liberal pastor and father and understood that people are not perfect.  After I turned 16, he gave me the option of attending services on Sunday.  I didn’t always go, but often did after a particularly debaucherous evening the night before.  I miss hearing my dad covertly preaching directly to me on those days.  I would get “the look” from the pulpit and just knew.  Nothing else was said after we got home – but the message was definitely received on my part.  I’m not particularly religious now, but would call myself spiritual.  There are just too many world religions and philosophies that make sense to me to choose just one.

Fanny Hill concert stage in Snowmass

Last night, we decided to venture up the hill to the base of the ski mountain for dinner and to attend a free outdoor concert.  Every Thursday evening around 6pm the crowds start gathering for the concert.  Picnics are welcome and alcoholic libations are for sale for those interested.  While I do ski during the winter, my favorite time to visit the mountains is in the summer and fall.  It’s sort of weird sitting at the base of the mountain under the chairlifts sans snow and heavy clothing.

It looks like a rain storm over Independence Pass in the distance

It was the perfect evening for a concert.  Temps were around 80° F until the sun went down and then a light jacket was needed.  We had an amazing view of the valley and I started wondering how we could possibly swing living here financially.  The area has everything – outdoor activities, art, music, gorgeous scenery.  I suppose the only thing missing is diversity – though that’s pretty huge in my book.

My calves have been sore and I think it’s all the walking I’ve been doing uphill & downhill.  I can almost tell just by looking at people here who is local and who is just visiting.  The locals are in amazing shape and have a very laid back attitude.  The visitors are the ones breathing hard and most often have the designer duds on.

My daughter Jasmine and me

Can you tell that this wasn’t her first choice of activities for the evening?  She does her best to act very dour when she doesn’t want to do something.  She and her dad have been sleeping in, going to the pool, enjoying the hot tub, going to lunch everyday while I’ve been teaching my class.  Although, I do feel a little sorry for her, she’s been working on math this summer and has even brought her math with her to Snowmass.  Last year, her 4th grade math teacher said she excels in math and asked her to attempt the 5th grade math curriculum over the summer so that she can go straight to 6th grade advanced math this fall when she enters 5th grade.  I’m super proud of her and am so happy that she inherited dad’s math abilities.

Bonerama performing at Fanny Hill

I didn’t know anything about Bonerama, a funk-rock-jazz band from New Orleans, before hearing them last night.  They’re fantastic – lots of horns which I like and full of energy and made me want to visit New Orleans.  We didn’t stay for the whole performance given my sullen daughter, but managed to catch about 3/4 of their show.  Here’s another true confession:  I dislike going to concerts – intensely.  Actually, I should clarify that – I hate large goo-goo plex venues regardless of the act and how much I may like them.  I like seeing live music in small venues with breathing room and thoroughly enjoyed last night’s concert.

Some of my students hard at work

Meanwhile, my class has been hard at work finishing their movable mixed media ceramic sculptures.  We sent home invitations to their parents to attend a little exhibition today at the end of class time to see what we’ve been up to the past week.

Some of the ceramic components of their sculptures

After Wednesday’s class, I was doubtful that they would finish – but after yesterday’s class, I realized that we’re ahead of schedule now.  Two of my students have already finished their projects and are simply accessorizing their sculptures.  The rest of my class is almost there and will be in time for our exhibition this afternoon.  I’ll share some photos of their work tomorrow.

Yesterday afternoon, I perused the Patton-Malott and Gartner Galleries at the Ranch to see a sneak peak of some of the art work that will be auctioned off live next Saturday on August 9th.  I didn’t take any photos, but was impressed with an immense large ceramic vessel by Chris Gustin, a bronze sculpture of a dog by Mary Engel, the ceramic piece by Michael Wisner, a figurative ceramic sculpture by Akio Takamori and a Chromogenic photomontage by Christina McPhee.  Other well known artists are also included in the live auction including a piece by Damien Hirst.

I donated a little piece to the silent auction – it’s definitely reasonably priced comparitively.  To see the whole auction catalog online, click here. Absentee Bids are now being taken online as well as in person at the event.

I can’t believe my week is almost up,

~Cynthia