YOUR AD HERE »

Applications sought for Carbondale’s Art aRound Town

Jessica Cabe
jcabe@postindependent.com
Ernesto, a bison made of metal and wood by James Burnes of New Mexico
Courtesy Photo / Post Independent File |

The Carbondale Public Arts Commission (CPAC) has issued a call for applications for its 13th annual Art aRound Town yearlong public exhibition. CPAC, along with other town officials, will choose 13 sculptures to install in the streets of Carbondale this summer.

Chosen artists will be given $500 to offset travel expenses, and one artist whose work is named Best in Show will receive $1,000.

Last year, CPAC received applications from 60 artists in 16 states. Best in Show went to James Burnes from Santa Fe, New Mexico, for his wood and steel bull, “Ernesto.”



“I believe that including public art in our neighborhoods is one of the greatest things that we as artists, curators and residents can do,” Burnes said in a press release. “My primary goal as an artist is to create works that people enjoy being part of their everyday life.”

Carbondale established CPAC in 2003 under the belief that public art builds community and strengthens local economies. In addition to Art aRound Town, which has been going on since CPAC’s inception, the commission in 2005 created and implemented Carbondale’s One Percent for the Arts program, making the arts a priority in fund allocation.



Carbondale is known statewide to be a strong supporter of the arts. In 2012, the town was a co-recipient of the Governor’s Arts Award, which honors a city or town in Colorado that emphasizes the arts. And last June, the town was chosen to participate in Colorado’s new Creative District program for 2014-15, creating a more solidified art community.

“Carbondale is trying to become this really creative, eclectic, art-centric community,” said CPAC member Sarah Moore. “The main reason public art is so important is it makes art accessible to people who don’t have art in their everyday lives or don’t think about art in their everyday lives.”

Artists who are chosen for Art aRound Town get more than monetary benefits: They will lead an art walk for the public, be guests of honor at a cocktail event and attend an artist-only gathering to share their techniques and experiences.

Applications for Art aRound Town are due by Feb. 15 and can be filled out at the CaFE (Call for Entry) website: http://www.callforentry.org. Artists will be asked to answer questions about their pieces’ weight, size, electrical requirements and base requirements. CPAC is especially interested in colorful artwork and sculptures that are large enough for the outdoors, but artists are welcome to use any style or material to create representational or abstract work. Applicants will be notified if their pieces were chosen on March 1. Installation takes place from May 26 through June 5, and an artist-led public tour of the pieces and a reception will take place on June 4.


Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism

Readers around Glenwood Springs and Garfield County make the Post Independent’s work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.

Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.

Each donation will be used exclusively for the development and creation of increased news coverage.