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Art Scene: Making a masterpiece

He might have been a grocer if his father had his way. But then, his mother was a singer and Claude Monet knew his would be the world of the arts.

At 11 years old, Monet entered the Le Havre secondary school of the arts. Academic courses were taught as well as days spent copying the masters. He soon found himself looking out the window and painting what he saw. He would turn his back on tradition.

As a teenager, he met fellow artist Eugène Boudin who became his mentor and taught him to use oil paints. Boudin taught Monet ‘en plein air’, the outdoor techniques for painting.



In Paris, they would join artists who shared this new vision, painting the effects of outdoor light using broken color and rapid brushstrokes.

They were dedicated to honoring what they saw by painting color by color and layer by layer forever changing the world of art. Impressionism was born.



The Art Center Palette

Each student, each artist, each teacher and each community colleague adds the next impression to our work. We honor them by watching, listening and designing the very best environment for success.

This month is not an exception to our growing offerings but what has become the rule for diverse events like our sold-out Winter Palooza Student Showcase. On Tuesday, December 6th and Wednesday, Dec. 7, our dance company members and gifted dance students will return to the Glenwood Vaudeville Review Theater and take the audience on a wonderful winter wonderland sleigh ride.

We added another vibrant color to the palette with our newly launched program called the Rocky Mountain Dance Project. We responded to the need for a professional feedback event where dancers only compete against themselves as they perform pieces of choreography in front of industry judges discovering what it will take to get them to the next artistic level of competitive dancing.

I’m inviting you to come by the Masonic Lodge at 9th and Colorado on Saturday December 10th anytime between 11:00 and 4:00 or the Center for the Arts on Sunday December 11th between 10:00 and 2:00 and watch this fascinating process of artistic growth.

Our artistic palette expands when we launch this year’s Winterfest Holiday Gift Show.

It all begins on Friday, December 9th from 5:00 – 8:00 when you’ll meet the artists, staff, members of the Glenwood Springs Chamber and your friends and neighbors and shop, shop, shop!

Don’t miss the show that celebrates the beautiful work of local and regional artists. Winterfest runs through December 24th.

The Donors’ Palette

We have launched our 2016 year-end giving campaign, my friends, and we invite your help us create the next masterpiece.

Our donor palette has a color for every level of giving. Any amount you contribute is tax deductible and makes you part of the cultural center of the community — the place where each individual finds their unique opportunity for artistic inspiration. Visit glenwoodarts.org and donate today!

The Master at Work

I’m delighted to close today’s conversation with a rare short film sent to us by our dear friend and gifted British painter, Joy Johns.

This look at the making of a masterpiece is astonishing. Search on Claude Monet – Filmed Painting Outdoors (1915) – YouTube. Now, sit back and be amazed.

Christina Brusig is the executive director of the Glenwood Springs Center for the Arts. She can be reached at christina@glenwoodarts.org.


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