Sheridan Arts Foundation: Telluride Opera House tours September 10

07 Sep Sheridan Arts Foundation: Telluride Opera House tours September 10

It is a little bit like learning Greek statues were originally brightly painted, not white. Photos discovered in 2002 illustrate the fact that Telluride's Sheridan Opera House was originally stenciled throughout the auditorium. Read on to learn how you can help restore the original decoration.

The original decorative painting of the Sheridan Opera House is significant because it is a rare example of the transitional period between the Art Nouveau style of the late 1800s and the Craftsman style of the 1920s. Because this transitional style is so rare and unusual, the discovery represents a “missing link” along the continuum of architectural styles in the United States.

During the early 20th century, other opera houses in the Rocky Mountains region were decorated in a classical, more traditional style, but true to form for Telluride, our Opera House’s bold stenciling is a more innovative, edgier kind of decoration for the period.

From the original photographs, experts have ascertained that the stenciling was completed by a formally trained and highly skilled artisan (perhaps the same scenic artist who created the theater’s beautifully rendered olio curtain). The original stenciling was very tastefully done, laid out with careful consideration, and with excellent proportion to the architecture.

The repetitive organic pattern of the Opera House’s original stenciling enhanced the theater’s intimacy and accessibility to its patrons. Without it, the ambience of the theater’s interior is unbalanced and incomplete. The stenciling unifies and harmonizes the interior.

To date, the Sheridan Arts Foundation has raised $15,500 towards its Historic Stencil Replication project. To reach its fundraising goal, $13,000 is still needed. The Telluride community is encouraged to give what they can toward the campaign. No donation is too small. The deadline for this fundraising project is September 10, 2009. Please help us complete this important project so our theater can be returned to its original glory.

To that end, members of the community and guests are invited to spend time touring the historic building on Thursday, September 10th.  The open house is a chance for the public to take a good look at the theater and envision it with the new artwork created by Ken Scar, the replication artist, who will be on hand to answer questions about the return of the theater to its original state.

Historic Stencil Replication Project Open House & Stencil Tours

Sheridan Opera House

September 10, 2009 (Thurs)

Open House: 4-6pm

Live Music: 6-9pm

Ticket giveaways (Teton Gravity Research & The English Beat)

Refreshments served. Donations welcome!

Anyone Can Help Restore the Historic Stenciling in the Sheridan Opera House…Donate Cash Saver Coupons!

Tell your friends and neighbors to donate their Clarks Market Cash Savers to the Sheridan Arts Foundation the week of September 3-9, 2009. Clarks Market will give us fifty cents for every Cash Saver coupon donated during our collection week.

For more information about this project, call Ronnie Palamar at 970.728.6363, Ext. 1 or visit the Sheridan Opera House office. Donations may be mailed to:
Sheridan Arts Foundation
P.O. Box 2680

Telluride, CO 81435