Culture

by Cicily Janus

Susan Gatschet-Reese
Susan Gatschet-Reese
Clint Viebrock photo

Editor's note: Susan Gatschet-Reese is a dear friend, recently been let go by KUVO. We met at the Telluride Jazz Celebration, – coming up this weekend in Telluride – where we vowed to deepen our friendship by heading out for evenings of music together in Denver, Telluride Inside... and Out's second home. When we walked into Dazzle, perhaps  the premiere jazz venue in the city, with Susan the waters parted. Clint and I were treated like royalty because we were part of Susan's crowd. The respect for her in the jazz world was always palpable. We met Cicily Janus and Jim Bailey, two of Susan's friends and advocates, through TIO. Cicily has agreed to contribute to Telluride Inside.... and Out, beginning with this story in support of our friend and a friend of jazz.

 

For close to 35 years, thousands have gathered in the middle of the mountainous paradise known as Telluride to hear the very best of the best in the jazz community perform at the Telluride Jazz Celebration. For many of those years, the Denver-based radio station KUVO has been a mainstay sponsor and event MC. But this year, KUVO , instead of leaving a mark on the stage, will only be leaving a hole: their most notable on-air voice, Susan Gatschet-Reese, who has MC'd Telluride for the previous 16 years, was recently "let go" from the station. Although her absence at the Festival this year is not entirely due to her release at KUVO, this is a loss the jazz community should take note of.

Gold pin Art Walk is a meet and greet for art lovers and friends and a chance for artists, galleries, studios, and nonconventional arts venues such as restaurants to showcase Telluride's fine arts scene. And some restaurants even feature Art Walk specials.

New this year is a Kids Walk, 4 – 6 p.m. including a self-guided map and hands on activities for families designed to teach basic principles of art through observation.

One venue on the Walk should appeal to both kids and adults. The Telluride Gallery of Fine Art, 130 East Colorado features a show,  “From Beasts to Babar: Ten Children’s Illustrators,” which opened July 28 and runs through the Telluride Film Fest weekend in early September. The exhibition of original drawings includes the work of Maurice Sendak, Etienne Delessert, Bernie Fuchs, Henrik Drescher, Laurent de Brunhoff, Peter Sis, Gennady Spirin, Peter McCarty, Tomie De Paola, and Jeanne de Sainte Marie.

(For interviews and videos with Delessert, Drescher, Sis, McCarty and de Sainte Marie, type their full names into Search on the Home page of www.tellurideinside.com.)

by Jim Bedford

Movieinfo2011-com--harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-part-2---Photo-2 Disney-winnie-the-poo-movie-2010-01-copy The Nugget Theatre in beautiful downtown Telluride shows movies all year long and screens two films this coming week.

Friday through Thursday, Aug 5-11, in Disney's new WINNIE THE POOH (2011), Eyeore has lost his tail, and Winnie the Pooh and his friends hold a contest to get him a new one.

Continuing all week is also HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS Part 2, where the fabulous eight movie series of J.K. Rowling's not-just-for-kids books comes to an end -- and a beginning. Long live Harry Potter!

See the Nugget website for trailers and reviews, and below for movie times.

Elaine_email Telluride Arts' First Thursday Art Walk showcases the best of the best of the region's  fine arts and crafts scene at galleries, studios, even retail outlets, including restaurants. This month the event is scheduled for Thursday, August 4, 5  8 p.m., with a must-see stop at Telluride's Ah Haa School for the Arts, 300 South Townsend. On display in Ah Haa's Daniel Tucker Gallery is the latest work by county commissioner and painter, Elaine Fischer.

"Broken Ground," Elaine's images of uncensored landscape, appear to have been created in a seizure of inspiration, suggesting the evolution of an ever more adept artist who s expressing herself with a greater and greater sense of spontaneity and honesty.

[click "Play" to hear Susan's conversation with Emilio Castillo and Larry Braggs]

 

A_group_shot Telluride in the 1970s was dirt poor and tie dyed. The Idarado Mines were closing and derelicts were crashing at the historic Sheridan Opera House. In the larger world, some of the currents of the 1960s had become mainstream, women's lib and youth with a voice for two. Polyester became as ubiquitous as avocado and gold for in home decor. Yuck. "Taxi Driver" was one of the standout movies of the decade. And Tower of Power came on the scene. Amen.

Tower of Power appears in all its horny glory (and I mean that in the good sense) at the 35th annual Telluride Jazz Celebration, August 5 – August 7, 2011, a not-to-be-missed weekend of jazz, funk, blues, wine, even yoga, which features other enduring legends in addition to Tower of Power, among them, Guest of Honor Paquito d'Rivera, Rita Coolidge and Allen Toussaint.

[click "Play", Susan talks with Frank Cicero about Relative Strangers]

 

RelativeStrangers It was a slam dunk whenever part-time Telluride local Frank Cicero stood in front of a courtroom. A senior partner since the 1970s at the prestigious Chicago law firm of Kirkland & Ellis and a trial and an appellate lawyer, Cicero's list of wins in a wide variety of civil and criminal cases in courts at all levels all over the world is mighty impressive.

The reason for his history of legal triumphs becomes apparent when you read Cicero's very first book, Relative Strangers: Italian Protestants in the Catholic World (2011). The guy clearly does his homework and he knows how to spin a compelling yarn.

Frank Cicero is in town for a book signing of "Relative Strangers" at Telluride's Between the Covers. The very social,very casual book launch party takes place Saturday, August 6, 6:30 p.m. (Simple refreshments included.) On the bill with Frank is Mt. Evans, Colorado-based photographer Bill Hitz, breaking out his coffee table photography book showcasing the Four Corners, Roads Less Traveled. Its forward was written by General Schwarzkopf, who said "You're photos are like a spirit... They speak to me." (http://www.mtevansphotography.com/Home.php)

by David FeelaA compressor would be the quickest,though the scaffolding requiredto touch the ceilingmight make the Tower of Babellook like a stairwell.Give me one politicianwith the vision of Michelangeloand I will lie on my backthrough the next election depicting a brilliant fresco of the future.Or...

[click "Play", Susan talks with Sasha and Sarah]

 

Poster for Is there any doubt Telluride local Sasha Cucciniello enjoys an occasional walk on on the wild side?

In December, the company she founded, SquidShow Theatre, produced a play that conjured Telluride's wild and wooly past, at the turn of the 20th century when men were miners and women were, well, let's just say they liked to flaunt it. Squid's "Burlesque" was a smash hit, playing to a sold out houses at the historic Sheridan Opera House in December. (Yes, Sasha plans an encore performance this year.)

With "CON," the Squid's upcoming production, Sasha gets naked again – but in a different way. In "CON," a play about liars, Sasha bares her soul: the play was inspired by her father, an infamous grifter. Performances begin Thursday, July 28, and run through Monday, August 1, 8:30 p.m. at The Nugget Theatre (once upon a time a vaudeville house).

[click "Play" to listen to Susan's interview with Peter McCarty]


Cov_bunny When Will Thompson's Telluride Gallery of Fine Art opens its blockbuster show, "From Beasts to Barbar," featuring the work of 10 of the top children's book illustrators in the world, the work of Peter McCarty is featured.

McCarty was originally to be in town for the opening July 28. As it turns, he plans an August trip to Telluride instead. However, had things worked out as scheduled, being spokesperson for the group would have forced McCarty out of his head, which is a good thing because McCarty has been living and working in his "attic" since the tender age of three. The place is now littered with ideas. The guy needs some fresh air. And maybe a cocktail.

[click "Play" to hear Susan's conversation with Mia Borders]

 

SOS POSTER Local Teddy Errico's Telluride Cajun Festival is a little bit like the phoenix of mythology – or Harry Potter fame. Too much spice (music and food) burns it up, but the event inevitably returns better and stronger.

After a two-year break, The 2011 Telluride Cajun Festival and its partner, Oak, (the new Fat Alley), announce a South Oak Social with headliner Mia Borders performing on a program with the Great Funktier and Lily Von Shtupp. The main event takes place rain or shine Friday, July 29, at The Gondola Plaza at the base of Chair 8. Gates at 4 p.m. (Mia is scheduled to perform at 6 p.m.) Tickets are just $10 in advance and $15 day of show. Saturday, July 30, is a free night of music featuring Von Schtupp. Show time is 6 p.m.