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Around Telluride

Turquoise In Telluride, real jewels before screen gems and images on canvas open for the ones on the silver screen. Thursday, September 1, is the Telluride Council for the Arts & Humanities' First Thursday Art Walk. First Thursdays are special: galleries and retail shops around town stay open late until eight.

Start with the bling at Lustre, an artisan's gallery, 171 South Pine Street, is hosting a trunk show featuring the classic 24K gold jewelry by the metal artist Gurhan Orhan, renowned for his pioneering work in the revival of pure 24 karat gold jewelry. His signature technique was inspired by the art of ancient goldsmiths.

01 September, 2010 /
IMG_5308 Despite its relatively small crowd size –  about 3,000 attendees versus, say,10,000 for events such as Telluride Bluegrass -  Telluride Film Festival, September 3 – September 6, brings in more sales tax revenue to both Telluride and the Mountain Village than any other single event. And it does so with minimal environmental impact.

Equally important, the Telluride Film Festival has developed a worldwide reputation as to go-to spot for the unhyped celebration of the art of filmmaking. Telluride's reputation as the place to be results in hundreds of articles across the country and beyond each year, which reinforces the brand like no other festival can.

Finally, the Telluride Film Festival itself pumps well over $1 million into the local economy in staff salaries, lodging, food and other expenses. It is an economic engine without parallel. Neither the Festival nor the greater community would be the same without the other.
31 August, 2010 /
[click "Play" to hear Susan's conversation with GM Ray Farnsworth]

Parlor This week, Telluride is positively a-glitter with gems, on screen and off.

Critics often describe Telluride Film Festival, this long Labor Day weekend, September 3 – September 6, as a "gem," even a "crown jewel" among the roughly 1,700 similar events around the world.

There are real gems at local galleries too: The Telluride Gallery of Fine Art (Hollywood fav Lori Rodkin for one), Lustre (Gurhan) and Dolce (Pamela Froman and Katey Brunini, also Tinseltown queens).

The historic New Sheridan Hotel is another sparkler. The Grande Dame of the town –  the heart and soul of the social scene 118 years ago, back in the days Telluride's streets were paved with gold –  was restored to her Victorian splendor by world-famous interior designer Nina Campbell a little over a year ago. And this year, once again, the New Sheridan is the place to be and be seen over the Telluride Film Festival weekend.
30 August, 2010 /
[click "Play", Susan speaks to "Auntie Graffiti" (Jane Goren)]

Janegorencardhoriz-3 Think of Auntie Graffiti as Telluride's answer to Auntie Mame: madcap, irreverent, fun-loving, funny, and free-spirited. Her thing is traveling the world painting portraits on paper toilet seat covers, though, like Mame, she is a scandalizer, not a vandalizer.

Part-time Telluride local Auntie Graffiti has presented her bathroom art at renegade exhibitions in the toilets and WCs of renowned museums and galleries around the world. Now she returns to town with her offbeat body of work.

Sapsucker Studios, 299 South Spruce, opens the first exhibit of works by Auntie Graffiti September 2, 5 - 8 p.m., in conjunction with the Telluride Council for the Arts & Humanities' First Thursday Art Walk, a walkabout to show off Telluride's art scene, when local galleries, studios and retail shops stay open late until 8 p.m.
30 August, 2010 /
[click "Play" to hear David Bangert speak about forest health in the Telluride region]

IMG_4030 Join Telluride-based The New Community Coalition for a short hike around the Nature Center, Ridge area and top of Lift 7 in the Mountain Village to see what's happening with our trees and forests and the nasty things that love them: budworms, bark beetles, elk, and fungi.

The event takes place, rain or shine, Tuesday, August 31, 10 a.m. – 12:30ish. Meet at the Top of Lift 7 and bring water, sunscreen, bug repellent, snacks, rain gear and good walking shoes. Dave Bangert, Mountain Village Forester/Recreation Supervisor leads.
30 August, 2010 /

The seventh annual Mountains to the Desert bike ride is set for Saturday, September 25, 2010. Riders can start from Telluride or Norwood, and there are two options for routing from each start. Early registration is $100, fee increases to $125 on September 1....

30 August, 2010 /


The Ah Haa School for the Arts in Telluride has classes for all ages, on any number of subjects. Along with our enthusiastic fellow students, Telluride Inside... and Out was getting smart about making bread (no, not an investing class) at the home of Larry and Sally Simpson on Saturday, August 28.

Our "professors" were Carole and Milt Quam, long-time breadmakers from California. As Milt puts it, "Carole and I regard ourselves as 'serious home bakers'.  We’ve been baking seriously for the last 15 or so years. Originally we identified with a group of whole grain bakers, most doing their baking in wood-fired ovens. There were some very talented bakers, as well as oven builders in that group."

29 August, 2010 /

by Katie Singer

Due to their extraordinary community service through the years, Andrea Benda and  Dan & Green Garner have been selected as 2010 Outstanding Citizen.  The Telluride Foundation created its Outstanding Citizen award in 2003 to honor San Miguel County residents who make remarkable and unselfish contributions to the region.

“Andrea and Dan & Greer are exemplary citizens.  We simply could not choose between them," said Joanne Corzine-Brown, Co-Chairman of the Board of the Telluride Foundation. “Their years of great service to Telluride and Mountain Village have impacted so many lives.  We are proud to name them Outstanding Citizens."

29 August, 2010 /