Crested Butte Arts: February 23 – 29, 2012

24—25 ART SUBMISSION DAYS FOR JURIED EXHIBITION IN MARCH
―Green‖ is the theme for the 2012 juried exhibition at the GAC. Artists are welcome to submit art of any medium reflecting their own unique interpretation of the theme ―green.‖ The exhibition will be juried by a panel of local artists and community members. Prizes will be awarded in many different categories. 12:00—6:00 p.m., $35 non-member for up to 3 pieces. Gunnison Arts Center. 102 Main Street, Gunnison. (970) 641-4029. www.gunnisonartscenter.org

24 ASPEN LAFF FESTIVAL: A NIGHT OF STAND-UP COMEDY
This night of stand-up comedy showcases comics who have distinguished themselves with intelligent, thought-provoking humor that is just a little nervier, just a little darker. Tom Simmons strips long held beliefs of their credibility with searing logic. Danny Bevins’ audacious, irrev-erent, charring and sarcastic mouth has gotten him arrested, fined and fired. Hippie Man covers topics from corporate America to original recipe baked goods with a disarming presence and sharp wit. 8:00 p.m. $20. Center for the Arts. 606 6th Street, Crested Butte. ((70) 349-1775.

25 MUG MAKING
Warm yourself, heart and soul, with a handmade mug filled with cocoa or hot tea this winter. Students will learn a slab technique to build a mug with handle, using imprinting tools to make it their own. For kids: 9:30—11:00 a.m. $35. For adults: 12:00—2:00 p.m., $45. Gunnison Arts Center. 102 Main Street, Gunnison. (970) 641-4029. www.gunnisonartscenter.org

26 THE TRAILHEAD EXPRESS
Join The Trailhead Children’s Museum for fine dining, friends and fundraising as we travel by sleigh through the woods to Uley’s Cabin at Crested Butte Mountain Resort for an evening of fun and adventure. This is an adult-only event to support our children—babysitting is pro-vided by The Trailhead. Tickets are limited. Don’t miss out on this annual event! Sleigh departs from 9380 Restaurant at the base of Crested Butte Mountain. 4:30—8:30 p.m. $100 per person. 970-349-7160. www.trailheadkids.org.

26 BEGINNING HOOPDANCE
The Crested Butte Dance Collective and Center for the Arts get groovy with Hoopdance. Learn the core and off-body techniques, tricks and freeflow of hooping. Hula hoops of various sizes and weights are provided for classroom use. All levels welcome. 4:00—6:00 p.m. $20. Pump Room Dance Studio. 306 Maroon Avenue, Crested Butte. (970) 349-7487, ext. 6. www.crestedbuttearts.org.

27 AFRICAN DANCE CLASS
The Crested Butte Dance Collective and Center for the Arts bring in the rhythm with African Dance. These high-energy dance classes to live drumming explore a variety of traditional African movements and rhythms from Guinea to Zimbabwe. All levels and drop-ins welcome. $10. 6:00 p.m.—7:30 p.m. Center for the Arts. 606 6th Street, Crested Butte. (970) 349-7487, ext. 6. www.crestedbuttearts.org.

Special Gallery Showings
26 ARTWALK EVENINGS
Sponsored by the Artists of the West Elks. Watch for the special ―Art Tonight‖ signs and stroll from gallery to gallery in Crested Butte enjoy-ing libations, appetizers and local art exhibitions. Cleavage Candy Gallery (429 Elk Avenue), Oh-Be-Joyful Gallery (409 3rd Street), Rijks Family Gallery (310 2nd Street), Paragon Gallery (132 Elk Avenue), Icehouse Art & Atelier (202 1/2 2nd Street), Susan Anderton Fine Art (Third and Elk), J.C. Leacock Photo Gallery (327 Elk Avenue), The Art Studio of the Center for the Arts (111 Elk Avenue), John Ingham Gallery (403 3rd Street), 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Call the Oh Be Joyful Gallery at (970) 349–5936 for more information.

Special ArtWalk Activities
Oh-Be-Joyful Gallery: Meet Dave Santillanes, Landscape painter Join us to meet emerging Colorado painter Dave Santillanes, whose work was awarded ―Best in Show‖ at the 2011 Crested Butte Plein Air invitation. Enjoy his newest, atmospheric style landscape paintings.
The Art Studio of the Center for the Arts: Artist Reception, Gail & Andy Sovick Visit with local artists Gail and Andy Sovick as they feature photography and paintings from their six-month cross-country bike adventure in New Zealand and the creative inspiration they find in the natural world.

25 ARTIST RECEPTION: MARTY EVANS, PHOTOGRAPHY, ―VISIONS OF A HOPELESS ROMANTIC‖
Marty Evans graduated from Art Center College of Design in California and became a highly successful advertising photographer, traveling and shooting all over the world from Paris to New Guinea and all points between. Ten years ago Marty retired from that phase of his life and settled in Crested Butte where he developed his unique style of brushstroke photography for fine art. Artist reception 5—7 p.m. Show runs from February 24—March 7, Free. Piper Gallery of the Center for the Arts, 606 6th Street, Crested Butte. (970) 349-7487. www.crestedbuttearts.org.

Through February 26 ARTISTS OF THE WEST ELKS (AWE) MEMBERS EXHIBITION
Enjoy diverse artworks representing the wealth of creativity in the Gunnison Valley with over 25 AWE members and local artists in this an-nual show. AWE is a local visual arts advocacy non-profit. More information on their artists, mission and activities can be found at www.awearts.org Gunnison Arts Center, 102 S. Main St., Gunnison. (9741-4029). www.gunnisonar.tscenter.org