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We are happy to announce our 2024 Second Friday themes for the Eagle Gallery! Thank you again to everyone that filled out the survey last fall. We took the feedback we received and used it to develop a lineup that has open themes, specific themes and themes that are open for interpretation. We also added a color to the months with themes so that we can have as many artists and photographers as possible showcase their work at the Eagle Gallery! We will send out email reminders at the end of each month along with drop off dates and times. If you have any questions, you can reach out to elke@vvagco.org

Celebrate National Bird Feeding Month with VVAG Photographer Rick Spitzer! Did you know that February is National Bird Feeding Month? National Bird Feeding month was established by Congress in 1994. Rick Spitzer will be presenting "The Birdlife of Eagle County" at two of our pubic libraries in conjunction with National Bird Feeding month. Rick will present and show images about the incredible variety of bird life around us in Eagle County. There are many interesting and unusual facts about these birds. He will also provide some photography tips and information about where these birds can be seen in Eagle County. Gypsum Public Library February 22, 2024 5:30pm to 6:30pm 47 Lundgren Blvd, Gypsum, CO 81637 Avon Public Library February 28, 2024 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM 200 Mikaela Way, Avon, CO 81620

We are pleased to announce our partnership with The Charter at Beaver Creek The Charter at Beaver Creek offers a complete retreat for ski enthusiasts and relaxation seekers alike.  Experience ski-in access, skier shuttle, access on-site winter sports rentals at Charter Sports, experience an alpine haven at the Spa & Nail Salon, and sit down to contemporary cuisine at the new Charter Steakhouse. The Charter is conveniently located steps from village amenities, shops, restaurants, and the ski slopes at Beaver Creek Resort. It all started last year when the Charter Homeowners Association president met Guild member Margo Thomas at a local summer art show. They hoped to include local artists as part of their campus renovation. Of course we lept to action with such an exciting opportunity. The renovation is complete and the artwork makes the architecture shine!! Our collaborative programs are now ready for the world to love!! Scroll or click to learn more: ART GALLERY ARTWALKS DONATION ART GALLERY As part of the remarkable renovation, the homeowners were very generous in awarding purchased and consigned artwork to Vail Valley Art Guild local members. Works from the following Guild members adorn the walls: Allan Finney Amy Dose Beth Levine Chris Sena Elke Wells Jennifer Hammond Jessica Wright Josh Stevenson Neil and Caroline Stewart Raj Manickam Soodi Kick Tara Novak Artwork can be seen in these areas of the campus: Main Lobby Steakhouse Restaurant Lower Lobby Ceremony Lobby Spa and Pool Area Please know several pieces are for sale. And many artists have additional works for sale if you happen to love what you see. Check out our online gallery site. Please text or call our curator, Margo Thomas, with inquiries at 303-324-9278. ARTWALKS In collaboration with the brand new Charter Steakhouse, we are hosting four artwalks this ski season. We will host a complimentary wine & cheese happy hour. Each Artwalk will be attended by featured artists. Our first Artwalk is part of the Dec 20 5-8pm Steakhouse Grand Re-Opening celebration. There will be complimentary wine, beer, and charcuterie located throughout the common areas of the hotel and restaurant. Our featured artists will be wearing Vail Valley Art Guild badges. Make sure to stop by and congratulate them! Please know that at least 10% of art sales at The Charter are donated to our non-profit supporting outreach and scholarship programs. DONATION Thank you to The Charter at Beaver Creek, their homeowners association, and East West Hospitality for their generous donation toward our 2024 programming. The donation will support The Vail Valley Art Guild's art outreach programs and artist workshop scholarships, directly investing in the growth and development of the arts within our community. Through these programs, we aim to provide youth with access to art education, creative expression, and the opportunity to explore their artistic talents. The donation will also directly contribute to artist scholarships for workshops. These scholarships provide aspiring artists with the financial means to participate in our workshops where they can enhance their skills, learn new techniques, and gain valuable insights from experienced instructors. By supporting these scholarships, we are fostering the growth and success of emerging artists, helping them to pursue their artistic passions and further their artistic careers.

Come out for 2nd Friday for the always fun and interactive Murder on Broadway. The VVAG Gallery has been transformed into a hotel room - what alibi(s) might you hear here? Get your tickets and see if you can figure out "whodunit." Learn more about the event below. Murder on Broadway written by Tricia Swenson, Vail Daily News, Feb. 8, 2024 EagleARTS is bringing back its classic “whodunit” murder mystery game, and you can help in solving the mystery. “Can Cook Won’t Kill” is this year’s theme for Murder on Broadway, an award-winning murder mystery game that takes place on Friday. Get your tickets and head to the Second Street Tavern where the guests will be “deputized” between 4:45 and 6:15 p.m. From there, guests will visit various businesses in downtown Eagle between 5 and 8 p.m. to hear the suspects’ alibis, ask them questions and find clues. This is an interactive way to get to know Eagle and the area businesses while having fun during the game. There will be people posing as characters to fill out the plot line, and you can ask questions and see who has a good alibi. Host businesses include ARTSPaCE workshop+gallery, Mountain Lifestyle Properties, Foodsmith, Flower Hound, Hidden Table Games and the Vail Valley Art Guild. After getting the information, the guests will come back to the Second Street Tavern for the reveal party and will submit their guesses as to who killed Al Fresco, a fictitious character in this foodie-themed murder mystery game. Inspector Rita Cookbook will reveal the “killer” and award prizes for correct guesses. Food will be available and guests will receive one drink ticket with additional beverages available for purchase. Tickets are available for $55 in advance or $60 at the door. Space is limited, so don’t delay. Guests are encouraged to wear costumes, but nothing resembling a real weapon is allowed. Last year’s theme was Western and the year before the event had a James Bond theme. Murder on Broadway is a fundraiser supporting the EagleARTS programs, including public art installations and ARTSPaCE workshop+gallery. For more information and tickets visit EagleArts.org.

Hope that everyone has had a good start to 2024! February is just around the corner and we have a few more things happening then we did in January. You can always check out Upcoming Events  on the VVAG website to see individual events or go to the Event Calendar to get an overview of the month. If you have any questions please reach out at service@vvagco.org   "Big Three" Summer Workshops We are excited to share our "Big Three" workshops for Summer 2024 brought to you in part by a generous donation from the Arkay Foundation! The following three renowned and nationally known instructors/artists will be teaching 2 to 3 day workshops: Joan Fullerton, Kim Casebeer and Lorenzo Chavez. For information on the individual instructors and workshops visit www.vvagco.org/artists-workshops Workshop tickets will be available for purchase February 1st after 10:30am VVAG Members receive special pricing on workshops - if you are a member be sure to pick the VVAG Member ticket when purchasing. We will also have other summer workshops available, so be on the look out for more information later this Spring. Avon Public Library Exhibit All month during normal library operating hours Location: Avon Public Library 200 Mikaela Way Avon, CO 81620 In collaboration with the Avon Public Library, Guild member Tara Novak will present her work in an exhibit called "Bigger Than Us" Please join Tara for a reception from 4pm to 6pm on February 7, 2024 at the Avon Library. To learn more about the exhibit, please click here VVAG Member Meeting Cocktails & Street Art February 5, 2024 4pm to 6pm Come see a truly unique, private collection of Street Art, including works by Banksy. Cocktails and light appetizers will be provided by the host ! For more information and to reserve a spot by Feb. 1st @ 6pm, go to https://www.vvagco.org/event-details/member-meeting 2nd Friday - February 9, 2024 The annual EagleARTS Murder on Broadway event will take place on Friday, February 9th and the VVAG Eagle Gallery will be hosting one of the "Whodunnit" scenes for participants. Visit eaglearts.org  to order your tickets today! Park Hall Restaurant is relaunching after an extensive rebrand. With a new head chef leading an entirely new catering team, all head hunted from other Michelin starred establishments across the continent, the restaurant has high hopes of redefining excellence and securing the highly coveted Three Michelin Stars.   However when Al Fresco the new Restaurant Manager is found dead mid-way through the first sitting, all hopes of a good review fall flat and the hunt for a Michelin inspector turns into a hunt for a murderer. Who killed the gourmet and why? Whodunnit guesses will be submitted at the end of the evening and winning guesses will be entered into a drawing for prizes. Ticketed guests will attend an after-party where they will enjoy food, drinks, and entertainment, and hear the solution.  Photography Group Meeting February 29, 2024 In general, the Photography Group meets the last Thursday of every month discussing various topics and sharing images. Meetings are free for members. Fellowship - 6:30 pm Meeting - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm Location to be determined March Call for Submissions Thursday - February 29th from 1pm to 5pm Friday - March 1st from 1pm to 5pm Monday - March 4th from 10am to 4pm (These dates are tentative due to the ECSD Winter Break being at the end of February- a confirmation email will be sent mid-February verify all dates and times). Drop off Location: Eagle Gallery 108 W. 2nd Street Eagle, CO 81631 We are not certain yet if there is a theme or no theme for March so please look out for an email in early/mid February with more information. We hope to have a schedule worked out for the year by then so members can plan. Thank you for your patience!

The New Year is almost here! We will be taking it a little bit slower in January, but we still have some important dates and events that we would like you to know about for the first two months of the year. ( A more complete February Guild Guide will be published in January) You can also check out Upcoming Events on the VVAG website any time with our new easy tab under Events. We will be sending out reminders a few days before each event. If you have any questions please reach out at service@vvagco.org We wish everyone Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year! We would like to thank all of our supporters, partners and sponsors who help us with our mission of "...enriching lives by fostering and promoting artistic growth and building awareness of the visual arts in Eagle County." We couldn't do it without you! Thank you to the following: All our awesome volunteers; Eagle Valley Library District; Vail Public Library; Colorado Mountain College in Edwards; EagleARTS; Vail Valley Jet Center; Town of Eagle; Town of Avon; Vail Valley Cares; Eagle County School District; Eagle County Veterans Services; Slifer, Smith and Frampton; The Arkay Foundation; El Pomar Foundation; The Charter at Beaver Creek; The National Endowment for the Arts; and Colorado Creative Industries. January/February Call for Submissions January 4th from 1pm to 5pm January 5th from 1pm to 5pm January 11th from 1pm to 5pm Drop off Location: Eagle Gallery 108 W. 2nd Street Eagle, CO 81631 Our January and February will look a little bit different this year. All work will be up for the months of January and February. There is no theme , so please drop off up to three (3) works that you are excited to have on exhibit . There will be no 2nd Friday in January - it is dark and cold, so we will only be open during our normal Thursday and Friday, 1pm to 5pm hours. February will not be a traditional 2nd Friday. The annual EagleARTS Murder on Broadway event will take place on Friday, February 9th and the VVAG Eagle Gallery will be hosting one of the "Whodunnit" scenes for participants. Visit eaglearts.org to order your tickets today! Park Hall Restaurant is relaunching after an extensive rebrand. With a new head chef leading an entirely new catering team, all head hunted from other Michelin starred establishments across the continent, the restaurant has high hopes of redefining excellence and securing the highly coveted Three Michelin Stars. However when Al Fresco the new Restaurant Manager is found dead mid-way through the first sitting, all hopes of a good review fall flat and the hunt for a Michelin inspector turns into a hunt for a murderer. Who killed the gourmet and why? Whodunnit guesses will be submitted at the end of the evening and winning guesses will be entered into a drawing for prizes. Ticketed guests will attend an after-party where they will enjoy food, drinks, and entertainment, and hear the solution.

Don't forget to come out tonight for the last 2nd Friday ARTwalk of 2023, presented by EagleARTS. The Gallery has the wonderful smell of Wassail, thanks to Elaine Kuntz! It is her super, secret recipe and it is amazing! It is especially good with a splash of rum! We also have a lot of holiday items for sale, such as ceramic mugs, ceramic Christmas trees, paper ornaments and beautiful artwork/photography that is sure to please anyone on your list. For more on tonight's ARTwalk, read the excerpt from Tricia's Weekend Picks article below to see what you have to look forward to tonight in Eagle. Can't wait to see y'all there!!! What to do in and around Vail this weekend: ice skating shows, markets, film fest and more (Tricia's Weekend Picks by Tricia Swenson, Vail Daily. 12/8/2023) 2nd Friday ARTwalk EagleARTS presents the 2nd Friday ARTwalk with a holiday twist. Head to downtown Eagle this Friday between 5 and 8 p.m. to view the works of featured artists and pop-up shops. Music will be provided by local favorites, Brent Gordon and Peter Fontanese and will help you get into the holiday spirit. Speaking of holiday spirit, the Eagle Chamber of Commerce is hosting Wassail Fest once again this year. Area businesses have been perfecting their recipes of this winter drink and invite you to stop by their place of business and try it and cast your vote for your favorite. The Vail Valley Art Guild will be participating in the event as well and will be showcasing their Winter Solstice-themed works on Friday night at its gallery on Second Street in Eagle. In addition to the artists who are participating, there will be several local brick-and-mortar shops worthy of a visit to see what they have for those on your holiday shopping list. Hats, games, floral designs and more will be featured. Don’t forget to check out the colorful benches and piano that will be on display on Broadway as well. Make a night of it and stick around for dinner or grab an appetizer and a drink and soak in the season. To learn more, go to EagleOutside.com and 2nd Friday ARTwalk on Facebook.

The New Year is almost here! We will be starting off 2024 a little bit slower to give everyone a much needed break! There are still things that we would like you to know about so you can mark your calendars. You can also check out Upcoming Events on the VVAG website any time with our new easy tab under Events. We will be sending out reminders a few days before each event. If you have any questions please reach out at service@vvagco.org First and foremost, we would like to wish everyone Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year! Thank you to everyone who supports the VVAG and our mission of "enriching lives by fostering and promoting artistic growth and building awareness of the visual arts in Eagle County." We could not do it without all our supporters, partners and sponsors! January/February Call for Submissions January 4th from 1pm to 5pm January 5th from 1pm to 5 pm January 11th from 1pm to 5pm Drop off Location: Eagle Gallery 108 W. 2nd Street Eagle, CO 81631 Our January/February schedule is a little different this year. All work submitted will be on display for the months of January and February. It is Open Theme so please drop off up to three (3) that you would like to have on display. There will be NO 2nd Friday in January. 2nd Friday in February, will not be a traditional 2nd Friday, because it is the annual Murder on Broadway, presented by EagleARTS. See more details about this event below. Vail Public Library Exhibit All month during normal library hours Location: Vail Public Library 292 West Meadows Drive Vail, CO 81657 In collaboration with the Vail Public Library, Guild member Traci O'Connor will present her exhibit called “Views from the Ascent” - a contemporary view of Colorado Wildflowers. Avon Public Library Exhibit All month during normal library hours Location: Avon Public Library 200 Mikaela Way Avon, CO 81620 In collaboration with the Avon Public Library, Guild member Raymond Bleesz will present his photography in an exhibit called "Portraits—Eagle County & Beyond". Christmas on Broadway December 2nd from 3pm to 8pm Location: Eagle Gallery 108 W. 2nd Street Eagle, CO 81631 Join us in the VVAG gallery for an assortment of yummy holiday cookies and sweets while you peruse the gallery for unique, one of a kind gifts. The EagleARTS Christmas Market begins at 3 pm on 2nd Street, the Annual Christmas Parade on Broadway begins at 5 pm and will end at 2nd Street where Second Street Tavern will be hosting a live band. It is going to be a great afternoon and evening so be sure to come out and get into your holiday spirit! We will be providing holiday cookies and sweet treats for the Christmas on Broadway Event on December 2nd. We would love for members to sign up to drop off cookies and sweets, such as brownies or other treats, on December 1st from 12pm to 5pm. Wassailfest December 7th from 12pm to 5pm December 8th from 2pm to 8pm Location: Eagle Gallery 108 W. 2nd Street Eagle, CO 81631 The annual Eagle Chamber of Commerce Wassailfest is happening again this year. Lots of Eagle and Gypsum businesses will have Wassail for people to taste so come on in and taste our delicious spiced cider. The business that wins the most votes gets a trophy, so please come out and help us win for the first year ever! We are also offering 25% off all treasure chest items in the gallery during Wassailfest only. 2nd Friday ARTwalk presented by EagleARTS December 8th from 2pm to 8pm Location: Eagle Gallery 108 W. 2nd Street Eagle, CO 81631 The last ARTwalk of the year is upon us. Help us celebrate the visual arts with local artist/photographer interpretations of White & Winter Solstice . Find unique gifts for family and loved ones! We also have gift certificates available for the art lover in your life that may (or may not) be difficult to shop for! We will also have warm spiced cider as part of Wassailfest, so please stop by to have a taste! We would love to have members bring small bites/appetizers and wine to the 2nd Friday celebration. We also need a few volunteers to help with serving cups of our delicious spiced cider for the Wassailfest celebration. The Annual VVAG Holiday Party & Potluck December 15th from 5:30pm to 8:30pm Location: Lynn Feiger & Woody Woodruff 344 Eagle River Street Minturn, CO 81645 Our annual festive potluck holiday party is December 11th from 5:30 to 8:30pm. Break out your Christmas sweaters or your best party clothes! Spouses and significant others are welcome! Please RSVP and tell us what you will be bringing - appetizer, salad, dessert or wine to share would be appreciated. Lynn and Woody will be providing a salmon. This is also the VVAG Board annual meeting. Officers are elected and business is ratified by a majority in attendance. Photography Group Member Meeting There is no meeting for the Photography Group in December

Thank you to our members and subscribers who took the time to fill out the survey we sent out in November! The goal of the 2023 survey was to provide the Board Members with feedback from our members and subscribers in order to inform decisions about programming for 2024 in regard to workshops, gallery use, member satisfaction, etc. The survey provided information about areas needing further survey questioning in 2024. There will be more opportunities to give us feedback in 2024 as the VVAG plans to send out targeted surveys to the Artist and Photographer Groups. Key Observations VVAG membership has increased from 89 members to 124 members in the past year, with an increase in membership from the Down Valley area. The Eagle Gallery is an integral part of downtown Eagle and is currently under-utilized. VVAG members would like opportunities to improve their skills, learn new skills and keep making connections with other members in the fine arts community. Members would like more exposure for themselves and their work through featured member months, solo exhibit opportunities and less restrictive themes. Need clarity and execution for membership tiers, donations, and benefits. Members showed interest in potentially having tiered membership with varying benefits. Find ways to communicate more transparently on how donations and funding are used for different programming. The attached report highlights the results of the survey. Note: Not all questions in the survey are presented in the report for clarity and brevity. Some items have been reserved for discussion at a later time.

VVAG members Melissa Nelson, Lynn Feiger, Christine Sena, Patti Dixon, Heather Barrie and Becky Kiser attended painting workshops in Quillan, France and Algeciras, Spain, in 2022 and 2023. The workshops were hosted by Mike Snow (artist), his partner, Timothy White (photographer & gourmet chef), and Salvador Doggie (guard dog extraordinaire)! Mike and Timothy open their homes and studios to painters for weeklong painting and critique sessions. These workshops included researching subjects and using acrylic paints to complete each assignment. The exhibit at the Vail Public Library is a collection of the works created during these workshops. It is a vibrant and colorful display, so if you are up in Vail, stop by at the public library and see it for yourself. The exhibit will be on display until November 30th during normal operating hours. To find the Vail Public Library location and hours of operation, as well as, days they may be closed for Thanksgiving, please click Vail Public Library

In an effort to streamline our communication to our members and subscribers, we will be sending out a monthly update on what is going on in the Guild so you can mark your calendars! We will still be sending out reminders a few days before each event. You can always check out our Event Calendar if you want to find out more information about upcoming events. We hope this will be an easier way for everyone to receive information. Please let us know what you think at service@vvagco.org Photography Group Member Meeting October 26th from 7pm to 9pm Fellowship begins at 6:30 Location: Colorado Mountain College 150 Miller Ranch Road Edwards, CO 81632 Join our lively photography group each month in Room 215 for various topics. Meetings are free for members. November Call for Submissions October 26th & 27th from 1pm to 5pm October 30th from 10 am to 4 pm Drop off Location: Eagle Gallery 108 W. 2nd Street Eagle, CO 81631 We are accepting up to three works that are your interpretation of the themes Blue and Around the World. You must be current in your membership to display work. Vail Public Library Exhibit All month during normal library operating hours Location: Vail Public Library 292 West Meadows Drive Vail, CO 81657 VVAG Members Melissa Nelson, Lynn Feiger, Willow Murphy, Patti Dixon, Chris Sena and Becky Kiser will display their works from their workshop travels to France and Spain. Work Pick Up - CMC Fine Art Show November 3rd from 9am to 4pm Location: Colorado Mountain College 150 Miller Ranch Road Edwards, CO 81632 All work exhibited at CMC for the Fine Art Show is available for pick up from 9am to 4pm. If you are unable to pick up your work, please reach out to a guild member, friend or family member who can pick up your work for you. 2nd Friday Gallery Night November 10th from 5pm to 8pm Location: Eagle Gallery 108 W. 2nd Street Eagle, CO 81631 Join us to celebrate VVAG artists and photographers interpretations of the themes Blue and Around the World! EagleARTS will also be unveiling newly painted benches as part of their Benches on Broadway Public Art program. The benches are being painted by VVAG artists Margo Thomas, Mason Torry and Taylor & Jake of TJ Art Studios. It's going to be a great evening so don't miss out! VVAG Member Meeting November 20th from 3pm to 6pm Location: Eagle Gallery 108 W. 2nd Street Eagle, CO 81631 Get in the holiday spirit by pouring your very own unique acrylic pour ornaments. The cost to pour two ornaments is $10 (payable at the meeting). RSVP is appreciated so please use the link below to access the Event page. December Call for Submissions November 30th from 1pm to 5pm December 1st from 10 am to 5 pm Drop off Location: Eagle Gallery 108 W. 2nd Street Eagle, CO 81631 We are accepting up to three works that are your interpretation of the themes White and Winter Solstice. We are also looking for small, handmade gift items that are perfect for Holiday gift shopping. You must be current in your membership to display work.

Each year Jurors take time out their day to walk through the Fine Art Show and decide who has the best work in six separate categories: 3D, Abstract, Figure/Portrait, Landscape, Still Life and Wildlife/Animals. Each category is further divided into Art and Photography. Congratulations to our winners! (See list below) The Jurors this year were Sean Boggs (Photographer and Photography Instructor at CMC), Joyce Bradley (Manager of Zugor Gallery and Gib Singleton Gallery in Vail), and Bill Rey (Owner of Claggett-Rey Gallery in Edwards). Thank you to the 2023 jurors for your time! The show will be available to the public until November 3rd, so stop by during normal CMC operating hours to see this amazing collection of local works. 1st Place Awards 3D Sculpture: Neil Stewart - Cascade Functional: Raj Manickam - Self-Checkout Functional Ceramics: David Shapiro - White Crackle Vase Ceramics: Willow Murphy - Ginko Jar Abstract Painting: Andrew Pranger - I was Afraid I was going to Die and then I was Afraid I Wasn't Photography: Ken Neubecker - Peony Detail Figure/Portrait Painting: Soodi Kick - Ready to Win Photography: Raymond Bleesz - Code Talker Navajo #1 Landscape Painting: Mio Cirkovic - Cordillera Winter Photography: Norm Vogel - Church – Iceland Still Life Painting: Julie Graham - Harvest Photography: Raj Manickam - Shape and Shades Wildlife/Animals Painting: Julie Adriansen - Living His Best Life Photography: Rick Spitzer - Those Eyes Juror's Choice Willow Murphy - Ginko Jar Patti Dixon - Love is always Visible Julie Graham - Harvest People's Choice Mio Cirkovic - Piney Lake Honorable Mentions Elke Kaiser Wells - Koi in Rice Take Out Box Julie Graham - Bursting Bubbles Tara Novak - Tailing Elke Kaiser Wells - Windows to Another World Vida Kijauskas - Untitled #1 Heather Barrie - Doesn't Measure Up Amanda Quinton - Aspen Bob Will - #5 Patti Dixon - Lady Loves Red Linda Osterberg - Bird Bath Lynn Feiger - Black Kettle Renata Marshal - Self Portrait Christine Sena - Hey Norm Vogel - Net Maker Allan Finney - Mountain Gorilla Beth Levine and Ellen Stone - Go As A River Traci O'Conner - Morning Reflection Carol Cirkovic - An Italian Door Heather Barrie - Barnsdall Shoe Store Scott Brundage - Water Buffalo