On view March 22 through March 31

Art in Public Places presents for a second year, the Invitational Art Sled Exhibition. Eight local artists have recreated wooden sleds into unique works of art. Promoting art, sustainability, creativity, recreation, and community the sleds have been collected through generous donations and highlight local culture and other relevant themes. The works, which are available for purchase by silent auction, will be on view at Betteridge, de Corato, Luca Bruno, Manrico Cashmere, The North Face, Tommy Bowers and Worth Home in Solaris and will culminate in the final sale of the art sleds on March 31. The proceeds will be split between the participating artist and Art in Public Places.

1/8 Après Vail by Hazel Murray
Hazel Murray's work captures the interpretive and compositional form of landscapes and still lifes. Her careful editing and subjective translation result in paintings of pronounced atmospheric context. Her work is often referred to as semi-abstract. Constantly perfecting her art, she actively participates in premier painting workshops throughout the country and Europe. Her work has been exhibited throughout the East Coast and is in numerous prominent private and public collections. She works on a full-time basis out of her studios in Manhattan and Cordillera, Colorado, where she and her family built a home 11 years ago. Après Vail captures the charm of Vail Village and some of the earliest landmark buildings in this panoramic painting.

2/8 Bison Skull by Shanna Dempsey
Originally from the rural Flathead Indian Reservation in Northwest Montana, Shanna Dempsey has been fascinated from early childhood with her Native heritage, reservation life, and artistic expression. As she matured as an artist, she knew that the major focus of her work would be cultural representation. Shanna is dedicated to creating a better understanding of American Indian people and a dialogue that will shift the focus from the past to the present. Shanna studied painting and experimental film at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, obtaining a BFA in 2006. She graduated from the Vancouver Film School in 2007, where she concentrated on directing and cinematography. She is the President of American Buffalo Productions, based in Denver, and has art studios in Denver and Red Cliff. Her paintings have been exhibited nationally and her film, "The Dance of My Beating Heart" was enthusiastically received at the Santa Fe Film Festival. Shanna was able to transform the structure of the wooden sled to paint the stark proportions of a Bison Skull through this masterful work.

3/8 Chez Moi by Mio Cirkovic
Mio Cirkovic, born in the mountain region of Yugoslavia, immigrated with his family to the United States in 1969. After having served in the U.S. Army from 1975-78 he moved to California to begin his education and career in architecture. A self-taught artist, he and his family moved to the Vail Valley in 1994.  He continues to practice architecture, as well as paint landscapes and teach studio art at the Alpine Arts Center in Edwards. With Mio’s background in architecture, the rural structures set on a farm in Eagle, CO served as the perfect inspiration for the subject matter of Chez Moi. The natural wooden planked barns were the ideal compliment to the rustic nature of this antique sled.

4/8 Lord Gore by Jenny Eliuk
Jenny Eliuk, originally born in Calgary, Alberta, has lived in Eagle County for four years. She is primarily a nature and wildlife photographer in both digital and film. While in high school she studied black and white film photography. She slowly changed direction towards digital photography as the film became quite an expensive practice in this new age. However, once she moved to Colorado she was very inspired by the pristine environment and desired to explore this beautiful state.  Jenny bought a Digital Single-Lens Reflex Camera (DSLR) and leapt right back in, and began taking classes again. Jenny shot this image of the spectacular Gore Range near the ponds of the Vail Golf Course. She then printed her image onto canvas and applied it to the wooden sled to create Lord Gore.

5/8 Take me Back by Charmayne Bernhardt
Charmayne Bernhardt has been drawing and painting since she was a very young child.  She has lived in Vail since the mid-70’s and loves this area for its raw beauty, majestic wildlife, and friendly people. She works in all mediums, but primarily in watercolor.  She studied art on a full scholarship at the duCret School of Art, graduating summa cum laude with a B.A. and focus on “Old Masters” education.  Her illustrative work may be seen on Vail and Beaver Creek mountains, trailhead signs on the East Vail hiking trails and other U.S. Forest Service parks and Town of Vail illustrations.  She also paints the labels for Vail Mountain Coffee & Tea Co., numerous business & restaurant logos, murals, children and medical book illustrations, greeting cards and paintings held in private collections.

6/8 The Challenge by Alee Germiller
Alee Germiller has lived in Colorado for nine years, spending most of her time between Edwards and Denver. At the age of 23, she is an illustrator and painter who occasionally ventures into different media types. Alee practices in watercolor, pencil, ink and acrylic in her traditional work, and favors wildlife art. The Challenge was inspired by the haunting cries of the bull elk and the elk herds she has seen in increasing numbers since moving to Colorado. As this strong young bull pursues an older bull and his harem, their battle cries hang in the cool air for miles; sooner or later, the old bull will have to face his challenger, for better or worse.

7/8 Through the Aspen Grove by Lauren Merrill
Lauren Merrill is the owner of Alpine Arts Center, a community arts center for all ages located just outside of Vail in Edwards, Colorado.  Lauren grew up on Long Island, New York, attended The University of Michigan's School of Art and Design, and then moved to the Vail Valley nine years ago for an art teaching position at Vail Mountain School.  Her teaching experience and love of the mountains sparked the idea to open Alpine Arts Center two years ago, where Lauren teaches art classes and also pursues her own art career.  She is known for painting aspens directly on wood surfaces such as window shutters, doors, and now wooden sleds, all inspired by local Colorado landscapes.

8/8 Waiting for Mom by Jenna Oppenheimer
Jenna Oppenheimer has lived in Eagle County most of her life. At the age of 22, she is an avid painter and a recent graduate of the Art Institute of Colorado in Denver. Regularly favoring watercolor, she occasionally ventures to more challenging mediums such as acrylics, and enjoys experimenting with different canvases. Waiting for Mom was inspired by the bears who often visit her family’s home in Edwards, as well as the vibrant colors of autumn in the Vail valley. This black bear cub waits patiently high in the tree for his mom to return where he is nice and safe, but she is never too far away.