We’re seriously excited about the Youth October Sculpture Build!

Here’s the scoop plus deets for peeps who want to sign up! It’s not too late!

Dates are October 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29.

Expert artists/builders and an architect will guide students. Participants can be involved for as many days as they wish. The final sculpture will be on display in Telluride, Norwood, Nucla, and Naturita for part of the year. Participants will be named on signage with sculpture. Transportation, food, materials, and all safety gear provided.
Advance sign up is required for students coming from Nucla, Naturita, and Norwood to confirm transportation.

Deets for Saturday & Sunday, October 7 & 8

LOCATION: Telluride Library teen area.
START & END TIME: 10am – 4pm for both days.
MEET OUR EXPERTS: Keith D’Angelo, Niel Ringstad, and Sherri Harvey

They will guide you during our discussions about this sculpture creation. We’ll use the many resources the library has to offer.
Lunch will be provided. Please bring your own water bottle, a plastic plate and reusable fork.

A few items we need to confirm for this program:
  1. What days will you be attending?
    October 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29.
  2. Do you have dietary restrictions? If yes, please name them.
  3. Will you need a ride to Telluride? If, yes, please give us the name of your town.
  4. Will you be coming with a parent?

Email erin@rockymountainarts.org with answers or questions or to sign up!

Download the flyer

Huge thanks to our collaborators for this workshop:
True North Youth Program, Communities That Care, Wilkinson Public Library, Telluride High School.

Results of the 2-day welding workshop

…what a great weekend it was. Dan and Keith were fabulous instructors and the group was all so engaged and fun to be with. Would love to keep in touch. Thanks for your efforts to put all this together. I was inspired. —Terry Tice

The two-day beginner welding workshop held this past weekend resulted in a team created sculpture with flame effects that put a smile on everyone’s face. And, each participant had time to make a masterpiece of their own to take home as well.

 

Rocky Mountain Arts gave scholarships to two True North Youth Program students with the support of Alpine Bank.

One student has requested an internship as a result of the time spent with our incredible instructors, Keith D’Angelo and Dan Gundrum.

Aerial Acrobatics, Dec. 3 & 4

Come get your feet off the ground with Alpine Aerial Acrobatics! In this hour- long workshop you will learn the basics of aerial fabrics (silks), aerial hoop (lyra) and hopefully get upside down. Classes for adults and youth.

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Partner Hooping, Dec. 3

Learn how to hula hoop with a partner. In this workshop, you will learn how to make isolation shapes with 2-4 hoops and a partner that is pleasing for performances or just plain fun. Hoops Supplied.

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Casey Moore LED Trees

Dec. 2-4: A Multi-Sensory Experience Of Epic Proportions

The annual gathering of flame-inspired art is going to be bigger than ever thanks to Colorado Creative Industries and the Colorado Arts Relief Fund. The grant has made it possible to attract more artists with larger, more fantastical installations. One such installation is slated to be 48 feet wide by 16 feet tall, which will create an extraordinary transformation when on fire.

Rocky Mountain Arts will produce the fiery, three-day event December 2-4 with new and returning fire artists including: Dave Mechtly, from Denver; Fort Collins LED/fire artist, Casey Moore; and from Telluride, Keith D’Angelo and Niel Ringstad.

Free flow arts workshops will be taught by Ashley Higgs, from Durango and Stephanie Brown, and Beth Henshaw from Denver. A variety of fun one-hour workshops in partner hooping, aerial silk, lyra and more will be offered. All workshops will be located at the Wilkinson Public Library’s Program Room The workshops will be for youth and adults. No experience required.

Expect over-the-top fiery art shooting flames high into the night sky at the finale event at the end of the box canyon. The family-friendly, outdoor event will enchant all with interactive, flaming sculptures, fire dancers, music and a cash bar.

Free Teen Art Installation Workshop October 1 & 2
This year we are teaming up again with the nonprofit True North Youth Program.  Additional support will be provided by Alpine Bank for this free weekend workshop to create a wood art installation. The focus for this workshop is on obtaining participation from the rural San Juan region teens who have limited access to resources and opportunities. These students will learn how to use all types of tools and work as a team to create their vision, which will be showcased at the December Festival. All students will be invited to attend the Festival as well.

Other events for everyone
Thursday evening will unfold with a reception at Slate Gray Gallery featuring local artist, Dan Gundrum.
Dan Gundrum specializes in immersive digital art though projection mapping, lasers and special effects through his company Pivotal Effects. He regularly shares his talent through artist workshops and holds an annual welding workshop through Rocky Mountain Arts.

Friday evening, the Festival will present a dance and acrobatic performance at The Palm Theater in collaboration with Homestead Circus Productions out of Paonia, CO.

Teens Create!

This past November 6 & 7 Rocky Mountain Arts held a workshop with teens in the True North Youth Program. These talented students created a wood sculpture, which will be on display Dec. 4 at Resurrection…and, will burn a la Burning Man style along with two other larger-than-life sculptures.

The amazing Co-Creators were:
Angie Saldin, Selma Tutt-Pyk, Valeria Villafuerte, Jocelyn Nieto, Daniel Gutierrez,
Alex Ramirez, Jairo Gonzalez Zarazua, Claire Jacobs, and Alex Ambriz.

True North Youth Program: Art installation build workshop

This art installation build workshop took place in the Festival Founders yard on November 6 & 7, 2021. Eight teens signed up to create magic over two days with Chris Myers & Erin Ries. The sculpture was showcased at Resurrection on December 4th. And, transformed by fire like the other wood sculptures.
The True North Youth Program kids all attended the event for free.
This program was made possible in part by the generous support of Alpine Bank.
If you are with True North Youth Program and wish to participate in the October 1 & 2, 2022 workshop, email erin@telluridefirefestival.org.

A successful Beginner Welding Workshop

The Beginner Welding Workshop, like many other events, was canceled due to the pandemic this past December 2020. Through determination, a loyal following and an eager instructor, it was rescheduled for May 22 and 23 in an above ground nonworking mine at Deep Creek Experimental.

Nine people participated in the workshop. Four, ranging from 13 to 17 years of age—were sponsored by One-To-One Mentoring. Several adults from Telluride participated as well. All materials and safety equipment were supplied to the students, they just needed to show up ready to create.

The students learned the process of creating a steel fire art project from scratch using reclaimed materials. Dan taught the basics of shop safety, welding basics, metal manipulation, and how to add fire elements. Materials on the first day. The students collaborated on the creation of a fire sculpture out of steel and added propane elements to the finished project, which will be on display at the 2021 event.

Not only did the group produce a collaborative work of art including flame effects, but also separate welded sculptures for themselves. Fiery Fluffy was the name given the team creation. The students tossed their name into a hat to give all a fair chance to win the group created flaming art installation, and 13 year-old Sebastian Santa Ana was the winner.

About the instructor
Dan Gundrum of Home Technology Group and Pivotal Effects taught the two-day class. Dan, a member of Deep Creek Experimental explains his craft in this way, “I look at the world and what inspires art. It stems from my impulsive desire to observe life from a different perspective. When something can be influenced in that altered perspective, art happens. That influence can be something as simple as clicking the shutter or making that grind. Pushing the boundaries of that influence makes something entirely new. Something that can transport the viewer into that altered perspective.” Says Dan, “I love teaching this class for the Festival. The reward is seeing the smiles and creativity”.

The Beginner Welding Workshop is July 29 & 30

Beginner Welding With Dan Gundrum & Keith D’Angelo

This is a beginner hands-on, 2-day class. Participants learn the process of creating a steel fire art project from scratch using reclaimed materials. Our two experts will also teach the basics of shop safety, welding, metal manipulation and how to add fire elements. Students will have the option to complete a small project as a team and if time allows a sculpture for themselves.

Equipment
All equipment, materials, safety gloves, goggles etc. will be supplied.

Fee
$275

Location
The workshop is being held  in Placerville.

Time
9:30 to 4pm, Saturday and Sunday.
Class size is limited

Email erin@rockymountainarts.org to sign up for the workshop.

 

Fire Performances & Fire Installations

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