A Thriving Art Scene
A Stroll Through the Gallery Walk BY Heather Linhart Coulthard
The Sun Valley gallery scene is a complete surprise to those not familiar with the sophistication and caliber of art housed within the galleries and studios that dot our streets and line our Valley. But for anybody who knows the history of the place, it is just another notch in the belt of firsts that helped establish Sun Valley as so much more than just America’s first destination ski resort. created the space for the galleries and artists to thrive in Sun Valley and Sun Valley Resort supported those efforts. Today, there are dozens of galleries in the Valley and hundreds of working artists with studios or gallery spaces. Each year, the Sun Valley Gallery Association hosts nine Gallery Walks, which are eagerly anticipated and free to the public. Locals and visitors alike take in thoughtprovoking exhibitions of newly installed art from nationally and internationally acclaimed artists, enjoy wine, mingle with friends and browse for inspired pieces to add to, or start, their collections. Artists are frequently in attendance and gallery shows often represent world premiere exhibits and groupings. To help you navigate our vibrant arts scene, we’ve compiled a few gallery tips and highlights to take with you on your next tour of our incredible and diverse galleries.
The East Side of Town Gilman Contemporary has been recognized for the quality and variety of art they bring to their clients.
It all began in the late ‘60s when a woman by the name of Glenn Cooper (later Janss) came to Sun Valley to start anew with her five children after the death of her first husband. She had been living in Los Angeles and was known as a cultural tour de force there—nominated by the Los Angeles Times as “Woman of the Year” for her contributions to the arts; specifically, at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. While convalescing from a hip injury one winter, longtime family friend and Sun Valley Resort owner Bill Janss (he would become her husband years later) asked Glenn if she could help develop an art center for Sun Valley. She did, forming the Sun Valley Creative Art Workshops in 1969 and becoming instrumental in both the development of what would become the Sun Valley Summer Symphony and the Sun Valley Center for the Arts in later years. That was nearly 45 years ago, but Glenn Cooper Janss essentially 112 sunvalleymag.com | 40TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
we live in a rare and beautiful place that has such amazing community support and it is important to give back.” Nearby: Iconoclast Books is next door, so you can pick up a latté or something for your nighttime reading on your way home. And be sure to check out the high-end designer shopping in The Colonnade at Elle Rose, Sway or Davis. Don’t miss: Shows by emerging artists in the fall. Get there early before the margaritas are gone.
Center of Town / Town Square BROCHOFSKY GALLERies
Where: 360 East Avenue, Ketchum The Personality: Minette and John Broschofsky say they started collecting art in the ‘80s focusing on Western art—historic, traditional, modernist and contemporary. “Travels to find our treasures brought us to places like Santa Fe, Taos and Denver,” they add, “and we found ourselves really getting consumed by our interest in art and decided to open Broschofsky Galleries in 1987. Our son Rudi joined the gallery in 2006 after college and has been very instrumental in our shifting focus toward incorporating more emerging contemporary Western artists.” Shining Moments: “We’re amazed at the caliber of clientele in Sun Valley and their art sophistication is outstanding. The project that we enjoyed the most was working with a couple who wanted to put together a great collection ranging from historic to contemporary. For some of the contemporary pieces, they chose unique Andy Warhol pieces we had from the Cowboys & Indians portfolio.
gilman contemporary
Where: 661 Sun Valley R0ad, Ketchum The Personality: L’Anne Gilman and the lovely ladies at Gilman Contemporary anchor the eastern side of Ketchum’s gallery scene. They exhibit artists who present an innovative vision to painting, sculpture and photography—with a special emphasis on photography. They also serve a mean margarita on most Gallery Walk nights. L’Anne says she “opened the gallery in 2007 after working in the field for almost 17 years in Chicago and here in Sun Valley. Feeling like a niche was missing for new and younger collectors, I opened the gallery with a mission to broaden the appreciation of contemporary art by representing emerging and mid-career artists with a strong focus on photography.” Shining Moments: “Outside of the fact that we are still going strong despite having opened just before the Castle Rock fire and the downturn in our economy just months later, I am most proud of being able to use our gallery and many of our shows to help benefit a number of local non-profits. I recognize that
Broschofsky Galleries features 19th-21st century fine American art.
photographs : heather linhart coulthard
Art // gallery walk