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While fine arts, jewelers, crafters and writers are showcased at Art Hop, Free Concerts in the Park, now in their 12th year, bring families out to Limbaugh Park on warm June and July evenings to enjoy live music and family fun. For more information, including maps, visit www.monumentmerchants.com. In 2002 a group of local residents, most notably Sky Hall, Rebecca Hendrickson and Betty Konarski, perceived a lack of support for the arts and formed the organization called Tri-Lakes Views. At first the group focused on art shows but in 2005 and 2006 they shifted their focus to public art. In 2007, “Ice Harvest” became the first ARTWalls project. Composed of a series of acrylic panels, the installation on the Monument Water Works Building at the corner of Second Street and Beacon Lite Road depicts a time when one the area’s biggest businesses was harvesting ice from local lakes for the railroads and tourist destinations. ARTWalls has since evolved into ARTSites. Local businesses, civic organizations and nonprofit foundations donate concrete pedestals installed throughout Monument for use by sculptors who display their works either permanently or temporarily for up to a year. Many of these works are located in Sculpture Park at Big Red, the School District 38 administration building on Second Street. According to its website, www.trilakesviews.org, the group’s goal is to have some of these pieces become permanent installations throughout the community. A new ARTSites brochure, showing the locations of these installations for self-guided tours, is published each year. Monument isn’t the only place in the Tri-Lakes area where visitors and locals can take in the arts. Palmer Lake has three organizations that are heavily involved in the arts, Palmer Lake Art Group, the Palmer Lake Historical Society and the Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts. One of Palmer Lake’s most prominent women, Lucretia Vaile, figures into the history of both the art group
“Sailfish” is artwork displayed in the Sculpture Park near “Big Red” in Monument. and the historical society. At her death, Vaile bequeathed her summer home to Palmer Lake for the use of the Palmer Lake Art Group. The group sponsors two art shows each year and an annual Christmas Craft Fair on the first weekend of October every year. Proceeds from these shows fund scholarships for District 38 high school seniors, planning to pursue the arts in colleges and universities throughout the country. Information on these events is available at www.palmerlakeartgroup.com. Vaile’s bequests also funded several other cultural pursuits, including the Palmer Lake Historical Society and Lucretia Vaile Museum. While not literally an art venue, the society sponsors lectures on local history, which often are accompanied by artifacts and historic photos. The society’s schedule of events can be found at www.palmerdividehistory.org. Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts, founded in 1998, is an incubator for both emerging and established artists. The center sponsors a number of art shows, performances, concerts, benefits, children’s events, demon-
strations, classes and other art-related events throughout the year. More information is available at www. trilakesarts.org. In 1964 artists, artisans and craftsmen in the Black Forest area formed the Black Forest Arts & Crafts Guild to promote activities in fine arts, decorative arts and crafts and culinary arts. Members use annual spring and fall shows to show off their work and fund scholarships grants to local organizations and individuals who enhance the Black Forest community. Many members also take part in other regional art shows and exhibits. For more information visit www. bfacg.org. For an up-close and person look at local artists, glass artist Nancy Bonig started the Front Range Open Studios several years ago. In September, area artists open up their studios to neighbors and visitors who can see the artists at work. Bonig described the event as a way to bring artists and patrons together in a venue more personal and inspiring than an art gallery. See www.frontrangeopenstudios.com for more information.