FEATURED ARTIST: Sasha Sullivan

FEATURED ARTIST: Sasha Sullivan

Sasha is a Telluride staple. Her passion for Theatre and the arts have brought a vibrancy and excitement to our community that concurrently bled its way into our hearts and the hearts of anyone who has experienced one of her productions. Actress, director, screenwriter, she is a woman of many talents. This month, we are excited to highlight Sasha and dig up a bit from her past.
 
Here is, “For the First and Last Time!” with Sasha Sullivan.

FEATURED ARTIST: Robert Weatherford

FEATURED ARTIST: Robert Weatherford

Robert moved to Telluride in '77 because he thought it would be a great place to raise a couple of kids. Today, he not only paints regularly in his own studio but also claims to receive more gratification all the time from the privilege of teaching painting at the Ah Haa School. Quite to those he just meets, but boisterous in personality and life, we want to know, “What inspires you most?”

FEATURED ARTIST: Catherine Frank

FEATURED ARTIST: Catherine Frank

Catherine Frank is fabulous. Jet-setter, fashionista, successful business woman, and artist. She’s does it all and then some. She moved to Telluride in 1993 from Denver after many wild and joyous visits to Telluride to visit her ski-bum girlfriends. Shortly after moving here, she opened Studio Frank, which is now celebrating 20 years of successful design and a killer staff.  
 
And so naturally, what we want to know from Catherine is… “What are some of you favorite things?”

FEATURED ARTIST: Patty Denny

FEATURED ARTIST: Patty Denny

Patty Denny is a busy lady. Between owning and growing her own business and occasional troubles with peanut butter mousse, we are lucky to get a moment of her time to ask a few questions. This month, not only is she our featured artist, but will also be making time to host a chocolate tasting class at the Ah Haa School for the Arts in which she will share chocolate from her favorite chocolatiers, including a number of famous chocolate companies found on prestigious “best chocolate company” lists. Yum!
 
Here is 10 minutes with Patty Denny. Owner and head chocolatier of Telluride Truffle.

FEATURED ARTIST: Kevin Pashayan

FEATURED ARTIST: Kevin Pashayan

Kevin is the Stronghouse Studios resident student artist, taking advantage of Telluride Arts' Studios for Students program. In his past two years making art in his elevator studio, we have watched him grow and develop as an artist, have his first solo show at the Stronghouse in 2015, and most recently, launch an apparel line. This month, we are proud to feature him as our December artist (and are super excited about his new clothing designs!).

Here is... FILLING IN THE BLANKS. With Kevin Pashayan. 
 

FEATURED ARTIST: Ashley Boling

FEATURED ARTIST: Ashley Boling

Ashley is a long-time Telluride local, who you have most likely seen on stage with Telluride Theater, listened to on KOTO, or bumped into on the streets talking history with large groups of people rocking a sweet cowboy hat. There are many reasons to love Ashley, and if you don’t know time, well, it’s him you do.

Featured Artist: Katy Parnello

Featured Artist: Katy Parnello

Katy first came to Telluride the winter after she graduated from college to be a ski bum for a winter. She then returned a couple summers later for a summer season, which is when she first learned about the Telluride AIDS Benefit. Katy donated clothing to the benefit for a couple years and then was hired as their Choregrapher for two and Director for 4. And from there, she's ended up being in Telluride the majority of her time over the past two years. Katy transitioned from acting (where her favorite job was being Tina Fey's double on 30 Rock) into wood working and this town seemed like a good fit.  

FEATURED ARTIST: David Holbrooke

FEATURED ARTIST: David Holbrooke

David Holbrooke has been in and around Telluride since 1988 when he first came to visit with his father and brother. He recalls, ”We drove through a snowstorm from Grand Junction in a Buick LeSabre on Christmas night pulling in around 3am without our luggage since it was lost. Loved this place ever since…”
 
Many of us know David as Festival Director for Mountainfilm or that tall guy riding around on his fat bike. But you should also know David as a filmmaker, and for his new documentary, The Diplomat. Currently, he is busy getting the film out on the festival circuit. After he gets the documentary out to the world, he plans to see what it would be like to have just one job for a while.  

FEATURED ARTIST: Carlin Power

FEATURED ARTIST: Carlin Power

New to town but already jumping right into the arts in Telluride, Carlin Power is making waves. You might recognize him from this year's sold out Shakespeare in the Park on the Town Park stage.

Haven't met him yet? Well, luckily, he's filling in some of the blanks for us. 

FEATURED ARTIST: Julie McNair

FEATURED ARTIST: Julie McNair

Julie just recently created the awards for this year's Mountainfilm festival and stays busy showing her works across town and throughout the states. She moved to Telluride from Houston in 1985, purchasing a gallery and frame shop with her partner at the time. The shop sold 17 years later allowing Julie to pursue her primary goal as a sculptor. Julie calls the Ah Haa School her second home and you can find her teaching, exhibiting, programming and hanging at the school with her artistic family. She stayed in Telluride, for as her father put it, “Honey, I think you have finally found your element”.
 
And so, what better to ask the one and only Julie McNair than... "What is your favorite?"

FEATURED ARTIST: Ben Knight

FEATURED ARTIST: Ben Knight

Ben Knight hardly needs an introduction. And although he now calls Salida his home, he will forever be a Telluride artist in our eyes. For those of you who haven't had the chance to know and love Ben, we hope at least you have had the opportunity to check out his latest film, Damnation. If not, stream it now on Netflix!

In the meantime, here is a little bit of THIS OR THAT, with Ben Knight. 

FEATURED ARTIST: Sam Burgess

FEATURED ARTIST: Sam Burgess

Sam Burgess moved to Telluride July 24th 2007. Almost 8 years ago. 
 
“It was the night of the “My Morning Jacket” and Bob Dylan Doo-Dah. A friend got me a ticket. That night, I knew I had made the right choice. The next day was also the first in a long line of Telluride hang-overs.”
 
You might know him from one of his roles with Telluride Theatre, most recently, the nitrous oxide-loving dentist in A Little Shop of Horrors. Or, as bass player in one of our favorite local bands, The Great Funktier. Either way, Sam is a Telluride staple. And we love him just as much as he loves us. 
 
What I love about Telluride – The community, the nature and the weather. Every season is distinctly different, something I didn’t have back in Dallas. The people here are also the best. We seem to have to manufacture things to complain about, which in the end is amazing. Despite any grievances, it’s pretty easy to just look around and forget it all. We’re surrounded by beauty in all forms. We are lucky denizens here in Shangri-La. 

But let's dig in. Here is:

For the FIRST AND LAST TIME! With Sam Burgess...

 
You got on stage.
First time: Freshman year of high school. Talent show with my first ever punk band “Pasty Face”. Song called the “schrapnel Song”. We were so loud and angsty, the principal actually pulled the plug on us. In our eyes, that was the best compliment ever. 
Last time: Sunday. Little shop of Horrors. Sadistic dentist. Favorite role ever!
 
Ate something I wish I hadn’t. 
First time: Probably the first time I tasted liver.
Last time: Last time I ate McDonald’s last year in Moab. Born out of confusion and desperation.
 
Fell In love.
First time: Junior Year in college at U of Texas. She left me for a rocket scientist. A literal rocket scientist. To this day I distrust rocket scientists…
Last timeno comment…
 
Threw a party.
First time:  This is a clear memory. Freshman year in High School. A Junior found out my parents were going out of town and leaving me with the house. He seduced me with tales of girls, beer and popularity, and I allowed him to organize a party. A couple of hundred kids, one fight, a broken gate and stolen art later, I was suspended from school. It did go down in school lore as one of the best parties that year.
Last time: I don’t throw parties anymore. I have intimate gatherings with wine, board games and vinyl listening. We all grow up eventually…
  
Did something you were proud of.
First time: As with all little tykes, my first poop.
Last time: Little Shop of Horrors. This was probably one of our best productions and we threw so much love, work and energy into it. The town loved it, and we are all so proud of it.  This theatre company is my tribe, and anything we create I can be proud of.
  
Scared yourself.

I scare myself when I look in the mirror every morning.  I’m not a morning person. I’m not a night person either. I’d say I was an evening person. Dusk, my favorite time of day. THAT doesn’t scare me at all….

FEATURED ARTIST: Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer

FEATURED ARTIST: Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer

Poet Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer “is a chanteuse of the heart,” says poet Art Goodtimes. She served two terms as San Miguel County’s first poet laureate.