Beneath the Snow

Experience winter’s quiet beauty at the Wilkinson Public Library.

Step inside the Wilkinson Public Library to discover Beneath the Snow, a seasonal exhibition that reflects how winter softens the world above while creativity continues to flourish underneath. This show brings together the radiant, bold mountain scenes of Celeste Bickford, the atmospheric landscapes and floral abstractions of Susan B. McCormick, and the dynamic, philosophically rooted abstractions of Daniel Kanow. Together, they reveal the many ways light, movement, and imagination persist through the coldest months—reminding us that even in stillness, life is unfolding.

All works are available for purchase. Visitors may inquire or acquire artwork by emailing info@telluridearts.org. Purchased pieces can be picked up at Telluride Arts Headquarters, 135 W Pacific Avenue, Telluride, CO.

Featured Artists 

Celeste Bickford

Celeste is a local southwest Colorado painter. She has become known for creating landscapes with radiant colors and bold shadows. Her paintings balance an impressionist sensibility for color with fidelity to the characteristics that make a landscape recognizable. Celeste’s landscapes are meant to feel familiar yet playful, and hint at the joy of connecting with a landscape in a personal way.

Follow her on Instagram @celestebickford

Susan B. McCormick

Susan was born in Connecticut and raised in the Midwest, spending many summers in Colorado where her family has deep roots. She lived and worked in Telluride for 38 years, contributing to the community across multiple fields and remaining actively involved in the local arts, including exhibitions and service on the Arts Council Board. She now lives and paints in Montrose, maintaining a close connection to the San Juan Mountains and the Telluride landscape.

Susan paints for the love of color, exploring landscapes, florals, and abstracts inspired by winter light and the natural rhythms of the region. A longtime Telluride resident and avid high-altitude gardener, she spent many winters painting and imagining the life unfolding beneath the snow. Drawing from photographs taken while hiking near Telluride, her work reflects a deep connection to the valley, its shadows, and its seasonal transformation. She now paints from her Montrose studio, maintaining a lasting bond with the San Juan Mountains.

Daniel Kanow

Daniel Kanow is a visual based artist in Telluride, Colorado known for his dynamic and contemplative landscapes and abstractions. Kanow employs a wide range of mediums including acrylics, oils, canvas, wood, plexiglass, and unconventional tools with a focus on expressive mark making. His creative process is deeply influenced by Asian philosophical concepts, exploring themes of detachment, impermanence, creation and destruction, and the beauty of imperfection.