Aspen Chapel Gallery debuts art show to benefit Aspen Animal Shelter
Courtesy photo
Animal House, an exhibition of art about animals, in partnership with Friends of the Aspen Animal Shelter, opens at the Aspen Chapel Gallery from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12. Ten percent of sales and 20% of sponsorships benefit the Aspen Animal Shelter.
Gallery Co-directors Michael Bonds and Tom Ward organized the show. This is the 257th consecutive exhibition since the gallery opened 39 years ago.
The 20 participating artists are: Julie Adriansen, Amy Beidleman, Michael Bonds, Marsha Cook, Mark Fuller, Kathy Honea, Suzanne Jackson, Dana Laughren, Sam Louras, Laurie McBride, Summers Moore, Jane Mosher, Bland Nesbit, Pam Porter, Lea Potts, Fran Reither, Marty Schlein, Carie Sherman, Greg Watts, and Pierre Wille.
After realizing it had an opening for an exhibition in 2025 without a new curator to take over after the previous curator’s recent retirement, Bonds, Ward, and the committee, made up of Amy Beidleman, Kathy Honea, Sam Louras, and Greg Watts brainstormed, and someone suggested animals. Almost immediately, everyone was on board.
The group decided that each curator would ask artists they knew who excelled at either painting, sculpting, photography, or creating ceramics focusing on animals. They hoped to find about 15 artists eager to be in the no-fee exhibition, and they ended up with 20.
“Animal House” became the title, with artist Julie Adriansen, known for her animals with a lot of personality, created an invitation with 10 different animals looking at the viewer with the Aspen Chapel in the background. It’s titled, “Say Cheese! It’s show time.” Graphic Artist Eric Auer used the “Animal House” movie typeface, and the invitation was complete.
“I wanted to be in the Animal House show as motivation to experiment with an additional way of making images,” said mixed media artist Kathy Honea. “I look forward to the opening because I would like to see people’s reactions to these new digitally composed images — (I’m) hoping for laughter!”
Dog owner of 5 rescued dogs, Bland Nesbit stated, “I am excited to show my themed, intentionally humorous, Christmas card photos with my many costumed, adopted dogs over the years, about which I have been told that I have ‘”‘way too much time on my hands.’ I am passionate about animals, and I love the idea of this multi-media show devoted to them.”
Laurie McBride, an animal lover, especially of African animals said has tailored her huge, framed paintings to 16″ by 20″.
“I enjoy making bold, high-contrast prints of animals, and this show was the perfect opportunity to share them,” said printmaker Pam Porter. “I’m looking forward to seeing how different artists interpret the theme and to being part of a show that highlights such a wide range of styles.”
Mark Fuller finds the animal life around us endlessly fascinating and endlessly photogenic. His work is straightforward and realistic, but he looks forward to seeing how other artists represent animals’ spiritual, mythic and symbolic aspects, he said.
Animal art has Leah Potts’ heart, and she enjoys sharing that with fellow art lovers and supporters, saying, “It’s going to be a howling good time at The Aspen Chapel Gallery.”
Founded in 2000 to help build the current Aspen Animal Shelter, The Friends of the Aspen Animal Shelter’s mission since 2007 has dedicated its efforts to combating pet overpopulation and the consequences thereof. Working with 25 veterinary hospitals across the country, its aggressive spay/neuter program sterilizes more that 2,000 pets annually and provides sanctuary, medical care, and placement for hundreds of animals in need each year.
Not only do they “Spay it Forward” in Aspen, but also in the Four Corners region of Colorado, Utah, and Arizona, working with the Ute and Navaho Indian reservations, which had one of the highest animal euthanasia rates in the country. Because of the shelter’s involvement, these rates have been greatly reduced.
The Aspen Chapel Gallery is located in the Aspen Chapel, off the round-about and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call Ward to 970-925-8367, Bonds at 970-925-6083, or Aspen Chapel at 970-925-7184, or visit aspenchapelgallery.org.
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