Beaver Creek Art Festival

If you go ...
What: 23rd annual Beaver Creek Art Festival
When: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. July 31 and 10 a.m. 5 p.m. Aug. 1
Where: Beaver Creek Village
Cost: Free.
For more information: Go to www.artfestival.com, e-mail info@artfestival.com or call 954-472-3755.

BEAVER CREEK, Colorado — The 23rd annual Beaver Creek Art Festival returns July 31-Aug. 1.

The event will include 150 of the nation's leading artists presenting a mix of unique contemporary and southwestern art. Admission is free.

The event offers visitors a chance to meet the artists, discuss their art and inspiration and even commission an original piece of art. The artists, juried by an independent panel of expert judges, are hand-selected from hundreds of applicants based on quality and diversity. All of their artwork is original and handmade in America. The artistic media represented include paintings, sculptures, photography, glass, wood, jewelry, collage, and ceramics.

Prices range from $25 hand-designed earrings to $20,000 metal sculptures.

Howard Alan Events and some of Hollywood's notables will join forces in support of the Vilar Performing Arts Center. The Vilar center will show a benefit screening of the film “Local Color” on July 31 with all box office proceeds benefiting the Arts Center.

Hollywood writer/director and painter George Gallo (”Midnight Run,” “Bad Boys”) will present his film featuring Oscar nominees Armin Mueller-Stahl (”Shine”), Charles Durning (”To Be or Not to Be,” “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas”) and Diana Scarwid (”Inside Moves”) along with a talent-rich cast that includes Trevor Morgan (”ER,” “The Sixth Sense”), Samantha Mathis, plus veterans Ray Liotta and Ron Perlman. This movie is inspired by Gallo's own story of apprenticeship with a Russian master.

Gallo will be joined by painter Don Sahli. Together they will lead a variety of activities during the weekend to further explore the 300-year-old connection between the legacy of great Russian masters and today's resurgent American representational/impressionist art movement.

*Dean Johnson Management is well-known for managing the finest Beaver Creek luxury rental vacation homes. Specializing in Beaver Creek vacation rentals since 1983, guests have come to appreciate the honesty and integrity associated with Dean Johnson and his fine staff.  www.beavercreekluxuryrentals.com

**Vail Daily