Steamboat Springs — Time is relative. A minute can feel like years. Years can fly by in a heartbeat.

That’s a lofty concept to capture on canvas, but abstract artist Shaun Acton wanders into the concepts of time, space and metaphysics with an attentive curiosity and a good-natured humor, layering his creations with mystery and acceptance.

“I like the ‘fuzzy’ science, the stuff that hasn’t been proven yet or can’t be proven,” he said about his artwork. “But they’re meant to be playful. You can’t take them too seriously, and that’s what the beauty is of art.”

Acton’s art reflects that flexibility through expressions of binary codes, natural features, Möbius loops and celestial themes.

“It’s a push and pull of random and calculated,” he said.

Several of his mixed-media abstract paintings will be hung at K. Saari Gallery this month, with an opening reception from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday.

On Wednesday afternoon, Acton, who had just arrived from his home in Brooklyn, N.Y., stood in a white hallway near the back of the gallery and surveyed the blank wall space.

It was about to become the home of a monthlong art installation he’s designing, which references the passage of time through 365 days of a year. It will have sculptural, painted, crafted and numerical elements.

“It’s like bringing the ingredients and doing the baking on-site,” Acton explained about his installation process. “I like both the time restraint and the uncertainty of it.”

Although “Recent Works” is his first show in Routt County, Acton’s local ties run deep.

Acton was born in Denver and attended art school at Metropolitan State College. During his post-college years, he attempted to be a ski bum here in Steamboat, where his parents had moved. He lived here for more than three years and was lifted out of bum-dom when he landed a job at Riverhouse Editions working in printmaking, his area of study. There, he worked with Susan Oehme, who now is represented by K. Saari, as well.

But he wanted to go play in the “big pond” and took off for the Big Apple in 1999. Now he works as an assistant to artist Pat Steir and plays the drums in two bands that practice in his art studio.

Gallery owner Kimberly Saari met Acton through a mutual friend this summer and set up the December show without a visit to his studio.

“There’s something very cosmic about them, very soft,” Saari said about Acton’s work. “With all this chaos going on in the world, you can really feel the depth and the soul in them.”

Although his recent works explore scientific themes, the natural world shines through as a remnant of his Colorado upbringing.

Triangles reference mountainous peaks, and wispy nebulae call to mind the Colorado sky. And without a doubt, Acton said he’ll always be a Denver Broncos fan.

First Friday Artwalk listings for Dec. 2

❱❱ Artists’ Gallery of Steamboat, 1009 Lincoln Ave., 970-879-4744

Featuring Sue Gallion with a celebration of fiber art both past and present and Leo Atkinson with rare mineral formations sculpted into Earth’s treasures.

❱❱ Mangelsen — Images of Nature, 730 Lincoln Ave., 970-871-1822

Thomas D. Mangelsen has long been recognized as one of the world’s premier nature photographers. He recently was named 2011 Conservation Photographer of the Year. http://www.mangelsen.com.

❱❱ K. Saari Gallery, 837 Lincoln Ave., 970-870-0188

K. Saari Gallery shows “Recent Works” by New York-based artist Shaun Acton. The show will feature Acton’s densely layered paintings with images that reference binary code, Möbius loops, mathematical equations, cycles of time and gravity.

❱❱ Jim Steinberg Photography/Portfolio Collection, 1016 Oak St., 970-879-3718

Jim Steinberg’s photographs will be 50 percent off. The gallery also will feature a new series of Colorado fall photos.

❱❱ Sleeping Giant Gallery, 601 Lincoln Ave., 970-879-7143

Local art by nature photographer Don Tudor, and Raku stoneware and porcelain by Brown Cannon.

❱❱ Steamboat Art Museum, 807 Lincoln Ave., 970-870-1755

The Steamboat Art Museum will feature its opening reception for the winter season with oil painter Quang Ho. Read more about Ho’s artwork here. Visit http://www.steamboatartmuseum.org.

❱❱ Steamboat Springs Arts Council at the Depot, 1001 13th St., 970-879-9008

Meet local painters using watercolors, oils, acrylics, pastels and mixed media at the Depot Art Center. Ask the artists how they paint from photos or from life to capture the essence of the seasons.

❱❱ Steamboat Springs Center for Visual Arts, 906 Lincoln Ave., 970-846-5970

This month’s featured artist, Keri Searls, displays colorful mixed media in “Study in Poppies” and “Bird Talk.” Wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served. http://www.steamboatartcenter.com.

❱❱ Wild Horse Gallery, 802 Lincoln Ave., 970-879-5515

Wild Horse Gallery will feature the work of landscape painter Tom Lockhart, who will be demonstrating his technique from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. http://www.wildhorsegallery.com.

❱❱ Harwigs/L’Apogee, 911 Lincoln Ave., 970-879-1919

Harwigs’ upstairs gallery space this month features the lively watercolor paintings of local Deb Proper, who explores the soaring feminine form.

❱❱ Creekside Cafe, 131 11th St., 970-879-4925

Mary Beth Galer will present her art show “In Retrospect.” Her paintings evoke mystery with her use of translucent layers of paint to obscure realistic objects.

❱❱ artWorks, The Victoria Building, 941 Lincoln Ave. 970-879-7596

Stop by artWorks to see the creativity and skill of Steamboat’s artisans. From countertops to hardware, ironwork, cabinetry, quilting, ceramics, fabrics and murals to fine furniture and lighting, rugs, towel bars, tile and flooring, signage and framing.

❱❱ Colorado Group Realty, 509 Lincoln Ave., 970-875-2917

Featuring oil paintings of “Classic Steamboat” by well-known local artist Floria Romanelli. The collection of charming paintings of local scenes in Old Town and downtown are framed in gold.

❱❱ Comb Goddess, 1104 S. Lincoln Ave., Suite 102, 970-871-0606

“Ways I Have Altered,” a body of work by artist Julia Ortiz, embraces the idea of discovery. Ortiz flirts with imperfections in minute detail and showcases them boldly with colors and textures.

❱❱ East West Frame Shop, in the alley at Eighth and Oak streets, 970-879-5225

The East West Frame Shop will feature Marybeth Cates’ watercolors; Beth Taylor’s jewelry and handbags; Jason Santucci’s photographs; and Mindy Urken Marko’s orgone pendants.

❱❱ Off the Beaten Path Bookstore, 68 Ninth St., 970-879-6830

Janelle Schuler is the featured artist at Off the Beaten Path Bookstore for December. She will show a collection of photographs from Madagascar and the unique animals that inhabit the fragile island.

❱❱ Urbane, 703 Lincoln Ave., Suite B101, 970-879-9169

Art Installation by homegrown Colorado clothing company Akomplice featuring limited URBANE x Akomplice Skate Decks.

— To reach Nicole Inglis, call 970-871-4204 or email ninglis@SteamboatToday.com