This month’s First Friday Artwalk, which begins Sept. 5, will bring together a diverse range of artists and their works that reflect the landscapes, traditions and cultures of the Yampa Valley.

Schoonover Gallery: Mark McMahon

The Schoonover Gallery, at 929 Lincoln Ave., will feature the work of Mark McMahon, an artist with deep ties to Steamboat Springs. McMahon grew up in the Yampa Valley and was heavily influenced by his father, a well-known illustrator.

McMahon’s intricate drawings and watercolor paintings carry forward his family’s legacy while adding his own twists and perspectives based on a life spent in the area.

“My on-location style of drawing and painting comes from my father … who influenced me as a child,” McMahon said.

A recent trip to the Steamboat rodeo led McMahon to use the energy he experienced to create a series of sketches and paintings, some of which will display at the Schoonover Gallery during Artwalk.

Visit SchoonoverGallery.com for more information. 

Zandee Gallery to feature glass and music

The Zandee Gallery, 703 Lincoln Ave., will offer visual and performing arts for visitors during September’s FFAW. 

Guests can enjoy live piano music while viewing the work of two new artists at the gallery, one of which is Nicolas Stelter. Stelter’s glass bowls bring both elegance and craftsmanship best appreciated in person.

For more information on the Zandee Gallery, visit TzImages.com/Gallery. 

Alley Gallery and Art Studios: ‘Florals and Friends’

The Alley Gallery and Art Studios will present the “Florals and Friends” collaborative exhibition featuring local artists Ann Feldman and Chula Beauregard. Both Feldman and Beauregard are known for their plein air approach to capturing the Yampa Valley’s natural beauty.

“We have a shared love of painting the beauty of our surroundings, and there’s nothing like standing in the midst of it all to capture the seasons in paint,” Feldman said. 

The exhibition at 729 Lincoln Ave. will feature several floral oil paintings in addition to other pieces from Feldman, Beauregard and Jill Bergman.

Visit AlleyGallerySteamboat.com for additional details on the studio’s artists and works.

The Depot Art Center, Riverwalk Collective and ‘The Character of Home’

At the Depot Art Center, 1001 13th St., the Riverwalk Collective will feature the works of Andrea Abrahamson, a new member from south Routt County. Abrahamson draws inspiration from the sagebrush flats, canyons and wildlife that she encounters on hikes, which she blends into paintings that combine observation with emotion.

“I want my paintings to feel like stories of my wanderings,” she said. “They’re invitations to experience a bit of what I’ve encountered, whether it’s crows playing overhead, the resilience of an old ponderosa or the hidden abundance of sage country.”

Abrahamson will also lead a Meditative Making workshop from 1-3 p.m. Sept. 13. The session will begin with a nature walk before participants translate their observations into writing, drawing, movement or collage.

The Depot Art Center will also present “The Character of Home,” a September member exhibit that will explore the soul of Northwest Colorado. The show brings together paintings, photographs, sculptures and other mixed media pieces that reflect the natural beauty of the Yampa Valley and the cultural traditions that are part of it.

“I strive to paint so the viewer feels a connection with the subject,” said Cully Kistler, whose pieces are part of the show. “Most of my work is capturing Steamboat, and I love the heritage of this town as a ranching and skiing community.” 

Other artists in the show view “The Character of Home” as an opportunity to explore individual and collective memories amid the change that has occurred in the region over the years.

“I wanted to give people a glimpse of how the upper part of Pleasant Valley and the Yampa Valley looked before the dam was built to create Stagecoach Reservoir,” said Jane Sindell. “I also wanted to draw attention to the possibility of more change coming to this particular area.”

John Sullivan, a fellow artist in the show, echoed that sentiment.

“My efforts are to capture elements from the past that are disappearing from age or from the threat of development,” he said

For Britt Friesell, the show reflects a combined sense of being centered with belonging, which often comes with his visits to Steamboat’s botanic garden. 

“Someday I will have my own prolific flower garden, but until then, my favorite place to be in Steamboat is the Yampa River Botanic Park,” he said. “When considering ‘The Character of Home,’ it was the first place my mind went. It’s a spot that will always bring me so much joy and peace.”

More information on the Depot Art Center and its artists can be found at SteamboatCreates.org/Depot-Art-Center.

A Community of Connection

September’s Artwalk is designed to remind residents and visitors that the Yampa Valley art scene is a shared, communal experience driven by individual creativity. Whether sketching rodeo riders, painting wildflowers with friends or meditating on hikes through sagebrush canyons, Northwest Colorado artists continue to highlight landscapes and stories that inspire and connect communities and people.

First Friday Artwalk runs from 5-8 p.m. on Sept. 5 at galleries and businesses throughout downtown Steamboat Springs.

For more information on Steamboat’s First Friday Artwalk, visit SteamboatCreates.org/events/steamboat-creates-events/first-friday-artwalk.