Mountain Mayhem: Back at The Ranch

Anderson Ranch Arts Center of Snowmass hosted its annual Recognition Week from July 12-16 with an array of enriching events, artist workshops and a gala dinner, that was held not only in person (as opposed to last year’s virtual event), but on property (for the first time in decades) at the beloved ranch.

Starting on Monday and Tuesday, a critical dialogue program took place with the Guerilla Girls, offering an interactive lecture in the morning and art-making experience in the afternoon. The Guerilla Girls comprise an anonymous group of feminist, female artists devoted to fighting sexism and racism within the art world. They formed in New York City in 1985 with the mission of bringing gender and racial inequality into focus within the greater arts community.

On Wednesday, there was a public lecture by the Guerilla Girls. That evening featured a collaboration with Aspen Film screening Babette’s Feast, the film favorite of Simone Leigh, the 2021 International Artist Honoree. Dinner that night was available from The Ranch Café, which is led by Chef Rob Ittner as its new food and beverage director.

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On Thursday, a Summer Series lecture took place with Simone Leigh, the 2021 International Artist Honoree, in conversation with Saidiya Hartman, a recent MacArthur Genius Award-winning author. That night featured a Jazz Aspen Snowmass collaboration with a performance byJazz singer Lizz Wright with food from The Ranch Café.

On Friday, Saidiya Hartman led an intimate reading in the ceramics studio then was in conversation with Anderson Ranch President and CEO Peter Waanders.

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Friday evening’s grand finale, chaired by Sue Hostetler Wrigley who has been chair of the board since 2018, was the Recognition Dinner with 185 guests gathered on property. According to Katherine Roberts, Anderson Ranch’s Director of Marketing and Communications, “Having the dinner on campus allowed for an open-air experience. The dress code is always ‘Expressive Glam’ and guests took it next level this year with a color story of bright yellows, pinks, greens, blues and more.”

The outdoor sculpture exhibition, which has been onsite for a year, lent itself well to the event. The gravel drive between the studios and kiln yard was transformed into Inspiration Row with strands of twinkle lights crisscrossing the buildings. ASC Catering and Go West Event Rentals worked with the Ranch to create memorable dining experiences with tastings both in the studios and in unexpected settings like a canoe set up as a table for sushi and a saké tasting and a tiny truck serving rosé on tap. Following cocktail hour was a seated dinner, a paddle raise and dancing to NYC DJ Yacine who kept the energy going into the night.

Learn more about Anderson Ranch via http://www.andersonranch.org.