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Letter: Thanks to the patrons of the Aspen Art Museum

As longtime residents of the Aspen valley, we have all shared in the remarkable growth and development of the creative resources and facilities in Aspen. As was mentioned in a recent letter to the editor, the tradition started by the Paepckes has grown and flourished at the Aspen Institute, the music festival, theater, Anderson Ranch and many other arts endeavors.

Much of this incredible renaissance has been made possible by the generosity of part-time residents. The economic divide between second-home owners and the locals has created an unfortunate “range war” that has simmered for at least the past 30 years. It has been fueled by a combination of real concerns and perceived misconceptions.

Last week marked a historic moment in Aspen’s storied history of cultural leadership and largesse. The new art museum, primarily funded by part-time residents, has given Aspen a magnificent space free to the public, which offers an incredible range of learning opportunities to all residents and visitors to Aspen.



These generous patrons should be congratulated and thanked for their generosity, vision and commitment to the community. Say what you will of the design and the process to build this museum. It is here now, and it is ours.

It behooves both the leadership of the museum and the residents of our community to work together to build a spirit of creative engagement that is worthy of the good, generous and worthy goal of this remarkable endeavor.




Robert Lehrman

Washington, D.C., and Aspen