Media Package

Media Package/Press Releases

Red Mountain Heritage day press release

Explore the Red Mountain Mining District

On Saturday September 24, 2005 the member organizations of the Red Mountain Project will sponsor the third Heritage Day, during which the remarkable scenic and historic assets of the Red Mountain Mining District will be featured. Ten historic mine sites will be accessible and staffed by guides familiar with the area’s history – including the Idarado Mine rarely open to the public. Other options for visitors will be driving the jeep roads to timberline and beyond, hiking on newly cleared trails - some quite short - and visiting the unique Corkscrew turntable site with a knowledgeable guide. Lastly - weather permitting - there is the opportunity to enjoy and photograph one of the nations most spectacular alpine valleys during the fall color season.

Heritage Day is a celebration of the Red Mountain Project - an effort to purchase special scenic mining claims for the public domain and to preserve the last remaining historic mining buildings from the 1880s boom era. The Project has secured over $14 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund and other sources and has purchased over 7,000 acres of these special lands to date. The Project is in final stages but will add another 1,000 acres before completion. Additional information can be found at the web site mentioned below and will also be available throughout Heritage day at the overlook above the Idarado Mine.

Three possible starting points for Heritage Day will be available depending on direction of travel. Visitors from Ouray and points north can stop at the St. Germain Lodge site at the north end of Ironton Park across from Crystal Lake. Maps and information for planning the day’s activities will be available. Visitors from Silverton and points south can stop at the parking area next to the wetlands at the Chattanooga town site. Finally, all visitors should plan a stop sometime during the day at the overlook on US 550 next to the Idarado Mine for detailed information about the past, present and future of the area. Available at the overlook will be representatives from the US Forest Service, the Trust for Public Land, Ouray and San Juan County Historical Societies, the Red Mountain Project and other interested organizations. These staff people will not only be providing information but soliciting suggestions and recommendations from visitors that will assist in the planning for the future management of the area.

For information about Heritage Day contact any of the following phone numbers or the web site.

Ouray County Historical Society 970-325 -4576

San Juan County Historical Society 970-387-5488

Fort Lewis College Office of Community Service 970-247-7310

Bob Risch - Red Mountain Project 970-325-4205

www.redmountainproject.org

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OPEN HOUSE at LAST DOLLAR RANCH

A Rare Opportunity

SATURDAY and SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1^ST AND 2^ND

10:00 a.m.. – 5:00 p.m.

Hosted by DOUBLE SHOE CATTLE OMPANY at the request, and in support of

Ouray County Ranch History Museum

Ouray County Historical Society

Ranching History of Ouray County (Ridgway Public Library)

Donation of $10 per person to benefit the above organizations (18 and under free)

Come visit this meticulously restored historic ranch at the height of the fall colors. Bring your camera and walking shoes for a stroll through the aspen groves—see the old carvings on the trees that record dozens of ranch activities during the past 100 years. Tour the log and stone barn and the restored log buildings. A luncheon will be provided with non-alcoholic beverages at no additional charge.

This ranch has been featured in such publications as WESTERN HORSEMAN, COWBOYS & INDIANS, COLORADO HOMES & LIFESTYLES, and USA TODAY. More Marlboro ads have been photographed at this location than any other ranch in the United States, and it has been the site for video, catalog, and print ads for Budweiser, Urban Outfitters, Abercrombie & Fitch, Ford, Pontiac, Honda, Copenhagen, Coors, and more. Last Dollar Ranch was also featured on the PBS television series, SPIRIT OF COLORADO.

Several books have been printed about this ranch and Centennial Ranch: the award-winning A HERITAGE IN IRON and the newly published A RANCHING LEGACY, both by Rafael Routson; and LAST DOLLAR RANCH by Donna Freeman. These books will be on sale at the Open House with all proceeds being donated to the organizations listed above.

Location: Dallas Divide on Last Dollar Road, 2 miles off

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2005 Historic Preservation Month and May Day: A Tradition of Decorating with Ribbons

Become a permanent part of Ouray’s history by purchasing an engraved brick that will adorn one of the paths in front of the Ouray County Historical Society Museum leading to its new display windows.

In support of the recently created Pat Donovan Memorial Endowment Fund, your contribution will not only honor the man who, as a member, and former president of the of the OCHS Board of Directors, gave tirelessly to the museum, but also will help to generate funds enabling the museum to carry out its many worthwhile projects.

Pat Donovan, a West Point Graduate, spent his career in military service and achieved the rank of Brigadier General. After spending only 6 days in Ouray, he and his wife Betty, who were sweethearts since high school freshman, decided in July 1987, that Ouray would be the perfect place to retire. Donovan became interested in the Ouray County Historical Society (OCHS) and served on the Board of Directors on and off between l988 and 2001. In 1997, Donovan enlisted Ann Hoffman to become its Executive Director for a 2 year "tour of duty" which subsequently was extended indefinitely. Donovan served as president of the OCHS Board of Directors from 1997 to 2001.

The bricks are available for a $100.00 donation to the museum. Patrons may wish to have their own names or those of loved ones permanently etched into the bricks for prominent display in perpetuity on the museum grounds. What better way to show your support, become part of our "living history" and honor yourself or a loved one. For those who do not wish to purchase a brick, donations of any amount will be welcomed.

The bricks are standard in size. The color will be Sahara Sand (gray/brown) with black lettering covered in epoxy for protection from freeze-thaw cycles. The engraving allows for 3 lines of _ inch text with up to 21 characters, including spaces, per line.

Please feel free to come by the museum, request an order form by phone or from our Web Site for your own personalized brick. Order as many bricks as you wish. Your contribution goes toward a very worthy cause and all who visit the museum will know of your generosity. For further information call (970) 3254-4576 or visit the OCHS Web Site at www.ouraycountyhistoricalsociety.org.

RED MOUNTAIN HERITAGE DAY PROVIDES A LOOK AT HISTORIC GOLD and SILVER MINES

On Saturday September 20, 2003 between 9 AM and 3 PM the Ouray and San Juan County Historical Societies and other member organizations of the Red Mountain Project Task Force will sponsor Red Mountain Heritage Day. This day is planned as an "open house" of the Red Mountain Mining District that will provide visitors and residents the opportunity to explore the remarkably varied scenic, historic, environmental and recreational features from Ironton Park (along the million dollar highway) to Chattanooga. Approximately a dozen historic mine sites together with two research sites will be featured. Some of these sites have recently become public domain through the Red Mountain Project, but others are still privately owned. Prominent among the latter is the Idarado Mine site which is rarely opened to the public. Additionally, there will be two guided hikes of the Corkscrew Turntable at 10:00 AM and 12:30 PM, both departing from the Red Mountain Overlook. The day’s event is free of charge.

Other options for visitors will be hiking on newly cleared trails – some quite short – and visits to staffed botanical and avalanche-science research sites. Weather permitting; visitors will enjoy one of the region’s most spectacular alpine valleys during the color season.

The starting point for the day will be at the Red Mountain Overlook on the west side of Highway 550, 10.3 miles south of the City of Ouray. Maps of the various mining sites and hiking trails may be picked up at the Overlook along with a variety of information about the mining sites and trails.

According to the Trust for Public Lands (TPL), Colorado, two more groups of mining claims which include 59 separate mining claims in the Red Mountain Area of Colorado were recently purchased. This latest purchase brings to about 3600 acres the total protected by the Red Mountain Project of the 11,000 acre goal. The project is a partnership that includes TPL, the Forest Service, Ouray and San Juan Counties of Colorado, their historical societies and the Red Mountain Task Force.

The bulk of the money for the Red Mountain Project comes from 13.6 million Land and Water Conservation funds which congress appropriated at the requests of U.S. Sens. Ben Nighthorse Campbell and Wayne Allard, both R-Colo., and Rep. Scott McInnis, R-Colo. In addition, local grants were provided by Greater Outdoors Colorado, the Colorado State Historical Society and the Idarado Resource Recovery Fund.

According to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, The Red Mountain Mining District in Ouray and San Juan Counties of Colorado is listed as one of the National Trusts more endangered historic places in the country. According to Richard Moe, its president, "Regions like the Red Mountain Mining District laid the foundation of the West. The artifacts that remain are our best connection to the pioneering spirit of those first courageous miners. It was a remarkable chapter in America’s History".

The Red Mountain area is, in part, bordered by the Cities of Ouray and Silverton and is nestled in the heart of the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. The magnificent surroundings were formed over millions of years from glaciations, water carving and volcanic activity, resulting is the most mineralized mountain range in Colorado. It is one of the most photographed areas in the United States. Both Ouray and Silverton are part of the San Juan Triangle located along the San Juan Skyway which is one of only fourteen designated By-ways in the U.S. Much of both cities is a National Historic District with many historic homes and buildings.

Both cities feature numerous hotels, motels and Bed and Breakfast for lodging as well as many fine restaurants for dining.

For further information and details contact the Ouray County Historical Society at (970) 325-4576 (www.ouraycountyhistoricalsociety.com) or the San Juan Historical Society at (970) 387-5488.

NOTED "WELLS FARGO STAGE COACH" ARTIST EXHIBITS
WORK AT OURAY COUNTY (COLORADO) MUSEUM

Bill Tipton, famed "Wells Fargo Stage Coach" artist will exhibit his work entitled "A Texan lives in Ouray County" presented by the Ouray County Historical Society at its museum from July 10th through August 22nd. An opening reception to meet the artist will be held at the museum, located at 420 Sixth Ave., Ouray, Co 81427 on July 10, 2003 from 4-7 P.M.

A native Texan and former petroleum geologist Tipton attended the University of Texas and received his bachelors and masters degree in Geology. He was chief geologist and manager of exploration for Dow Chemical Oil and Gas Division; a consulting geologist; and taught geology at the University of Houston.

In 1980 Bill and his wife Julie moved to Colorado to pursue his desire to become a full time artist devoting his energy to satisfying the demands of his art. He studied under such highly respected artists as Robert Joy (Houston, Tx); Everett Raymond Kinstler (NY); Ray Froman (Dallas, Tx), Ray Vinella (Taos, NM); Bill Reese (WA) Harley Brown (pastelist, now of AR); Lajos Markos with whom he studied in both the US and Italy; and did a post graduate study in art at the University of Texas. After moving to Colorado, the Tiptons began and ran the Western Colorado School of Art in Ridgway for eight years bringing renowned artists from all over the United States to teach.

His home and studio are in Ouray County overlooking the San Juan Mountains. He is a painter of oils and pastels with a lifetime of experience (having completed his first oil painting at the age of 9). He often studies and paints the wildlife which abounds in the area where he lives and paints on location the scenic San Juans with their lush valleys and streams. His work is considered a fine blend of representational and impressionistic styles. Tipton has also become known for his portraiture and paintings depicting life in the West.

His portraits of chancellors and deans hang in University collections at the University of Houston, University of Kentucky, and Austin College as well as numerous private collections internationally. His Western paintings hang in business offices and bank collections in Dallas, Houston and Orzona, Texas; Montrose and Denver, Colorado; as well as, seven stagecoach ones in the Museum of the Wells Fargo Bank. One of his noted claims to fame, the Stage Coach paintings were purchased by the San Francisco Museum of Wells Fargo Bank and are used in numerous ways including commercially. Bill’s works are also represented in private collections in many parts of the U.S. and Mexico. He has sold numerous paintings in Santa Fe, Albuquerque and Ruidosa, New Mexico; Houston, San Antonio and Corpus Christi, Texas; Oklahoma City, OK; as well as Ouray, Colorado Springs, Glenwood Springs, Grand Junction and Breckenridge, Colorado.

The mission of OCHS is to preserve, protect, procure, exhibit and interpret whatever may relate to the natural, social and cultural history of Ouray County and the adjacent San Juan Mountain Region of Colorado. The Society excels in telling the story of the natural history of Ouray County through a variety of methods, medias and artifacts. We are pleased to offer Bill’s exhibit in oils and pastels to the public, says Ann Hoffman, Executive Director of OCHS.

The Museum is open 10 AM to Noon and 2 – 6 PM daily throughout the summer months. For additional information about OCHS and its Museum call (970) 325-4576 or visit the Museum Web Site at www.ouraycountyhistoricalsociety.org.

OURAY COUNTY MUSEUM EXHIBITS CU ART GALLERY’S "PHOTOGRAPHIC TECHNIQUES: AN HISTORICAL SURVEY"

Ouray County Historical Society (OCHS) has been honored with an exhibit, at its Museum, of 25 photos from the "Colorado Collection" of CU Art Gallery’s "Photographic Techniques: An Historical Survey." CU Art Gallery is the visual arts museum at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Its permanent collection known as the "Colorado Collection" includes over 5000 works of art and is primarily works on paper, ranging from Old Master drawings to contemporary photographs.

The "miracle" of photography dates back to 1839. In the following decades, practitioners have explored a wide range of photographic processes. There are nearly twenty distinct photographic processes, ten of which are represented in this exhibit, some of which include daguerreotype (hand-tinted), tintypes, gelatin-silver prints, albumen prints, cyanotype on canvas and Woodburytype.

After the discovery of the photographic processes of cyanotype, platinum and palladium, photography became widespread. Photographs of the wonders of the American West spurred westward settlement; society figures and politicians were immortalized; news events were recorded visually rather than described; and "wanted" posters became more accurate.

In 1888, Kodak introduced easy-to-use cameras, and offered the first film-developing services. Given new, reduced exposure times and ease of operation, the Kodak camera and film services brought photography to the masses.

New photographic techniques have focused on obtaining the most accurate image in the quickest possible way such as Polaroid, auto exposure, auto focus, and disposable cameras. Digital imaging, which bypasses the developing process, may eventually render film and light-sensitive paper obsolete (given the toxicity of photographic materials and growing environmental consciousness, a Nevada Company recently invented a process of recycling photographic materials into fertilizer). Ironically, at the cusp of today’s radical technical shifts, many contemporary photographers have revived historical photographic processes, which may be cumbersome but are cherished for their richer detail, subtleties and delicate results.

To kick off this fine exhibit on loan to OCHS from the University of Colorado, there will be a reception and a talk given by Ann Hoffman, Executive Director of OCHS on June 1, 2003 from 6-7 PM at the Museum, 420 Sixth Avenue, Ouray, Co 81427. The exhibit will be on display from June 1st to July 7th. For further information call (970) 325-4576 or visit its web site at www.ouraycountyhistoricalsociety.org.

DANNY BOY

On May 10, 2003, Anthony Mann of England will come to Ouray (Colorado) to present an "Evening of History", sponsored by the Ouray County (Colorado) Historical Society, about Ouray’s connection to the much beloved and unofficially adopted Irish National Anthem "Danny Boy". Mann is a descendant of Edward and Margaret Weatherly who once lived in Ouray and the great grandson of Frederick E. Weatherly, lawyer, lyricist, songwriter and brother of Edward.

As it turns out, the great tune may not be of Irish origin. A folklorist named Jane Ross supposedly first noted it down around 1851 writes Malachy McCourt, author. She reportedly heard it played by a blind fiddler, Jimmy McCurry, in Limavady, Londonderry---but there is at least a possibility that the melody may have originated in Scotland. No one knows for sure.

Although many different sets of words were attached to the tune after its first publication in 1855, those that became indissolubly identified with it ("O Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling, from glen to glen and down the mountainside"") were written in 1910 by Frederick E. Weatherly, an English lawyer and song-lyric cobbler, who probably never set foot in Ireland. The tune, writes Michael Canavan, of Ouray, Colorado, was sent to Frederick by his sister-in-law, Margaret Weatherly who was living in Ouray at the time. She had a chance to socialize with the Irish Miners and one day listened to the miners whistling a beautiful melody she’d never heard before. Thinking of Frederick and his penchant for writing lyrics, she prevailed upon the miner’s for a copy of the sheet music and sent it to him. Thus, one of the best known and most beloved songs in the western world was created. Whether sung at funeral masses or by Elvis Presley, it nearly always raises a lump in the throat and brings tears to the eyes of those who hear its haunting words and melody.

Mann was born to the daughter of Frederick Weatherlys only son Alec. He was educated at Cambridge University and is a part time Professor of Psychiatry at the University of London and primarily a researcher and teacher rather than a clinician. Since his mothers’ death, he has begun research of the Weatherly Family History, the motivation behind the lyrics of Danny Boy and has become the one who answers the media and public questions.

Listen to Anthony Mann and learn more about the Weatherly’s and Ouray’s connection to "Danny Boy on May 10th, 7:00 PM at the Ouray Community Center, 320 Sixth Avenue, Ouray, Co. Admission is free of charge, donations, however, will be cheerfully accepted. For further information please call (970) 325-4075 or 4576 and/or visit the Ouray County (Colorado) Historical Society web site at www.ouraycountyhistoricalsociety.org.

OURAY COUNTY CELEBRATES ITS PAST

During the month of May 2003, Ouray County will once again observe a month long celebration of Archaeology and Historic Preservation. Five festivities will be highlighted during the month, beginning with the placement of purple ribbons on those residences, commercial and public buildings throughout the county that are approximately 100 years old. Qualifying for the purple ribbon is relatively easy says Ann Hoffman, Executive Director of Ouray County Historical Society. Some portion of the structure needs to have been built in the 19th or early 20th century. Last year over 120 buildings from Colona to the south end of Ouray sported the ribbons. Most of the City of Ouray is a National Historic District and many of the buildings in Ridgway are on the State Register of Historic Places. Hoffman says, "All too often we talk or hear about historical sites that are gone. OCHS invites people to drive through the county between Colona and the south end of Ouray to see what’s still here. Driving up and down the various streets in the three county towns and through the ranching areas will give an idea of "what was" to those who cherish our heritage and history."

So pull out your ribbons, dust them off and display them proudly. For those who don’t have them, ribbons may be picked up at the Ouray County Museum, 420 Sixth Avenue, Ouray or at the Ridgway Public Library, 525 West Clinton, Ridgway. Hoffman also points out, if your structure is substantially the same as its original form, even though renovated, it may qualify for an award plaque from the County Historical Society.

On Saturday, May 24, 2003, the Ouray Chamber Resort Association and the Ouray County Historical Society will host a breakfast buffet and informational program about the Red Mountain Mining District, at the Western Hotel, 210 7th Ave., Ouray at 8:30 AM. Subsequently, Switzerland of America Jeep Tour Company, 226 7th Ave., Ouray will provide guided Jeep Tours of the Red Mountain Mining District; 1st tour departs 10:00 AM; 2nd tour departs 1:00 PM. Tickets are $30.00 per person and include free admission to the Ouray County Museum.

Also on May 24, 2003, a guided hiking tour of the Corkscrew Railroad Bed and Turntable will be sponsored by OCHS and the Ridgway Railroad Museum. Meet at the Ouray County Museum at 11:00 AM. The hike will take approximately 2 hours. Tickets are $10.00 per person.

Sunday, May 25, 2003, OCRA and OCHS will host docent guided walking tours of Ouray Historic District; 1st tour is 10-11:30 AM; 2nd tour is 3-4:30 PM; cost $10.00 per adult. Docent guided tours of the Museum (included in admission fee) will also be available from 3-5 PM. Additionally, all members of the Ouray County Historical Society and its’ volunteers are invited to attend the OCHS Annual Meeting and awards reception at the museum between 2 and 4 PM.

Memorial Day, May 26, 2003 will be a continuation of the docent guided walking tours of Ouray Historic District; 1st tour 10:30 – Noon; 2nd tour 2:30 – 4:00 PM; $10.00 per adult and docent guided tours of the Museum (included in Museum admission Fee); 10-Noon and 2-5PM.

Beginning May 8, 2003, tickets to all the events may be purchased at the Ouray County Museum, the Ouray Visitors Center (OCRA), V&S Variety Store, Switzerland of America Jeep Tours and the Ridgway Chamber of Commerce/Visitors Center.

OURAY COUNTY (COLORADO) HISTORICAL SOCIETY PRESENTS A HISTORY IN EDUCATION WORKSHOP TITLED "THE RED MOUNTAIN DISTRICT: GEOLOGY, HISTORY, & PRESERVATION"

History in Education is a unique program sponsored by the Ouray County (Colorado) Historical Society (OCHS) where Masters Level Participants will earn 3 semester credit hours for graduate recertification from the Colorado School of Mines (CSM). Although the CSM main campus is located in Golden, Colorado, the week long studies will be held in Ouray, Colorado.

Workshop students will have an opportunity to learn about the Red Mountains within Colorado’s San Juan Mountain Range, Gold Hill, Uncompagre Valley and other Ouray County areas; the scenic details of which resulted from river and glacial erosion and volcanic activity millions of years ago. The presenters are expert geologists, graduates of CSM and Texas A & M University, educators, area historians, researchers and experienced mountain trail guides. The curriculum consists of classroom studies beginning with an in-depth look at the geology of the San Juans. There will be field expeditions; hiking in the mountains of the area’s rich mining history and natural resources; tours of historic mines and ghost towns; and jeeping into elevations above 10,000 feet to view first hand the unique geology that gave birth to mining in the area. The week will conclude with a tour of the Million Dollar Highway and Red Mountain Area where reclamation and preservation have created a vision for the future.

Students are certain to experience a "Rocky Mountain High" in the area’s glorious, breathtaking and scenic atmosphere while earning college credits toward recertification. After class each day, they can relax in the town’s natural hot springs pool, dine at one of the many restaurants, visit with classmates, take in a movie at the local theatre, see the "Broadway to Branson" Show or just enjoy the wonders of the town’s surrounding landscape of craggy, majestic rock formations that embrace the city, and take in the fresh mountain air, while leaving the daily hustle and bustle of a busy life behind for a moment in time. Ouray also offers a wide variety of lodging accommodations, including campground sites.

The week begins on Sunday, June 22, 2003 at 1:00 PM, at the Ouray Community Center, 320 6th Avenue, Ouray, Co with an overview of the course, a guided tour of the County Museum and town and a barbecue. It ends on Friday, June 27 with a Jeep Tour within the San Juan Mountains of Ouray and San Miguel Counties. Moderate physical activity at high elevations is required for a part of each day during the week. Participants must attend all sessions to receive recertification credits.

CSM is a well known and accredited school of higher education. It was organized in 1869 and formally established under the territory of Colorado on February 9, 1874. The oldest public institution of higher education to open its doors in Colorado, the school is devoted to engineering and applied science related to the earth’s resources. Some of the degrees offered include those of Geology, Geophysics, Geochemistry, Mining and Petroleum Engineering Economics and Business to mention a few. Its mission is achieved by the creation, integration and exchange of knowledge in engineering, the natural sciences, the social sciences, the humanities, business, and their union, to create processes and products to enhance the quality of life of the world’s inhabitants.

The Ouray County Historical Society mission is dedicated to preserve, protect, procure, exhibit and interpret that which relates to the natural, social and cultural history of Ouray County and the adjacent San Juan Region. "We are extremely proud to present this workshop and share the unparalleled magnificence and beauty of our territory through this educational program" says Ann Hoffman, Executive Director.

The cost of the workshop is $300.00 payable to OCHS, with a registration deadline of June 1st. Those not seeking credits may attend at a charge of $200.00. For additional information call (970) 325-4075 or (970) 325-9824 or E-Mail ochs@frontier.net. Visit our web site at: www.ouraycountyhistoricalsociety.org.

OURAY COUNTY MUSEUM SPONSORS AN "EGGCEPTIONAL PARTY"

On April 19, 2003, between 10 and 11 AM, the Ouray County Historical Society at 420 Sixth Avenue, Ouray, will present a "Basket Full of Surprises" for children of all ages. Ouray County residents and visitors alike are all invited to attend this free event says Ann Hoffman, Executive Director.

There will be a variety of activities including a treasure hunt, Easter egg hunt, other games and stories. According to Hoffman it promises to be loads of fun and will provide a wonderful opportunity for the children to play and learn about other birds that lay eggs ‘cause "chickens aren’t the only ones".

Parents are also encouraged to attend this special Easter event. For further information call (970) 325-4075 or 4576 or visit the OCHS web site at www.ouraycountyhistoricalsociety.org.

OURAY COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM FEATURES OIL PAINTINGS BY JOCELYN AUDETTE

The Ouray County Historical Society (OCHS) and Museum will present an exhibition of new oil paintings by Jocelyn Audette of Ridgway, Colorado, from April 3 through May 28, 2003. An opening reception to meet the artist will be held at the Museum, located at 420 Sixth Avenue, Ouray, Colorado on Saturday, April 5th from 4-7 PM.

Jocelyn will also present a slide show and talk about her paintings at the San Miguel County/Wilkinson Public Library, 100 W. Pacific Avenue, Telluride, Colorado on April 25, 2003 from 4-6 PM. The slide show and talk is sponsored as a joint effort by the Montrose County, Ouray County, San Juan County and Telluride Historical Societies. On the same day, the Telluride Historical Museum will hold an open house between 2 and 3 PM.

Audette’s exhibit presents a group of paintings of places in and around Ouray County. These landscapes depict the unique beauty of the Uncompahgre River Valley and the surrounding mountains, including recognizable views as well as views from local back roads and trails. The focus of this body of work is to capture the beauty of the area, illuminating the things that are there that we often don’t see or perhaps take for granted.

Jocelyn’s approach to painting stems from a deep reverence for nature and the environment, combined with a love of adventure, exploring the unknown and the creative process. She paints loosely, allowing the brushstrokes to remain apparent and yet creating the illusion of reality. Her goal with each painting, says Audette, is to capture the essence of the place at a particular moment in time.

Jocelyn lived in the Denver area from 5th grade through college, receiving her Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1977 from the University of Colorado at Boulder. A desire to experience new places led her to Seattle and then Northern California, in addition to travels in Europe and to the Pacific Rim. Inspired by the land, Jocelyn’s painting now focuses on landscapes, both plein air (on site, in the open air) and in-studio based on photographs she takes. Her painting style is bold, gestural and painterly (a style of painting that emphasizes color, tone, texture rather than line), often with dramatic light, bright color and thick paint.

Jocelyn has exhibited extensively in Northern California and nationally. A member of the North Coast Four, she exhibits plein air landscapes with Dana Hawley, Linda Kammer and Hanya Popova Parker. Jocelyn was also the founder and producer of the recent Art for America Benefit at Clos Pegase Winery in Calistoga, California in which nearly 100 Bay area artists donated paintings to help victims of 9/11 in New York. Jocelyn is represented by Elder Art Gallery in Charlotte, North Carolina; Exploding Head Gallery in Sacramento, California; Casa Design in Calistoga, California; and she currently has paintings in exhibits across the country.

The mission of OCHS is to preserve, protect, procure, exhibit and interpret whatever may relate to the natural, social and cultural history of Ouray County and the adjacent San Juan Mountain Region of Colorado. The Society excels in telling the story of the natural history of Ouray County through a variety of methods, medias and artifacts. We believe you will see Ouray County’s natural environment in a new way through the eyes of Jocelyn Audette, and are pleased to offer this exhibit in oil to the public, says Ann Hoffman, Executive Director of OCHS.

The Museum will be open Thursday-Saturday starting April 3rd from 1-4PM. Beginning May 11th-May 23rd, it will open its doors daily from 1-5PM and subsequently will be open for more extended daily hours throughout the summer and fall.

For additional images or an interview with the artist, contact Jocelyn Audette at 970-626-9890 or joaudette@aol.com, or visit her web site at www.jocelynaudette.com. For information about the Ouray County Historical Society and Museum, call Ann Hoffman at 970-325-4075 or anneil@frontier.net or visit the Museum Web Site at www.ouraycountyhistoricalsociety.org.

March 21, 2003 - An Evening with John Fielder

The Ouray County Historical Society hosted an "Evening with John Fielder", a nationally renowned nature photographer, publisher, teacher and preservationist on March 21st. The evening featured a color slide show, talk and book signing of Fielders’ The Best of Colorado, a guide to roads less traveled to some of his favorite scenic Colorado locations. He included photo tips and suggestions for where to stay and play, from Denver to Grand Junction, Steamboat Springs to Pagosa Springs. No one knows the state quite like John does say his fans.

In 1981 Fielder founded Westcliffe Publishers, now one of the nation’s largest producers of guidebooks and nature calendars and publisher of numerous award-winning books featuring scenic photography. A former department store executive who turned an avocation into a career, he is the photographer of 32 exhibit-format books and guidebooks, most about his home state of Colorado.

An original, governor-appointed member of the lottery-related Board of Great Outdoors Colorado, John has worked tirelessly to promote the protection of Colorado’s open space and wildlands. His photography has influenced people and legislation, earning him awards from major conservation groups including the Sierra Club’s Ansel Adams Award. He speaks to thousands of people each year to rally support for timely land-use and environmental issues. We feel extremely fortunate to have John for this evening event says Ann Hoffman, Executive Director of the Ouray County Historical Society.

In 1995, he founded the popular "Nature Photography is Fun for Kids" seminars. He continues to conduct photograph workshops throughout Colorado. His 1999 book, Colorado 1870-2000, is still Colorado’s all0time best-selling title. His gallery and store, John Fielder’s Colorado, opened in September 2002 in Denver’s Cherry Creek Shopping Center. He lives with his family in the Denver area.

The evening with John was held at 7:30 P.M. at the Ouray Community Center, 320 Sixth Avenue, Ouray, Co. For further information contact the Ouray County Historical Society Museum (970) 325-4576 or 4075 or visit the web site at www.ouraycountyhistoricalsociety.org.

A reception for John was held, as a Museum Member only event, from 6-7 P.M. on March 21st at the Ouray County Historical Society Museum, 420 Sixth Avenue, Ouray, Co.