Highlands Summer Finale Art Festival September 6 & 7

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“Master Artist” award winner for the 2022 season winner! Peter Freischlag's free-flowing style makes  his watercolors unique. Peter is a mood painter creating an impression  of his sublet matter through the use of bold and energetic colors.  Peter's greatest satisfaction comes from the donation to worthy causes  such as Habitat for the Humanity, the American Heart Association, the  American Breast Cancer Society, Children’s Hospice House among others  and was commissioned by Johns Hopkins in Baltimore where he produced  some 50 originals for their surgery wing, Recently,  Wake Forest’s  University’s new neonatal center approached Peter to paint the signature  piece for the entrance to their new center and his 48 x 60 inch “Baby  Bear” adorns the entrance. His work is bright and bold watercolors that  adhere to wood panels treated with a preservative.

 https://peter-freischlag.squarespace.com/

Justin Thornton's work deals with nature, its history of  scientific study and presented as a reminder of the importance it plays in our lives.  He uses an old photographic process, cyanotype, that was used to catalog botanical specimens. With a selective chemical application and gold paint and leaf after the fact he creates a striking image to focus your thoughts on the natural world.

www.justinthornton.com

 Susan Williams established Mindful Works as a social enterprise in late 2014, initially supported by Windhorse Community Services, and it is overseen by The Windhorse Guild, Inc., a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. Windhorse Community Services offers an innovative approach to the treatment of mental health and Mindful Works’ job-skills and transitional employment program furthers their mission. Studies confirm that work is a critical component in the establishment of independent living and wellbeing for those recovering from mental health challenges. 

 Home - Mindful Works 

Jennifer Pearson creates pottery using many types of clay and firings. Each piece is functional and unique. She is always evolving as a potter, creating new pieces and trying to manipulate clay in ways that make it interesting.

Tom Cattany's artwork is primarily acrylic paintings on canvas and hardboard. Glazing techniques are used to bring depth to the paint finish, along with a focus on light, perspective, and illusion to draw in the audience. This is very imaginative artwork, with a quirky sense of whimsical weirdness, and absurdity. www.atomicatart.com

 Helena Duque is a Colorado-based artist and the creative force behind HangingFly. Drawing inspiration from the delicate beauty and intricate patterns of the natural world, she transforms simple sheets of paper into richly layered works of art. Each piece invites viewers to look closer, revealing depth, texture, and a sense of wonder that reflects her deep connection to nature. 

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, William moved to Colorado in 1975 with his wife, Suzi, and their son, Billy, bringing with them a love for Puerto Rican culture.

Today, they have returned to their first passion with Esperanza Jewelers, blending decades of artistic experience into jewelry that challenges convention. By combining unexpected elements—such as turquoise with freshwater pearls and gold—they create one-of-a-kind pieces influenced by Art Deco, Baroque, Modern, Native American styles, and a rich variety of gemstones. Each work is designed with attitude, individuality, and lasting personal meaning.

 Esperanza Jewelers – esperanzajewelers 

 Our mission is simple: to provide the best products and service to our customers. We take great pride in our company, our commitment to customer service, and the products we sell. Our online store is designed to provide you with a safe and secure environment to browse our product catalog. 

www.candisscole.com

Crafted with meticulous wire wrapping and crochet techniques, Nina's jewelry collection showcases intricate necklaces, bracelets, and rings adorned with gemstones. Each piece highlights the art of handcrafting, blending traditional methods with modern aesthetics.

https://ninawynn.com/ 

 Anna Wettergreen creates cyanotype artworks on paper and fabric, using sunlight to capture the beauty of the natural world. She collects plants, feathers, and other found treasures, preserving their shapes and details through this historic photography-meets-printmaking process. Each piece is a sun-printed reflection of nature’s delicate forms and timeless patterns. 

 Catherine March is a painter, author, and illustrator whose work appears in prints, greeting cards, and books she has written and published. This year marks her first season participating in outdoor art festivals. In addition to exhibiting at farmers markets and Veg Fest, she is also one of the chalk artists at the Denver Chalk Art Festival.

 www.TheVeganArtist.com.

Jeremiah Larabee Woodworking LLC specializes in handcrafted wooden treenware, offering a distinctive range of artisan-made drinking vessels, bowls, cups, kuksas, rolling pins, vases, and much more. Every piece is thoughtfully crafted by hand, reflecting a deep respect for traditional woodworking techniques and a commitment to quality. With a focus on natural materials and timeless design, Jeremiah Larabee brings warmth, function, and beauty to everyday objects.

www.larabeewoodworking.com/

“Distinguished Excellence“ category award winner! "Elemental Materials"

Tina Hoffer is a unique woodworker by blending two of natures alluring elements; wood and stone. Tina  creates functional, culinary accessories with her Cutting Boards, Gathering  Boards, Serving Platters and Dipping Trays that will elevate your daily or  special occasions. 

Tina meticulously searches through  arborists’ wood lots looking for the perfectly flawed, cracked and knot  filled hardwoods that other woodworkers pass by because of these  deficits. She chooses smaller pieces of wood that will be enhanced with  Stone like turquoise, lapis, malachite or chrysocolla, and inlays these  into the cracks and voids. She follows the Kintsugi method of Japanese art , where broken and fractured pottery is mended with gold  or silver dust, there by restoring the fragments to a functional and more  beautiful piece.  

www.knotswoodandstone.com

“Mixed Media Outstanding Innovator“ award winner!

Marilyn's art is reverse painting on acrylics. Yep, she paints in reverse from the most forward elements of the piece to the furthest back. This unique approach garnered Marilyn our  winner from ColoradoArtWeekend.com

You have to see it in person to truly appreciate its magic. Her work is inspired by the natural beauty that surrounds her home at the base of the Mt. Evans wilderness area in Idaho Springs, Colorado. Painting in a modern impressionist style, Marilyn's art is infused with brilliant light and color. Her use of textured, bold brush strokes magnifies the vivid impressionist style.

www.marilynquigleyart.com

Deidre Sappington is a progressive custom stained glass artist, specializing is stained glass pet portraits. 

 She  has been creating stained glass windows and panels since 2015. Her  inspiration comes from the transference of light and the emotion that it  evokes through Stained Glass.  Her love of animals led to specializing  in stained glass pet portraits and memorials, where she expertly  captures the essence of our adopted family members. Deidre also enjoys  creating custom works for her clients, including up-cycling old items  with stained glass to give them new life through art. 

 www.Brokenglass.design

Dark-River metal designs makes authentic hand crafted wall hanging metal art. The embodiment of art is natural and nature themed. Examples would be; mountains, animals and mandalas. All art is framed in wood and hand made with a plasma cutter torch, oxy-acetylene torch and more. 

www.darkrivermetaldesigns.com

Holly Olive is a Colorado-based painter.  She was born in North Dakota, but has lived in a wide range of landscapes from the Mojave Desert to New England.  This variety of landscapes is evident in the paintings she creates today.  Inspired by dreams of altered worlds, her paintings embody the movement and color of an altered universe.  Using acrylic and alcohol ink, she creates abstract landscapes of a world that is just outside her reach.  She casts out her brush as if it were a wizard’s wand in unpredictable strokes to inflict a visual experience that stimulates the mind to ask “What world is this?”  She uses a palette knife with an intentional splat to cleave into the fabric of time and space.  She works back and forth, layer to layer, until she verges on falling from the precipice to a new and precious universe.

For purchasing Holly's work, go to www.villainhatter.com

Saturday, Sept 6 from 10-5 PM 

Sunday Sept 7 from 10-5 PM

Vibhas is a versatile multi-instrumentalist whose performances blend the soulful tones of Native American, East Indian, and classical flutes with piano and saxophone. Trained in Germany with roots in classical, world, and meditative music.

Saturday, Sept 6 from 2-4 PM 

Colorado Roots Rock Unplugged brings high-energy acoustic takes on classic rock favorites, blending raw musicianship with a fresh, modern edge. Their intimate, acoustic style reimagines iconic tracks with vibe, soul, and serious groove.  

Sunday, Sept 7 from 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM 

Link&Chain is a band of brothers that have been harmonizing together and co-writing their songs for decades, since their early days in Jamaica ! 

Saturday, Sept 6 from 2:30 - 4:30!

  Bring the family and join us to for this free creative experience brought to you by the Crafty Chassis! Each child can hand craft their own one of a kind art project and enter it in a contest for a chance to win.

$100 Art Festival Shopping Spree! The winner will be announced at 4:30! 

   Win a $1,000 Art Festival Shopping Spree! Just ask any artist for a free raffle ticket, drop your stub at the steps of the main building, and be there for the exciting live drawing! Must be 18 or older to win