By Shannon Lukens.

A new art piece has been commissioned for the main entrance corridor at Steamboat Ski Resort. The untitled piece is being created by local Steamboat Springs artist, Sage Sullivan. The theme is “What Makes You Feel Welcome in the Outdoors?” It includes wildflowers and aspens, respect for the Utes and other indigenous people, along with horseshoes and railroad spikes representing the colonization of the western world. The ski area hopes to have the new art sculpture ready by the fall, in time for the 2023-2024 ski season.

 

Here’s more from Steamboat Resort; March 14, 2023.

 

Art Installation Featuring Local Artist to Debut at Steamboat Resort

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO-March 14, 2023 – Steamboat Ski Resort is proud to announce a commissioned art piece by local Steamboat Springs artist Sage Sullivan set to debut for winter 2023/24. The piece, title yet to be announced, represents “What Makes You Feel Welcome in The Outdoors” and will be a 3-demensional sculpture along the resort’s main entrance corridor, welcoming all to the outdoor playground of Steamboat Ski Resort.

In the fall of 2022, Steamboat put out a request for artists to submit a proposal for an installation that represents “What Makes You Feel Welcome In The Outdoors?” Nearly 20 artists from across North America submitted proposals ranging from murals to interactive to tech-forward concepts. To review the submissions, Steamboat Ski Resort put together a diverse panel of representatives from the ski resort, art world, and BIPOC and LGBTQIA2S+ communities from the Yampa Valley and Front Range. The panel, made up of 12 individuals with ties and familiarity of Steamboat, narrowed the submissions to four finalists before selecting the concept presented by Sullivan.

“Sage’s [concept] is the most thoughtful and respectful proposal and I hope it makes minority groups feel included,” said selection panelist Michanae Edwards.

Sullivan created this new piece to enlighten and encourage reflection, inclusion and peace in the Yampa Valley mountains. Through her own reflection, Sullivan honed in on what makes her feel welcome in these mountains, which we all hold so dear. This brought her to times when she was away from Routt County and she yearned to see the beautiful aspen trees quake, change into the glorious fall colors and then glide through their watchful eyes on a Champagne Powder snow day. She ached for the inspiring alpenglow casting shades of pink and purple on Mt. Werner and longed to admire the hardy and vibrant wildflowers of summer in the Rocky Mountains. The colors and concepts clashed in her head resulting in this new piece. Guests are invited to interpret Sullivan’s piece through their own lens of what makes them feel welcome in the outdoors.

The artist’s vision centers on:

• Variety & uniqueness and innate hardiness of wildflowers which speak about the integral celebration and respect for marginalized groups, BIPOC and LGTBQIA2S+ communities.
• Connectivity through aspens, one of the largest living organisms on earth. “We may all appear as singular individuals, when in reality humans cannot survive on our own. We not only crave community and connection, but fundamentally need it to survive.”
• Stewardship of nature pays homage to the Nuche (Ute) and other Indigenous people who used aspen trees for medicinal purposes and in construction of lodges and tipis. The Native American tipi is a doorway to intimacy with nature and oneself.
• Acknowledging that the native land Steamboat Ski Resort is located on belongs to generations that came before and the expansion of the west was on the backs of immigrants, key minority groups and enslaved peoples. Horseshoes and railroad spikes represent the colonization of the western world.

Artist Overview:

“I envisioned a piece that encourages guests to rest, to play, to reflect and to find their own belonging.” Said Sullivan. “Bringing this piece to life will be a huge undertaking, both mentally and physically, and I am honored to take on this task to invite all to feel welcome in the mountains of Steamboat Springs.”

Sage Sullivan (she/her) grew up in Steamboat Springs attending Steamboat Springs High School before graduating from Colorado State University with a Bachelor of Fine Art Drawing. Sage has spent years traveling the world and experiencing different cultures, environments and relationships.

“The communication and relationships displayed by the elements in this piece represent our mountain community and how it is spread all over the world.” Said Sullivan. “Through the welcoming and hospitable spirit of Ski Town, U.S.A.® you can always find a friend of the valley to catch up with or lean on. We all come in different shapes, sizes and hues and we all have our own strengths, weaknesses and gifts to contribute to our little corner of the Rocky Mountains. So come as you are. Come with your friends, your family, your loved ones.”