Aspen has long attracted creative types who have a tendency to see things a different way. (Indeed, Hunter S. Thompson once attempted to become the Colorado community’s sheriff.) Quite simply, it has a disproportionate cultural impact for a place with a population (under 7,000) dwarfed by its altitude (roughly 8,000 feet). This includes becoming a mecca for artists, particularly those drawn to Anderson Ranch.
A former sheep farm in nearby Snowmass Village, Anderson Ranch drew international attention as it turned 50 in 2016. It has attracted artists including Carrie Mae Weems, Catherine Opie, Theaster Gates, and Christo. “The great thing about Anderson Ranch is the community and the conversations that happen around mealtime,” declares artist Tom Sachs. He praises the experience for not being so “structured.” Besides open studios by visiting artists, a new exhibition of work by the four artistic directors has just opened. And Anderson Ranch also offers workshops, making it the rare place welcoming everyone from beginners to the man who transformed Central Park.
To learn more about Anderson Ranch, click here. To get more details on visiting Aspen in general, click here. (Yes, this is the perfect moment to get in some skiing.) To learn about the Aspen Laff Festival and its knack for attracting America’s greatest stand-up comics, click here. Below, watch one of the legendary cultural events that occurred at Aspen: the 1998 reunion of the surviving members of Monty Python.
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