Last chance to make tracks with Ann Christensen
There’s one final chance this winter to examine the messages animals leave behind in the snow with local environmentalist and tracker Ann Christensen.
On Saturday, Feb. 8, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., she will discuss animal tracks and tracking at the Environmental Resource Center office at 471 N. Washington Ave. in Ketchum, then lead a snowshoe exploration north of Ketchum.
Participants should have snowshoes (poles optional), water, a snack and warm clothing. Donations appreciated. Please pre-register by calling the ERC at 726-4333.
Free Skate skiing clinic offered
Try out skate skiing at the Park Creek Nordic trails west of Stanley this Saturday, Feb. 8.
The nonprofit Sawtooth Society is hosting this opportunity for beginners starting at 10 a.m. and finishing at noon. In the afternoon, intermediate and advanced skiers can hone their skills with a session from 1-3 p.m. with an experienced ski instructor.
For those who don’t own skate skis, Backwoods Mountain Sports in Ketchum will rent gear for $10. In the evening, the Sluice restaurant in Stanley will host contra dancing to a live band.
For more information on the clinic, contact Kelly Conde at Kelly@sawtoothsociety.org, or call 994-1654.
Call for artists to Wood River Valley Studio Tour
The Wood River Valley Studio Tour is a valley-wide collective of artists who open their studios to the public in the fall.
Artists are invited to submit samples of their work for consideration through April 30.
The Studio Tour artist registration fee is $100 when a completed application and fee are submitted online by March 30. The fee increases to $150 for the extended period from April 1-30.
To qualify, applicants must maintain a working art studio location within Blaine County and have a cohesive body of work that is primarily visual in nature, such as ceramics, drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, fine woodworking and filmmaking.
Artists are encouraged to contact www.wrvstudiotour.org or call 725-0600.
Take a vacation in your own backyard
If you’ve been curious about the large postcard-like cutouts placed throughout the valley this month, take a look at a YouTube video by Wood River High School students and videographers who created a three-minute film documenting the project.
As part of the Sun Valley Center for the Arts current exhibition celebrating travel, tourism and the American road trip, called “Wish You Were Here,” the project includes an invitation to pose with the postcards and Instagram or Facebook them to The Center.
Leo Corrales and Joseph Anderson videoed the public’s interaction with the cards after participating in a teen class at The Center on filmmaking led by DeSiree Fawn.
They have since established their own production company, Feather Fed Productions, and their film will be screened prior to a showing of “National Lampoon’s Family Vacation” at the Magic Lantern Thursday, Feb. 13. Tickets are $10 for Center members and $12 for non-members.
The postcards are located at The Center in Ketchum, The Center lot (across from the Ketchum Post Office), at The Center in Hailey and at the Liberty Theatre in Hailey. Local artists Keith Joe Dick, Bob Dix, Andrew Ryason, Judy Stoltzfus and Howard Lacina created the custom, life-sized travel scenes.
Participants who send photos to The Center will be eligible to win two tickets to the film “Vacation.” To share photos on Facebook, “like” The Center at www.facebook.com/sunvalleycenterforthearts, upload your photo and tag them. On Instagram, “follow” the Sun Valley Center, upload your photo and add the hashtag #sunvalleycenter. Participants can also email photos to information@sunvalleycenter.org.
Animal Shelter celebrates grants
The Animal Shelter of the Wood River Valley recently was awarded $1,500 by the Donald W. and Gretchen K. Fraser Fund of the Idaho Community Foundation, $3,000 from the MuttNation Foundation, and $1,150 by the Idaho Nonprofit Center.
The grant from the Idaho Nonprofit Center covers the cost for the Animal Shelter’s executive director, Jo-Anne Dixon, to attend the Nonprofit Sustainability Initiative. The initiative is a program of six dynamic sessions aimed at providing nonprofit leaders with tools and resources to help ensure the sustainability of their organizations and missions. Topics covered will include: financial leadership development, strengthening business models for long term success, and tools for evaluating mission impact.
Dixon said, “We are so grateful to these foundations, and all those who support us throughout the year, for recognizing the impact the shelter is making on Blaine and neighboring counties. Each of these grants will be invaluable in helping the Animal Shelter make the Wood River Valley a more compassionate community.”
Ann Christensen Photo by Roland Lane
