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Artists bringing local flair to events this weekend

Two festivals this weekend attract proprietors from all over the country, but two valley residents are bringing their local style to the scene.

Michael Bonds is a potter and graphic artist who has lived in Aspen for 30 years. His studio in the Red Brick is brightly lit. Pots of different shapes, sizes, colors and states of completion rest on shelves around the room. Some have snow flakes. Some have elaborate etched designs.  He is preparing for this weekend’s Aspen Art Festival. It’s a free event that gathers artists from all over the country to display their art in the middle of downtown Aspen.

Michael says he is going to bring about 500 pieces for the Festival this weekend.

He’s currently working on a pair of short and wide bowls with lids. He uses his tools to remove excess clay while the pieces spin on his pottery wheel.  

 

“This is just the start of the process," says Bonds. "Next I’ll cut grooves in the side, and I’ll decorate it and do different things with how it will come together.”

 

In Carbondale, Alya Howe is making sure that the poets she has selected for Mountain Fair are all set to go. Mountain Fair is an annual event that brings together food vendors, live music and local artists to display their craft.

“It’s really been a year long process of cultivating poets," says Howe. "This is a wonderful opportunity for them to step out into a much bigger public arena at Mountain Fair.”

 

In addition to curating the poets who read before the main musical acts during the event, Howe herself will be reading on Sunday.

Bonds and Howe both say it’s exciting to participate in the events as locals, particularly when it’s a national draw for artists.

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