John Scarffe, Nederland. Forty artist booths filled the Nederland Town Hall parking lot for the 19th Annual High Peaks Art Festival on June 29 and 30, 2019, in Nederland. This juried show featured fine arts and contemporary crafts and was voted one of Colorado’s Top 10 Best Summer Art Festivals in 2016 by Westword Magazine.

The annual Artist Award Program is in its 11th year, and 12 awards were presented. The judges for the awards presentation completed the judging on Saturday morning and were ready by 12:15 p.m. at the parking lot.

The judges then walked around together presenting the awards. Mayor Kris Larsen joined the group to congratulate every winner.

The first award handed out is always the Dave Felkley Memorial Award, and his son and daughter-in-law were present. This is the only award not chosen by the judges, but by Dave’s family. This was the fifth year for this award.

They choose an artist whose work best represents the spirit of Dave. It is an emotional presentation and our way of remembering Dave, who loved all of our town’s festivals.

Gabriella Cervin, of Lafayette, Colorado, received the Dave Felkley Memorial Award for her fiber art Swedish tomten creations that resemble gnomes. She received $150 cash, and the sponsor was First Tracks Consulting Services, Inc. 

Kristin Haug received the Best of Jewelry award for her silver sterling jewelry, and the sponsor was 4theluvofdogs.

The Mountain-Ear reporter John Scarffe presented Julie Glassman with a $250 cash prize for her cloisonné enamel jewelry. He said he has been honored and privileged to work with a very special woman at The Mountain-Ear, the late reporter and photographer Barbara Lawlor. 

“This year’s Best of Show award honors the memory of our beloved community member, Barbara Lawlor, who passed away November 4, 2018. During her life and work as a journalist, Barbara connected to thousands of people across the peaks. 

“Her documentation of local mountain life has been enormous and an amazing task. Her contribution to the community through her award- winning writing and photography reached readers across the globe.

“Barbara was a resident of Nederland and had worked at The Mountain-Ear newspaper for more than 36 years. She was the eyes and ears of all things that happened in our community.

“Each year she came to the High Peaks Art Festival and covered the Artist Awards presentation, carefully documenting each award winner and taking their photo. Her enthusiasm of the Festival shined through in every photograph she took, and she will be sorely missed and always remembered.

“The Mountain-Ear newspaper is proud to sponsor the Best of Show award with a $250 cash prize.”

The High Peaks Art Festival 2019 featured Artist was Nederland’s David Jessup, of “Green Collar Guy,” and he won the 2019 Best of Sculpture award sponsored by Mountain Life Beauty. David has exhibited with the festival for 10 years and is a festival favorite. He has won several awards here previously, including Best of Sculpture and Best of Mixed Media.

“My artwork is composed of cement combined with any number of materials, the main one being perlite. As I make a piece, I can add glass, ceramics, rock, metal or many other collected natural materials,” Jessup said. “After a short cure time, they can be carved and sculpted and either left natural or stained with concrete stains or natural dyes. 

“Finished work is generally lightweight and very durable even under the harshest conditions. My work includes containers designed for succulents, air plants or for use as sculpture. Leaf castings and bowls to hold water are other very popular designs.”

Other awards presented included:

Best  of  Fine Craft – $100 cash - Sponsor: Jackie Jones.

Best  of Fine Art – $100  cash - Sponsor: Eleanor Yeager bouldermountainhomes.com.

Best of Photography – $50 cash- Sponsor: Peak to Peak Counseling.

Best of Colorado– $50 cash - Sponsor:  Paula Messamer & Frank Eparvier.

Best of Nederland – $75 cash - Sponsor: Sockwood Press.

Best of Fiber – $50 cash -  Sponsor: Geek for Hire Beauty.                                                

Best of Mixed Media – $50 cash -Sponsor: Law Office of Daniel T. Goodwin.

Best of Ceramics- $50 cash –Sponsor: Eleanor Yeager bouldermountainhomes.com.

(Originally published in the July 4, 2019, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)