Five That Shine & Mountain Time

A look inside our August 2019 issue + a few things I'm loving right now

Every August we have the pleasure of honoring Colorado’s gifted young talent.

This year’s Five Under 40 winners are nothing short of exceptional. We are proud to tell their stories and show off their work. A mountain of congrats to Crystal Russell, Joseph Spears, Jenny Murphy, Ryan Costner and Kristin Drake. We look forward to seeing much more of your work, as you amass time and wrinkles. Thanks to all who submitted work for this competitive honor. 

Also, in this issue, we focus on mountain living, presenting four stunning spaces, some year-round and some treasured getaways, that speak to life in the landscape, on the range
or at the base. We hope these pages will inspire homeowners and designers to break out of cliché thinking and create new and personal ways to beautify their indoor and outdoor environment.

We’ve selected painter Alyson Khan for this month’s Portrait of the Artist feature, because we think her works would enhance the walls of any mountain perch. Khan’s pieces have an organic flow and punches of color that feel perfectly suited.

We also tasked our market editor, Eliza Karlson, with finding unique pieces that speak to new mountain style, and she delivers.  

We hope you find time to enjoy the mountains this month—and enjoy this issue as part of your high-altitude exhale.

Whimsical Material

Art is a constant in my life. The art on the walls of our home and in my office make me happy daily, at the same time elevating the spaces and adding life. One thing I’ve noticed over the years about the emails I receive featuring home interiors is that many could use more art. I often joke that if I see another picture of a horse’s mane in a mountain house I’ll scream. I have nothing against horses. In fact, I love them. But like antlers, they can easily slide into cliché if you’re not careful. If you love these items, by all means, use them. But make them unique.

As an example of art that captures nature in a refreshing way, I present photographer Mary Jo Hoffman’s work as exhibit A. We covered Hoffman in our Tastemaker section this year, and here’s why. When I saw the picture of her Minnesota living room, I went gaga for the focal-point fox photo above her mantel. It’s just an ear with a bit of snow, but you practically feel the damp of the dusting and the intimacy of the moment. There’s nothing standard or typical about it. My immediate thought was that any wall would benefit from this work, but especially one in a mountain house. Her lens offers the freshness of a soft, winter snowfall or a summer breeze in a single moment. To me, that’s art.