by Caleb Quimby

   The annual art festival was this past Friday and Saturday night. The event started at 7th Street and Main Street continuing to 5th Street.

   The art was placed in various shops downtown that anyone could go look though and purchase. The shops did this to get people to view the art as well as what the various shops had to offer.

   The exhibits ranged from fine art, photography, poetry, paintings, sculptures, crystal glass, abstract art and masks. Every artist had their art on display had a different story to tell about how they got started and what inspired them to make their different pieces.

   All of the artists that were there were open and willing to talk about their work and what inspired them. They all started painting or shooting photography when they were young. This led to them having hoops to jump through to get where they are today.

   Larry Bennett, photo artist for Aspen Photo Art, has been doing photography for over 60 years now. Larry had over 50 pieces of art displayed in the shop next to Main Street Bagels last night.

   “I was on top of the Mesa this morning trying to get photos of mountain lions, freezing,” Bennett said. “I always find myself in cold or awkward places when I’m taking photos. But I need to be so I can get the shot that I am looking for. Some days I won’t get a single picture while other days I’ll get dozens.”

   All of Bennett’s photography can be printed on any canvas.

   The art show was put on to help artists sell their art along with raise money for the Grand Junction Symphony. The artists that had their work on display at Colorado Canyon dedicated their time to make several masks that people could bid on, with all the proceed going to the symphony, and to pay for their travel, new instruments and instrument repairs.

   The Palette was offering painting lessons for beginners, intermediates and anyone who was looking to paint. They did this so people could try and do some of their own artwork after seeing the professionals work