Tiny Colorado town sponsors art completion to preserve church painted by Georgia O'Keeffe in 1917

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         Georgia O'Keeffe, Church bell, Ward, Colorado 1917, Georgia O'Keeffe Museum,
             Gift of The Georgia O'Keeffe Foundation. Copyright Georgia O'Keeffe Museum

Georgia O'Keeffe painted several versions of the tiny wooden church in Ward, Colorado when she and her sister Claudia traveled by train to Ward from Canyon, Texas in 1917.  Only her oil painting, Church bell, Ward, Colorado remains; it was found in O'Keeffe's personal collection when she died.  

The tiny Town of Ward, Colorado, with a population of 160, is sponsoring its Annual Art Exhibition Sale and Fundraiser to help preserve and maintain its Historic Church. 

Once a booming gold-mining town and tourist destination, Ward almost became a ghost-town.  With its train, hotels, and business long gone, throughout the years the little Ward church has somehow managed to survive.

Named to the National Register of Historic Places, the Ward Church now serves as a community center for residents of the old Ward Mining District high in the Rocky Mountains.  

  

Formed three years ago, The Friends of the Historic Ward Church has for the past three years  sponsored an Art Exhibition/Sale and Fundraiser to raise funds to pay for heat and repairs and to keep the building going through the next high-altitude winter. 

Carol Jenkins, Fresh Snow on Ward Church

The Friends of the Historic Ward Church is issuing its 2013 Artist Call for Entries for it's 2013 Art Exhibition, Sale and Fundraiser to help preserve and maintain this historic church. 

Attention all Artists: Call for Entry

          3^rd Annual Art Competition – Historic Ward Church, Ward, CO

Entry deadline: Noon, July 25, 2013

Winning entry will be featured on poster celebrating the Friends of the Ward Church Art Exhibition/Sale and Fundraiser August 16, 17 and  18, 2013

Requirements:

• Deadline: Noon, July 25, 2013
• Images: Maximum – 1 Medium: Watercolor, oil, acrylics, pastels, prints and drawings accepted. Please no photography or digital art.
• Eligibility:  Residents of Boulder County, Colorado.  Preference given to Boulder County artists in mountain communities. No entry fee. No compensation. Artist of the selected image will receive recognition on the Historic Ward Church Days poster and as featured entry at the Art Exhibition. *All entrants will be eligible to show three works of art at the Art Exhibition and Sale on August 16 and 17 at the church.

Submission:

·        Deliver artwork to the historic Ward Church between 10:00 and 12:00 noon, July 25, 2013.  (Please contact if other arrangements are necessary.) 

·        OR-  E-mail .jpg image as an attachment to churchfriendsofwardco@gmail.com

any time before 12:00 noon, July 25, 2013.

All on-line submissions should be 300 dpi and the file name should include your last name and first initial, such as DoeJ.jpg.  Include your Name, address and phone number, medium, and Title of the Work in the body of the email.

Artists should consider submitting work that  reflects the spirit of the Historic Ward Church, its activities and/or the surrounding Indian Peaks area.

The Ward Union Congregational Church, established in 1894, now serves as a Community Center for residents of the old Ward Colorado Mining District. Georgia O'Keeffe painted the oil Church bell, Ward, Colorado and landscapes of the surrounding mountains when she visited Ward in 1917.

Activities include celebrations of all faiths (Easter, Solstice, Seders, Dances of Universal Peace, Community Dinners). In the past year the Historic Ward Church has hosted Wakes, Birthday/Graduation Parties, Dances, Musical events, children movies. Yoga and Exercise Classes, free piano practice, Wardette Singers rehearsals, Permaculture classes, as well as our annual Art Exhibition, Sale and Fundraiser -- Ward Church Days.

Your art will help us maintain and repair this historic mountain church!

For questions or more information email:  Friends of the Historic Ward Church 

For information about Georgia O'Keeffe in Colorado, contact :

Pat Cypher at okeeffe-chronicles@hotmail.com.

 Ward, Colorado Church Poster, 2012, painting by Ruth Wilson

Carol Jenkins, Ward, Colorado Church Steeple (featured on 2011 poster)

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