Steamboat Springs Hosts First Friday Art Walk on April 4

The chill of a Steamboat Springs evening still lingers in the air, but the scent of blooming crocus and wet earth is beginning to cut through the last of the winter freeze. On 13th Street, the rhythm of the town shifts from the frantic pace of ski season to something quieter, more deliberate. It is a time when the crowds thin out, the locals reclaim the downtown core, and the art on the walls starts to reflect not just the mountain’s grandeur, but its pause.

This is the backdrop for the upcoming First Friday Art Walk on April 4. From 5 to 8 p.m., the event won’t just be a tour of galleries; it will be a community acknowledgment of the "in-between" season. The theme isn’t just seasonal change — it’s the emotional and economic transition from peak tourist activity to a slower, locally driven pace.

“The quiet that follows the moment when a place exhales after performing for a long winter,” Glenna Olmsted said. “It’s not about ‘an empty downtown, but a resting one.’”

Olmsted’s work, part of the “Après Art: From Slopes to Streets” exhibition at the Depot Art Center, captures that specific exhale. Her pieces depict downtown Steamboat in the immediate aftermath of ski season, focusing on the stillness that remains. It’s a sentiment shared by the broader group of 20 local artists participating in the show. They aren’t just painting landscapes; they are documenting a shift in the town’s identity as it moves from a tourist hub back to a residential community.

Other artists in the exhibition are leaning into the biological renewal happening outside. Cully Kistler’s work highlights “animal babies, flowing water and flowers bursting forth to celebrate life,” while Anita Merrigan uses photography and digital art to evoke a “calm transition into new realities.” The message is consistent: the mountain is waking up, and the art is catching up.

Over at Pine Moon Fine Art on 9th Street, the focus shifts to the astronomical balance of the equinox. The “Equinox” exhibition draws inspiration from the equal parts cold and warmth, light and darkness. Julie Anderson’s “Light as a Feather,” a hand-carved and etched ceramic sculpture, sits among works that explore symmetry and nature’s emotional contrasts. It’s a stark reminder that while the weather might flip-flop, the season is moving forward.

The art walk also brings in outside talent to complement the local narrative. At the Schoonover Gallery, visitors can view works by Santa Fe artist Yvonne Mendez. Her paintings focus on animals through still life and figure studies, bringing a different geographic perspective to the local conversation. Schoonover noted that Mendez’s journey began in a nurturing environment, with her mother serving as a significant source of inspiration. It’s a nod to the idea that creativity, like the seasons, is cyclical and dependent on support systems.

For the folks around here, this isn’t just about buying a print. It’s about understanding the economic and social heartbeat of the town. The “Après” concept — often associated with the social moment after skiing, is being reinterpreted here as a shared emotional experience. It’s the period when the tourists leave, the locals settle in, and the town figures out who it is without the global audience watching.

The event spans multiple locations, including the Depot Art Center at 1001 13th St. and Pine Moon Fine Art at 117 9th St. It’s a chance to walk the streets, meet the people who make the art, and witness how the community is interpreting the shift from winter’s grip to spring’s promise.

As the art walk prepares to open its doors, the prevailing mood is one of cautious optimism. The ski season is winding down, the galleries are full, and the town is ready to rest before the next cycle begins. It’s a calm transition, and for now, that’s exactly what Steamboat needs.