Why Not Niwot?

For the fifth year in a row Why Not Niwot?, a juried art show, is taking place in small-town Niwot next month.

Owner of Osmosis Art Gallery, Anne Postle, and co-worker and artist Michelle Henzel have been putting the art show on for the Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA) for the past five years as another way to bring people to Niwot and celebrate the town.

“A part of the fun,” Postle said, “is [the art show] is something that gets people in all the businesses in town.”

Twenty artists submitted artwork for the contest, with the entry fees going to the NCAA. Some artists came to town to paint their pieces while others used photos to work from.

The deadline for the artwork was April 11, and judges are currently judging the pieces of art before they’re displayed throughout town. The team of judges includes Mary Williams of Mary Williams Fine Arts, Alyson Bell of ToolStudios and Susan Cloar of Niwot Interiors.

The one requirement of the art is that it must represent Niwot; artists are told to “think about pieces as a marketing tool.”

“The goal is to create an art show that shows off Niwot,” Postle explained. “But also to bring people into the town and businesses.”

“There are always new people to learn about Niwot,” Henzel added.

The pieces of artwork will be displayed in 10 businesses around town including Osmosis Art Gallery, Wise Buys Antiques, The Painted Primrose, ShopGirl, Mountain Maille Jewelry Studio, HMK Jewelers, Little Bird, Niwot Jewelry and Gifts, Sugar Beet Station and Pebble Art Jewelry.

Starting at the First Friday Art Walk on May 6, community members will be able to walk around town with a passport to get stamped as they vote for the People’s Choice award. Voting will continue throughout May and the winners will be announced at the First Friday Art Walk on June 3 at Osmosis during intermission of a concert by the Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band.

The judges’ first place winner will receive $500, second place will receive $250 and third place will receive $100. The People’s Choice award winner will also receive $100; all the prize money is provided by the Niwot LID.

The winner’s artwork will be placed on wine bottles from Brava!, and will be sold at Niwot Liquor as well as at June’s First Friday Art Walk. The artwork will also be printed on cards and larger prints for people to purchase. The 20 pieces of artwork in the contest will also be available for sale throughout the month.

A portion of the money from the selling of wine bottles, cards and prints will go back to the NCAA. Henzel said she and Postle have a few goals they like to accomplish with the art show in addition to showcasing the art.

“The first [goal] is to get people into town,” she said. “and the second is to raise money for the NCAA.”

“We also want to promote art in Niwot,” Postle added.

After putting the art show on for the past five years, Postle said they have it down to a science now but they “learn something new every year and make changes based on that.”

“Most people think it’s really fun,” Postle said of how people have responded to the event. “We’ve only gotten positive feedback.”

There are many events unique to Niwot, and this is just one more that shows the quaint characteristics of the town.

“When people are creating pieces that are featuring Niwot, that’s good for the town,” Postle said.”

Passports can be picked up at Osmosis at the First Friday Art Walk on May 6.