Aspen City Council Approves Wheeler Opera House Gallery Tenant Contract
Aspen, CO - Aspen City Council has approved a contract with Daniel Joseph (DJ) Watkins to operate the “Aspen Collective” in the Wheeler Opera House gallery tenant space, currently occupied by Valley Fine Art. This contract follows a comprehensive Request for Proposal (RFP) process that was conducted from July to October of this year. The Selection Review Committee, comprised of representatives including the Wheeler Opera House, Wheeler Advisory Board, and the city’s Community Development and Finance departments, reviewed four proposals for the small gallery space, narrowing the selection to two finalists.
The two finalists, DJ Watkins and Mia Valley, were invited to in-person interviews with the committee to further articulate their proposals and vision for the space. Long-time resident Mia Valley has occupied the space for nearly 17 years, exhibiting artwork focused on the West that inspires residents and visitors alike.
Ultimately, the committee recommended selecting DJ Watkins’ proposal for the Aspen Collective Gallery which prioritizes creating a gallery that primarily exhibits local artists from the Roaring Fork Valley. DJ’s proposal also included hosting dynamic community events in support of local artists, themes, and issues important to the Aspen community. In a time when many local artists and gallery owners have been displaced, DJ’s proposed usage of the Wheeler gallery space will provide a new home for local art and artists to thrive.
“I am grateful and honored to continue representing and promoting local artists in the historic Wheeler Opera House. I look forward to hosting engaging exhibitions and partnering with local non-profits, arts organizations, and curators to create a vibrant use of this important space,” said DJ Watkins.
Lisa Rigsby Peterson, Executive Director of the Wheeler Opera House, highlighted the proposed new gallery as a natural extension of the Wheeler Opera House’s role as a center for creativity and community engagement.
“We are grateful to Mia Valley for her role in exhibiting iconic artists of the West, and for providing an almost museum-like experience for all those who walked through her door for so many years. We also recognize that profound changes have happened in Aspen’s artistic landscape, and opening the Wheeler gallery to a use that addresses this shift holds new promise for our community.”
Valley Fine Art will remain open through next spring, and the Aspen Collective will open in the Wheeler gallery space in late May.
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For more information, please contact:
Emily Ford, Communications Coordinator
Phone: 970-379-9373
Email: emily.ford@aspen.gov