ART LUNCH with the artists Michael Kinsley and David Clark
Friday, October 23
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
In the Art Base gallery
Join us for Art Lunch with our exhibiting artists Michael Kinsley and David Clark, as we dine and discuss art and anything else! This is a great chance to walk through their current exhibitions, Mount Sopris in Black and White and Sensuous Landscapes, and ask questions or connect.
Art Lunch is our routine excuse to gather around the table. Bring a bagged lunch and let conversation roam. Some weeks we’ll toss in a discussion prompt to get things rolling, but mostly it’s about food, company, and a potluck of ideas.
Opening Reception: Friday, October 2 from 5 PM- 7 PM
Artist Talk: Friday, October 2 at 5:30 PM
On view: October 2 to October 30, 2026
David Clark: Mt. Sopris in Black and White
In 2009, David Clark boarded his horses at a ranch with a view of Mount Sopris. The owners of this ranch told David that they were tired of looking at the mountain because it “always looked the same”.
To prove that the mountain was anything but static, he set out to photograph the “Queen of the Roaring Fork Valley” every day for 365 days. The resulting body of work, One: One Year in the Life of Mount Sopris, marked the beginning of what would become a 16-year exploration of the
iconic peak.
Since then, Clark has taken more than 3,000 photographs of Mount Sopris, documenting its changing personality, light, atmosphere, and relationship to the landscape around it. In Mt. Sopris in Black and White, sharp photography and deep contrast emphasize the mountain’s powerful presence while revealing the subtle changes that make each view distinct. Clark’s photographs celebrate Mount Sopris not simply as a landmark, but as a constant presence in the lives of those who live in and visit the Roaring Fork Valley. His work honors the privilege of witnessing such a remarkable natural monument and captures its enduring force and grace through photography.
About David Clark:
David Clark was born in 1959 at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho. He graduated from Duke University in 1981 with a degree in Geology and Geophysics and spent more than 20 years working in the oil and gas and computer software industries. Over the past 25 years, Clark has developed his passion for and refined his skills in landscape photography. His photographs have appeared on magazine covers and in news articles, as well as in large-scale installations in private homes throughout the Roaring Fork Valley. His work, including his extensive collection of Mount Sopris photographs, has been exhibited, sold, and recognized with awards at venues throughout the region. Today, Clark continues to focus on photography, capturing the beauty and changing character of Mount Sopris and sharing it with audiences near and far.
Michael Kinsley: Sensuous Landscapes
Michael Kinsley is a self-taught painter and long-time valley resident who focuses on local landscapes. For Michael, landscapes are more than just a scene; they invoke a feeling of peace.
In Sensuous Landscapes, Kinsley combines improvisation, abstraction, and realism to create paintings that capture both the physical character and emotional energy of the places he encounters. His use of color, shape, and form introduces a sense of psychedelic looseness, exaggerating elements of the landscape and freeing them from strict representation. The forms maintain their inherent naturalness while being liberated from the literal.
“Because I can’t bear leaving Nature behind, I roll Her up in oil paint and take Her home,” says Kinsley.
Through his paintings, Kinsley seeks to preserve moments in nature that may be changing or disappearing. His work reflects both an appreciation for the beauty of the natural world and a recognition of its fragility, encouraging continued protection and appreciation of the places that surround us.
About Michael Kinsley:
Michael Kinsley came to the Roaring Fork Valley in 1970, drawn to the depth, strength, and engagement of the community. Shortly after arriving, he became deeply involved in Aspen’s historic Freak Power and Hunter Thompson era. From 1975 to 1985, he served as a county commissioner, advancing environmental, transit, and social policies. Kinsley is also a mediator and facilitator and worked with the Rocky Mountain Institute from 1983 to 2016. In 2013, he was inducted into the Aspen Hall of Fame.
This exhibition is generously sponsored by Andrea Gurule, State Farm, and Cathers Home. The Art Base also extends its gratitude to Alpine Bank, the 2026 Annual Exhibition Sponsor, for its continued support of exhibitions at the Art Base.
Thank you to our generous 2026 Annual Exhibition Sponsor, Alpine Bank
