Pop-up art gallery to be featured in Edwards coffee shop

Most people know Hovey & Harrison in Edwards as a great place to stop by during the day to grab a coffee, have a meeting or bring home one of the delicious deserts found in the bakery case, but on a few select evenings, Hovey & Harrison stays open past its normal business hours to provide the perfect backdrop for a pop-up art show hosted by Near & Far Gallery.

The idea came about when Julie Ahearn happened to talk to Molly Harrison of Hovey & Harrison, and she shared with Ahearn that she was looking for ways to build community in the evenings and Ahearn had a few ideas.

“My business partner, Maryam Miller, and I were exploring venue options for a pop-up art show. Our goal in hosting these shows was to make art more accessible and approachable while showcasing different mediums. While catching up with Molly it felt like a perfect fit,” Ahearn said. “Any excuse to get people together there was a no-brainer. Who doesn’t love H&H?”

Near & Far Gallery showcased the artists they represent with a soft launch on Oct. 3. The feedback was positive, and they offered the next show to the public on Oct. 10 and the final show will be held on Oct. 17.

“It’s been really fun to see the space transformed for this purpose,” Ahearn said. “It’s exceeded our expectations and has offered the high-quality experience we were working towards.”

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The artists love the forum, too. Of the six artists Near & Far Gallery currently features three artists live in the Vail Valley, two are Colorado-based and one is from Australia.

“We’ve curated a truly special selection of art, from stunning landscapes to abstract pieces, that spark curiosity and evoke emotion,” Ahearn said.

Artist Heidi Cofelice says that her works draw heavily from the surrounding mountain landscapes and the rhythm of nature.

“In my mixed media body of work, I often use watercolor and monoprinting to create one-of-a-kind pieces, marked by a combination of deliberate texture and spontaneous mark-making. The delicate balance between planned composition and organic accident reflects the unpredictability and beauty of the natural world,” Cofelice said. 

The timeless quality in her paintings invites viewers to explore and connect with their own emotional responses to the work and find appreciation for the natural beauty found in everyday life. In her daily life, Cofelice is also the marketing director and visual arts teacher for Vail Christian High School and has her own creative agency called Project Seedling.

Artist Bri Potts uses multi-layered paint, clay and natural textiles to create highly textured, three-dimension works as a form of self-expression.

“My intention is to evoke a mood or feeling that others connect with, while also pulling inspiration from the nature surrounding us in the Vail Valley,” Bri Potts said. 

When Bri Potts is not working full time as an interior designer, she is creating art alongside her husband Eric Potts and their two young daughters. Eric Potts is at Berglund Architects and enjoys the incredible opportunities he’s been given to work on exceptional projects across the world, but also enjoys creating his own art work where he blends analog and digital mediums.

“With a strong passion for illustration, collage and painting, I create compositions which explore the dualities of our existence within the fabric of space and time,” Eric Potts said. “From graphic illustrations of luscious, fantastical sci-fi settings to subliminal reflections of abstract expressions from a minimalist perspective, my ever-growing catalog of works presents a new thought-provoking experience of digital fine art.”

Those three artists have been at the shows mixing and mingling with the guests along with Ahearn and business partner Maryam Miller, who is a painter.

“Maryam has spent years honing her craft and taking part in art shows,” Ahearn said. “She brings tremendous insight to the vision and execution of the shows, and it’s a bonus to be able to showcase her art. I may be biased but it’s stunning – come check it out.”

View the works, meet the artists and visit Hovey & Harrison during the evening on Thursday. The Near & Far Gallery Pop-up will go from 5:30-8 p.m. and is free and open to the public.