Picture a pile of colorful paintings, musical instruments, theater costumes and worn dancing shoes in the middle of a field in Teller County. Artists have been asked to bring their artwork to the pile and add at least one piece to the creative berm. The pile grows slowly at first, then faster, as more and more artists add their work. Eventually, a mountain built entirely from human creativity breaks through the clouds. It’s an exaggeration, of course, but if you’ve spent any time in Teller County, it might not feel like one. We are a region filled with amazing artists.

With nearly 25,000 residents, Teller County is a community people tend to measure by its distance between towns. But, besides the drive there are many shops and restaurants to choose from. We have another kind of abundance worth recognizing as well. It is the number of artists who call this place home. An artist is anyone engaged in a creative or performing art. Throughout human history, artists have been the people who shape culture and document experience. Teller County has no shortage of people making history.

One of the area’s longstanding creative communities is the Pikes Peak Plein Air Painters. It is a group formed nearly 40 years ago by Michael Gault and Ken Shanika. In recent years, the group has evolved; Ken relocated, and Michael’s wife Diana has taken a more active role in organizing activities. The group meets monthly at different members’ studios, rotating through the homes and workspaces of local artists. These monthly gatherings are important to the people who attend them because they offer education, inspiration and the particular energy that comes from being in a room full of artists.

Plein air painting comes from the French en plein air — meaning simply “in the open air.” It’s a practice for many artists when morning has good light and a view worth painting. The Pikes Peak Plein Air Painters are having a show at Reserve Our Gallery in June. They are also central to an event called Peak Art Adventure, which first launched in 2020. This year, the Peak Art Adventure “Paint Out” runs July 22 through Aug. 2, followed by an Art Show from Aug. 5-25. It is a collaborative effort between the Pikes Peak Plein Air Painters, Reserve Our Gallery, Park State Bank & Trust, the community of artists and the community of art lovers.

Our mountain of art in Teller County contributes to local economy. It has monetary value, yes, but also aesthetic, emotional and cultural weight that money can’t buy. There are few things, besides art, that offer the same return on investment when it comes to health, connection, and the quality of a life well lived.

For more information about the Pikes Peak Plein Air Painters visit the website: www.pikespeakpleinairpainters.com.

Gayle Gross is an artist, gallery owner and advocate for the arts in Teller County. Destination Art Pikes Peak is a program she continues to grow, naturally, as artists participate in local art activities. Art related materials can be shared at reserveourgallery@gmail.com for use in this regular column.