During a normal summer, Anderson Ranch Arts Center is buzzing with workshops, classes and artists-in-residence. Like most other local arts venues, the Snowmass Village facility has pivoted its programming to meet public health orders, but social distancing has brought about a new wave of creativity—namely a new sculpture garden and a reconcepted on-site café.
The new exhibition is called "Sculpturally Distanced," and features 17 works, mostly by artists with connections to the Ranch. Pieces range from bronze casts to interactive video booths. Vistors get their first peek at the exhibit when they enter the art center's main gate—Ghada Amer's "Love Grave" features 6-foot deep pits spelling the word "LOVE."
The scultpure garden is self-guided, and most pieces are for sale.
And there's good news for anyone who gets hungry along the way; Anderson Ranch has reinvented its onsite café, too, and brought on David Wang as its new Director of Culinary Arts and Operations.
"With the new reality of COVID, the service itself is being switched to an à la carte style service," said Wang.
The café had previously served buffet-style meals. Wang said the menu will also evolve to include more international flavor.
"Definitely a globally-inspired menu," he said. "To start, we're hitting on my strength, which is the eastern Asian flavors."
Wang previously was the executive chef at Apen's Meat & Cheese, and behind local pop-up King & Cook dinners. He's also introducing grab-n-go meals at the café come August, where visitors will be able to pick up bento boxes and Japanese-style sandwiches.
"That's going to be inspired by the Japanese convenience stores, known as konbini," Wang said.
Both the café and sculpture tour are currently open to the public, and visitors can drop by Anderson Ranch Arts Center's campus from Monday through Friday (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
