Kaya Williams
Edlis Neeson Arts & Culture ReporterKaya Williams is the Edlis Neeson Arts and Culture Reporter at Aspen Public Radio, covering the vibrant creative and cultural scene in Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley.
Williams joins the team after a stint at The Aspen Times, where she reported on Snowmass Village, education, mental health, food, the ski industry, arts and culture and other general assignment stories. She fell in love with this valley for its community and can’t wait to tell more stories of this place through the voices of the people who make it so colorful.
Before moving to Aspen in October 2020, Kaya was a freelance researcher for the podcast team at America’s Test Kitchen, where she helped produce “Proof,” “The Walk-In” and “Mystery Recipe” while working from her mountain hometown of Tahoe City, California.
She studied journalism and history at Boston University, where she also worked for WBUR, WGBH, The Boston Globe and her beloved college newspaper, The Daily Free Press.
When she’s not working, you can find Kaya chatting up strangers on the gondola, pounding the trails on a long run or baking a loaf of her favorite banana bread.
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José Chardiet is a prolific glassblower with works in national museums and the local Raven Gallery. He teaches his practice to high school students at CRMS in Carbondale, where he also has space to create his own work. -
The semifinalists grapple with major social issues like race, class and gender. Almost half of this year’s selections are set in the past, while others take place in contemporary or futuristic settings. -
Petersen’s latest film screens at The Arts Campus at Willits on Wednesday. It’s focused on Petersen’s experience in the Leadville 100 trail run — a metaphor for Petersen’s journey as he shares stories about mental health. -
A 3,700-acre property owned by St. Benedict’s Monastery is now on the market for $150 million as the religious institution faces a dwindling population of monks. Past efforts to preserve the land never came to fruition — but some local groups hope a collaboration might help. -
The new lineup in Town Hall won’t look much different from before, as mayor-elect Alyssa Shenk is a longtime councilwoman and councilor Tom Fridstein is heading into his second term. Cecily DeAngelo is the sole newcomer — and incumbent mayor Bill Madsen is out of the seat. -
The mayoral race pits the incumbent against another longtime council member; in the race for two council seats, there are four names on the ballot. All of them shared their perspectives on key issues for the village during a “Squirm Night” on Oct. 24.
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The new show features artwork by local artists Savanna LaBauve and Lindsey Yeager. Harvey says the collaboration and exposure “lifts all boats” in the valley’s art community. -
The production returns to The Arts Campus at Willits this weekend, presenting a new collection of devised theater that honors the experiences of the LGBTQ+ community. -
The program, organized by the Aspen Indigenous Foundation, runs Friday through Sunday at the Isis Theatre in Aspen. -
At a “State of the Arts” panel last week, three midvalley teenagers spoke about the lack of performing arts in their public schools — as well as their determination to make theater happen.
