Jacqueline Reynolds

March 24 2024

The Aspen Idea

As a local journalist immersed in Aspen’s arts scene, I’m here to introduce you to the people and institutions maintaining this cultural fabric. The mountains, townscape, and reaching roads of the valley are all easily accessible as I drive the class-leading Mazda CX‑90—featuring Mazda’s most powerful 3.3‑liter Turbo Inline 6 engine, smooth and responsive i‑Activ AWD, and the signature design crafted to evoke connection. This all makes for a fitting ride during our journey into Aspen’s creative core.

Aspen Daily News • March 17 2024

‘No Straight Lines’

For a mountain town of roughly 6,500 people to have such significant ties to the contemporary art world is rare, said Bob Chase, owner of Hexton Gallery. In fact, he said, the history of culture — in terms of who came here, what happened creatively and how that has and continues to emanate out from here — is singular to Aspen.

Aspen Daily News • July 30 2023

Aspen ArtWeek arrives: Museum brings an experiential program to the community

Aspen ArtWeek is here, and in its third edition, the Aspen Art Museum is cultivating a vibrant series of exhibitions, performances, artist talks and events for a week-long celebration honoring those whose creativity and vision have greatly impacted the field of contemporary art.

Aspen Daily News • August 6 2023

Formerly incarcerated artists bring their art and stories to Aspen

Marcus Manganni was in solitary confinement on Rikers Island and noticed a sliver of natural light that entered his cell from a small, distant window. He started sun mapping how the light would interact with the wall, marking with his fingernail where it was each day and realizing that the change in the sun’s patterns over time represented the change of the seasons — that’s how long he was in there, he said.

Aspen Daily News • August 21 2022

The rebirth of ‘To Aspen and Back’

It was early 1950s postwar America, and a young writer by the name of Peggy Clifford wanted no part of it. So she moved to Aspen. Clifford’s Aspen journey began in the summer of 1953. A 23-year-old recent college graduate, she’d been living on the East Coast watching her friends in New York as “one by one” they buttoned up and settled down.

Aspen Daily News • June 17 2023

Down to earth with fine, worldly wines

It was a full house inside the Paepcke Park tent Friday morning of the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, and wine expert Mark Oldman stepped up to the stage dressed in full-blown safari gear. Oldman cued animal noises over the loudspeaker and looked out at his audience through binoculars. He sabered a $300 magnum bottle of Bollinger Champagne with a jungle-styled machete and poured the world’s first-ever multi-continent wine into a decanter shaped like an octopus.

Aspen Daily News • July 4 2023

Aspen Music Festival and School’s season is here

The Aspen Music Festival and School kicked off its summer season last week and will run through Aug. 20, with more than 400 classical music events commencing over the course of its eight-week program. Regarded as one of the top classical music festivals in the country, the AMFS attracts music students from around the world each year to train and perform alongside renowned musicians, composers and conductors.

Aspen Daily News • July 9 2022

A timeless story, ‘Gypsy’ hits close to home

When actress Cassondra James closes out the first act of Theatre Aspen’s “Gypsy: A Musical Fable” with her performance of “Everything’s Coming up Roses,” the audience’s excitement is palpable. Playing the lead role in “Gypsy” as Mama Rose, James’ execution of the song — one of the most famed songs in the musical theater realm — energizes the intimate Hurst Theatre tent as she lights it up with her striking vocals and manic expressions.

Aspen Local Magazine • June 6 2023

Behind the Scenes with One of Aspen's Longest-Running Art Galleries

When Albert Sanford moved to Aspen more than 25 years ago to open an art gallery, he chose the town purely out of passion—a love for the place and eventually the people. Now, Sanford’s gallery has stood for over a quarter century on Cooper Avenue, making it one of the longest-running galleries in town. And it enters its 26th summer with a finger on the pulse.

Aspen Daily News • July 25 2023

L.A. disco duo Neil Frances to bring the hardware to Belly Up

The Los Angeles disco duo, Neil Frances, is coming to perform at Belly Up on Wednesday, and the funky music group hopes Aspen is ready to dance. Comprising Jordan Feller and Marc Gilfry, the duo has nailed down its brand of blending beat-driven, pop-infused dance grooves with a sense of fluidity and rawness that attracts listeners of all kinds.