{"id":807010,"date":"2020-05-01T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-05-01T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/?p=382482"},"modified":"2020-05-01T11:00:00","modified_gmt":"2020-05-01T17:00:00","slug":"portfolio-gallery-keeps-art-approachable-during-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/local-news\/portfolio-gallery-keeps-art-approachable-during-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"Portfolio Gallery keeps art approachable during pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image p402_hide\">\n<div class=\"caption-container\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/04\/GalleryCOVID-SDN-050120-1-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-post-image\" alt srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/04\/GalleryCOVID-SDN-050120-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/04\/GalleryCOVID-SDN-050120-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/04\/GalleryCOVID-SDN-050120-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/04\/GalleryCOVID-SDN-050120-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/04\/GalleryCOVID-SDN-050120-1.jpg 1728w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption><strong>Nikki Nienhuis\u2019 \u201cAbstract Land\u201d is a painting that is part of her solo exhibit \u201cUnder the Paint\u201d at Portfolio Gallery in Breckenridge. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the works are viewable online.<\/strong><br \/><em>Courtesy Portfolio Gallery<\/em><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>BRECKENRIDGE \u2014 Nikki Nienhuis\u2019 first solo exhibition isn\u2019t going as planned. She installed and hung her paintings at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/news\/portfolio-gallery-in-breckenridge-seeks-to-make-art-accessible-create-opportunities-for-local-artists\/\">Portfolio Gallery<\/a> in Breckenridge on March 9 for what is a major milestone for any emerging artist. Nienhuis returned to the gallery the following weekend on March 14 for the opening. She did some demonstrations, saw customers and even sold a couple of pieces.<\/p>\n<p>As she and her husband were driving back home to Golden, they got an email that Vail Resorts was closing its ski areas for the season due to the coronavirus pandemic. She knew the gallery wouldn\u2019t be far behind.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes, I was sad,\u201d Nienhuis said. \u201cBut I don\u2019t tend to dwell on things, and I don\u2019t tend to get very upset. I was just very happy that I got it hung before it closed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Quickly, Nienhuis and Portfolio staff started brainstorming ways to pivot the show even with the doors shut to the public. They settled on a <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"virtual exhibit (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.portfoliobreck.com\/online-gallery\" target=\"_blank\">virtual exhibit<\/a><i class=\"fas fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i> where Nienhuis\u2019 work would be for sale online, and she made videos explaining her pieces.<\/p>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col\" readability=\"6\">\n<div class=\"row sd-donation sd-donation-mobile p-0\" readability=\"7\">\n<div class=\"col-xl-4 p-2\">\n<div data-bg=\"url(https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/03\/SDN-logo-white-1.png)\" class=\"p-0 mt-2 mb-2 h-75 text-center rocket-lazyload\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/03\/SDN-logo-white-1.png\" class=\"logo m-0 p-0 invisible\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><h3 class=\"d-inline mr-3\">Support Local Journalism<\/h3>\n<p><button class=\"btn d-inline\" type=\"button\" onclick=\"handleDonationButtonClickMidArticle()\">Donate<\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Since Nienhuis has been a full-time painter for only two years and is used to tent shows and fairs that feature multiple artists, she prefers people develop a more intimate connection with the art in person. Yet she\u2019s glad she learned a new skill.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was also so afraid to put myself out there to talk and show my face on video, but I really enjoyed it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Sales have been slow during what should be Breckenridge\u2019s busy season, which Nienhuis admits isn\u2019t unusual for her at past shows, but she understands this can be a financially trying time.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWho wants to spend hundreds of dollars when their husband is out of work or things aren\u2019t certain?\u201d Nienhuis said. \u201cI\u2019m sensitive to the fact that that\u2019s the case. My husband has a full-time job; we are OK.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nienhuis\u2019 show originally was going to be six weeks long like the rest of Portfolio\u2019s exhibits, but if the gallery is able to reopen in June, then her physical exhibit is tentatively extended through July 3.<\/p>\n<p>An upside to the pandemic is that Nienhuis has used her spare time to experiment with her painting. She\u2019s been getting comfortable with texture by fiddling with sand paper, glass beading, gloss gels and other inks regularly while sharing the results to her social media.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think online is where we\u2019re going to be for a while, so I\u2019m doing my best to figure it out and play in that game,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Her pieces aren\u2019t the only works available online at Portfolio. This is the first time the gallery has made <a href=\"https:\/\/www.portfoliobreck.com\/popup-online-gallery\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">digital sales possible for all of its artists<\/a><i class=\"fas fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe want art to be accessible to be people, not just for the elite or people who think you have to have a lot of money to buy art,\u201d Co-owner Carol Kelly said. \u201cWe very much feel like art is something that can be for everyone. Whether you create it or purchase it, it\u2019s out there for&nbsp;someone to enjoy. We\u2019re just finding different channels to reach our customers because they obviously couldn\u2019t come into the gallery.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s too early to tell how future exhibits will be affected by the pandemic and if the online store is worthwhile, but Kelly said if they stick with it, there likely would be only a small selection for purchase outside of the physical gallery.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a bit like going from reading a book to reading a Kindle for me,\u201d Kelly said. \u201cWe very much want it to be a personal experience.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"p402_hide\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\n<div class=\"caption-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/04\/GalleryCOVID-SDN-050120-2-1024x805.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-382484\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/04\/GalleryCOVID-SDN-050120-2-1024x805.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/04\/GalleryCOVID-SDN-050120-2-300x236.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/04\/GalleryCOVID-SDN-050120-2-768x604.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/04\/GalleryCOVID-SDN-050120-2-1536x1208.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/04\/GalleryCOVID-SDN-050120-2-2048x1611.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption><strong>\u201cI Am Not Woke,\u201d by Golden-based Nikki Nienhuis, is currently on display at Portfolio Gallery in Breckenridge. The title refers to Nienhuis\u2019 meditation practice that she uses to paint intuitively.<\/strong><br \/><em>Courtesy Portfolio Gallery<\/em><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Along with purchasing pieces by local artists such as Katie Maher and&nbsp;Leslie Jorgensen, people can take a stab at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.portfoliobreck.com\/coloring-pages\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">coloring their works for themselves<\/a><i class=\"fas fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i>. The gallery has released black-and-white versions of a local artist\u2019s piece that are ready for crayons or pencils on their website and in the Summit Daily News.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Kelly said they\u2019re great for folks wanting to stay busy at home, especially children who aren\u2019t in school. The artists also have released videos online where they give insight into their style and tips on how to color.<\/p>\n<p>If people want to stretch their creative muscles beyond coloring, they can enter Portfolio\u2019s art competition. The gallery already had one in April where they received about 20 entries for the theme <a href=\"https:\/\/www.portfoliobreck.com\/at-the-gallery-db\/competition-winners-announced\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u201cWhat Home Means to Me.\u201d<\/a><i class=\"fas fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i> CC Anderson won the under-12 age category, Ella Eland won for artists ages 12-18, and Sara Tuell won in the over-18 category.<\/p>\n<div class=\"p402_hide\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\n<div class=\"caption-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/04\/GalleryCOVID-SDN-050120-3-819x1024.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-382485\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/04\/GalleryCOVID-SDN-050120-3-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/04\/GalleryCOVID-SDN-050120-3-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/04\/GalleryCOVID-SDN-050120-3-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/04\/GalleryCOVID-SDN-050120-3-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/04\/GalleryCOVID-SDN-050120-3.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\"><figcaption><strong>\u201cWalk\u201d is one of the pieces in Nikki Nienhuis\u2019 exhibit, \u201cUnder the Paint.\u201d The show, which opened in March before the shutdown, has gone digital.<\/strong><br \/><em>Courtesy Portfolio Gallery<\/em><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>A second competition that has the theme <a href=\"https:\/\/www.portfoliobreck.com\/art-competition\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u201cSilver Lining\u201d<\/a><i class=\"fas fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i> is underway with the deadline set for May 22. Interested participants can use whatever materials they have on hand to craft an 8.5-inch square piece of two-dimensional art and submit photos of it to&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:info@portfoliobreck.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">info@portfoliobreck.com<\/a><i class=\"fas fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i>. The main stipulation is that it can\u2019t be on canvas for mounting purposes so that it fits in with the rest of the art on display at Portfolio Gallery.<\/p>\n<p>Works will be judged by the gallery\u2019s marketing agency in the same three age groups as the previous competition.<\/p>\n<p>According to Kelly, once the gallery reopens, the winners of the competitions will have their artwork auctioned off to raise money for nonprofits such as the Family &amp; Intercultural Resource Center and the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center.<\/p>\n<div class=\"swift-gallery p402_hide\" readability=\"6.6755793226381\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-382482-397\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled gallery-container\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/04\/GalleryCOVID-SDN-050120-4-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/04\/GalleryCOVID-SDN-050120-4.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Courtesy Portfolio Gallery | CC Anderson won the under-12 category for this artwork in Portfolio Gallery\u2019s first art competition. A second competition is happening through May 22.\" class=\"swift-gallery-slide h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>CC Anderson won the under-12 category for this artwork in Portfolio Gallery\u2019s first art competition. A second competition is happening through May 22.<\/strong><br \/>Courtesy Portfolio Gallery<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/04\/GalleryCOVID-SDN-050120-4.jpg\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/04\/GalleryCOVID-SDN-050120-4.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/04\/GalleryCOVID-SDN-050120-5-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/04\/GalleryCOVID-SDN-050120-5-1024x1011.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Courtesy Portfolio Gallery | Ella Eland is one of the winners of Portfolio Gallery\u2019s \u201cWhat Home Means to Me\u201d art competition. The competition\u2019s next theme is \u201cSilver Lining.\u201d\" class=\"swift-gallery-slide h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Ella Eland is one of the winners of Portfolio Gallery\u2019s \u201cWhat Home Means to Me\u201d art competition. The competition\u2019s next theme is \u201cSilver Lining.\u201d<\/strong><br \/>Courtesy Portfolio Gallery<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/04\/GalleryCOVID-SDN-050120-5-1024x1011.jpg\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/04\/GalleryCOVID-SDN-050120-5-1024x1011.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/04\/GalleryCOVID-SDN-050120-6-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/04\/GalleryCOVID-SDN-050120-6-1024x1024.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Courtesy Portfolio Gallery | Sara Tuell\u2019s piece won in the over-18 age group for Portfolio Gallery\u2019s art competition. The winning works will be auctioned off for charity.\" class=\"swift-gallery-slide h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Sara Tuell\u2019s piece won in the over-18 age group for Portfolio Gallery\u2019s art competition. The winning works will be auctioned off for charity.<\/strong><br \/>Courtesy Portfolio Gallery<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/04\/GalleryCOVID-SDN-050120-6-1024x1024.jpg\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/04\/GalleryCOVID-SDN-050120-6-1024x1024.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/news\/portfolio-gallery-keeps-art-approachable-during-pandemic\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/news\/portfolio-gallery-keeps-art-approachable-during-pandemic\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/news\/portfolio-gallery-keeps-art-approachable-during-pandemic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: Summit Daily<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nikki Nienhuis\u2019 \u201cAbstract Land\u201d is a painting that is part of her solo exhibit \u201cUnder the Paint\u201d at Portfolio Gallery in Breckenridge. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the works are viewable online.Courtesy Portfolio Gallery BRECKENRIDGE \u2014 Nikki Nienhuis\u2019 first solo exhibition isn\u2019t going as planned. She installed and hung her paintings at Portfolio Gallery in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[99],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-807010","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-local-news"},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-07-12 10:03:35","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSMT The Mountain","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/807010","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=807010"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/807010\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=807010"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=807010"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=807010"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}