On Aug. 15, The Art Base in Basalt will celebrate 30 years of operation, education and creativity at its annual pARTy, where attendees can expect to dress in Oscar-themed attire and view and bid on its “10×10 Name Unseen” auction. Celebrations for this milestone have been taking place since May, when the nonprofit held a community open house and founder Deb Jones, along with her daughter, Reina Katzenberger, spoke to the community about the organization’s history and impact.
“It was a beautiful all-ages event where over 200 community members came to experience all that The Art Base had to offer,” Executive Director Annie Henninger said.
“Our annual fundraising party is always a joyous occasion, and this year we are presenting an Oscar-style award ceremony, which I believe will be entertaining, witty, fun and celebratory,” she continued. “The folks that are being honored really embody the mission … the spirit of the Art Base.”
Jones will be presented with the Visionary Award, Katzenberger will receive the Community Impact Award, Leah Potts the Inspiring Artist Award and Nicole Gogolack the Inspiring Art Educator and Instructor Award.
The auction exhibit, which goes up on July 31 and will remain on view through Aug. 15, features 10”x10” works donated by over 160 local artists. According to Henninger, the pieces come in several media styles. She expressed her gratitude to those who participated. In the spirit of the name, the artists have not been named, so as to encourage bidders and viewers alike to connect with the work itself on a separate level.
“Everyone is welcome to bid online, or come into The Art Base to see the artworks in person,” explained Henninger. “Artists are given a 10×10 panel and can respond however they like. The result is an incredible variety of individual works in all media. Every piece is unique, and there is something for everyone.”
Henninger, who has been with The Art Base since 2024, is looking forward to the upcoming event and getting to interact with the community.
Given that The Art Base is now completely self-owned, following the relatively recent payoff of the space’s mortgage in November 2025, the organization can focus on providing even more access to opportunities for programming.
“Helping make art and art appreciation accessible to anyone is a personal and professional passion of mine,” Henninger stated. “For me, the act of making art is pure freedom, and art brings people together. It opens doors, and artists show us what is possible.”
“The Art Base is here to stay,” she said.
“We are not going anywhere and are so proud to own this beautiful building in the heart of downtown Basalt on behalf of the community,” Henninger added. “We can truly focus on inclusive, community-centric programming. Our goal is to ensure that our offerings are culturally relevant and responsive to our community’s needs and interests.”
The Art Base hopes to see the community come out for the lantern parade, as part of the 30th anniversary celebrations, this fall. This event, which is sponsored by The Alpenglow Foundation, will be part of Basalt’s annual Merry on Midland event. People of all ages and art skills are invited to help create paper lanterns through a series of programming opportunities ahead of time.
“I want people to know that they can make a lantern at home and bring it to the parade,” Henninger clarified. “We’ll focus on everyday materials.”
Counting on fire danger not alleviating, she said that “people can plug a headlamp in their lantern, or we’ll have battery-powered candles. There won’t be any open flame and we want to focus on sensible ways for folks to create and be a part of this process.”
“We are so excited to honor these incredible community members with a multi-award style show, as there are so many people that have made The Art Base a thriving community art center and this gives us a chance to highlight just a few,” Communications Senior Associate Alyssa Bozekowski said of the award recipients to be recognized at the pARTy on Aug. 15. “These individuals embody the creative spirit, generosity, and dedication that have helped shape the Art Base and our community over the past 30 years.”
Catch an opening reception for “10×10 Name Unseen” on Friday, July 31, at 5pm. Find details for both the opening and the pARTy on Aug. 15, 5 to 9pm, at theartbase.org