This Saturday evening, Feb. 7, the Redstone Art Foundation kicks off its third winter movie night series at the Redstone Inn with a combo of Mexican cuisine and screening of the 2015 film “Woman in Gold.” While the dinners are a paid affair, Crystal River Valley cinephiles can sit in on the screening for free.
“Woman in Gold” tells the true story of Maria Altmann, a Jewish refugee living in the United States who fought a decade-long legal battle with the government of Austria to reunite with a portrait of her aunt after it had been stolen from their family by the Nazi Party. That portrait is none other than Gustav Klimt’s iconic Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I, otherwise known as The Woman in Gold. Starring Helen Mirren as Maria Altmann, the film is “a powerful true story about resilience, the pursuit of justice and a woman’s battle to recover her family’s legacy” in the words of a press release from the Redstone Art Foundation, and a timely and inspiring story about the fight for heritage amidst dispossession.
Redstone Art Foundation began hosting movie nights in collaboration with the Redstone Inn two years ago. The screening is the first of the season and marks the third year of the successful cold-weather attraction.
“We try and do movie nights in the winter months when there’s not a lot happening in the Crystal Valley,” said Dione Holt, president of the Redstone Art Foundation.
The movie nights also keep the board at the Redstone Art Foundation busy in the quiet months following the Holiday Market, which drew residents across the Crystal River Valley to Redstone for a festive day of snowy horse-drawn sleigh rides.
Previous movie nights have included screenings of “The Rise and Fall of Outlaw Art,” a documentary about the famed street artist Banksy, and “Frida,” a biography of Mexican surrealist painter Frida Kahlo.
While the Redstone Art Foundation has always chosen art-centric films for its movie nights, Holt says the board is also taking a look at documentaries featuring local artists to present at future screenings.
While selections for those screenings are forthcoming, Redstone Art Foundation will also be featuring local artists in person. Doug Graybeal, a Roaring Fork Valley resident who specializes in combining watercolors and pastels for vibrant landscape paintings, will share his techniques with the public during a free Artist Talk at the Redstone Gallery on Feb. 13 from 4 to 6pm.
In the midst of planning movie nights, the Redstone Art Foundation is also keeping busy this winter finding artists for its Plein Air Festival and the Labor Day Art Show, which will also celebrate the foundation’s 30th anniversary. “Last year was probably the most artists we’ve ever had,” Holt said. “We had 45 artists. We’re hoping to fill the grounds even more this year, and we’re trying to figure out how many we can accommodate to make it the biggest and best event yet.”
In terms of this Saturday evening, Redstone Inn’s own chefs will be preparing the dinner before the show from a fixed menu, including chile relleno and vegetable enchiladas. For dessert, guests can choose between a piece of apple crisp or a flourless chocolate cake. Those indulging in libations can also enjoy a margarita or an Aperol spritz for an additional charge.
The event will be held in the main dining room of the Redstone Inn. Dinner seating will begin at 5pm, with the film to follow at 6:15pm. Dinner is priced at $27.95, plus tax and tip, while the screening is complimentary and open to the public. Guests interested in dinner can register in advance with the Redstone Inn at 970-963-2526.