Photos courtesy Kierstan Renner (Wildcrafted Photography), Jeff Laydon (Pagosa Photography) and Justin Treptow (In Focus Photo Co.).
Pagosa’s own starlets and leading men filled the Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts on November 12 for a period-themed red carpet gala — “The Golden Age of Hollywood” — benefiting Pagosa Peak Open School (PPOS).
The fundraising (and fun raising) event was sponsored by over 40 regional businesses to offer one night of live music and dancing, a ‘best-dressed’ contest, waiter-served appetizers, signature show drinks, and a silent auction.
The band was comprised of musicians from various backgrounds from within the community, with ten vocalists rotating through a compilation of jazz, blues and early rock’n’roll songs.
Everyone was encouraged to arrive dressed in fancy ‘black-tie’ attire reminiscent of the 1920s-1960s, when Hollywood was said to be at its peak.
Guests enjoyed getting their photos taken by the “paparazzi” in a giant crescent moon… and in 1957 Ford Thunderbird “overlooking” the city of Hollywood.
The venue was adorned “to the nines” to complement the guests, who arrived in bow ties, feathers, sequins and furs — and who were the true masterpieces of the evening.
The event raised over $24,000 in cash with over $15,000 of event expenses covered by in-kind donations from local vendors and businesses.
All proceeds from this event will be applied toward project-based programming at PPOS, the K-8 district-authorized public charter school located near Walmart in the Aspen Village neighborhood.
Pagosa Springs artist and graphic designer Ursala Hudson raises her two daughters, takes photos, paints, weaves, and snowboards. She’s also president and one of the founders of Pagosa Peak Open School, the community’s new charter school.