41st Gathering at the Great Divide art show highlights Breckenridge Labor Day weekend

One of the longest-running art shows in the United States, the 41st Gathering at the Great Divide in Breckenridge is Labor Day weekend.

As the final show in the Mountain Art Festivals’ 2016 lineup of three events, the father and daughter team of Dick and Tina Cunningham are presenting over 100 artists in 13 categories.

The nationally-ranked show — with free admission — runs Sept. 3-5, in the Main Street and Wellington parking lots. The art festival hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., on Saturday and Sunday, and Monday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“This is one of the longest running events in Breckenridge,” Dick Cunningham explains with pride.

He helped keep the show going nearly 40 years ago, when he approached the Breckenridge Resort Chamber to take over the production of the festival.

Today, it’s become a two-generation operation as daughter Tina, back as a full-time Kingdom of Breckenridge resident, is continuing the family work.

Her father is a well-known wildlife and landscape photographer, doing about 35 shows annually, many of which daughter Tina travels along for, as does Dick’s wife Mary.

The Cunninghams believe that being touring artists keeps them in tune with the art-buying public and this helps to make sure their peers’ needs are addressed to make for better shows.

This year’s Gathering highlights Colorado watercolorist Carmel Walden, jeweler Richard Lindsay of Santa Fe and Boulder ceramicist Willi Eggerman.

For more info see: mountainartfestivals.com