14th Annual Green Box Festival

More Than 50 Performances, Events, Classes and Camps Planned for Green Box Arts Festival June 18 – July 4 .

Featuring Colorado’s First James Turrell Skyspace & New York’s Ballet Hispánico.

Opening Day Celebrations Include the Unveiling of FOUR Outdoor Art Installations.

Green Box is thrilled to announce a captivating new Skyspace by legendary light and space artist James Turrell will begin to welcome visitors on June 18 – opening day of the Green Box Arts Festival. The installation is the first Skyspace in Colorado and the first in the world to be carved into the side of a mountain.

Green Box’s Skyspace by James Turrell showcases a one-of-a-kind kinetic experience that shifts one’s perception of nature and sky through contemporary light, color, and space – an experiential work of art unlike anywhere else in the world. The 78-year-old Californian’s work aims to engage viewers with the limits and wonder of art in nature. The journey in Colorado begins with an inspirational trek up one of two new nature trails through the Red Butte Recreation Area and Town Overlook, with views overlooking the iconic Gazebo Lake Park. From there, Skyspace pilgrims continue their ascent to the final destination.

“James Turrell is known for cultivating peaceful and powerful environmental works of art that focus on human perception,” said Christian Keesee, co-founder of Green Box. “His Skyspaces may be understood as creative observatories – a combination of architecture, sculpture, and atmosphere perfectly positioned in nature.”

The Historic Green Mountain Falls Foundation commissioned the Skyspace to be installed in Green Mountain Falls. Green Box Executive Director Scott RC Levy noted his first experience in a Skyspace was transformative.

“Skyspaces are a true representation of art that responds to humanity’s need for wonder, serenity, and connection,” Levy said. “There is no way of understanding its impact until you visit one yourself. We hope visitors looking for renewed inspiration and meaningful new perspectives will return to the serenity of Green Mountain Falls to enjoy our Skyspace season after season, year after year.”

The Skyspace isn’t the only showstopper this summer at Green Box’s 14th annual arts festival! Join us Saturday, June 18 as we celebrate FOUR visual art unveilings. In addition to the Skyspace, the festival’s opening day will also celebrate: Communication X9, by Israeli artist Yaacov Agam; Meltwater, by Green Box Artist-in-Residence Michael Krondl; and a new Keith Haring Outdoor Fitness Court®.

Communication X9 is a beloved artwork that for decades sat on Chicago’s prominent Magnificent Mile. Standing at an impressive 43-feet tall, the stainless-steel tower changes appearance as you move around its three sides. Meltwater is a 2-demensional display resulting from a three-step process sourced from photographs from the region. And, part of an initiative launched by the National Fitness Campaign, a new Keith Haring Outdoor Fitness Court® will be available for free access year-round this summer. This permanent, town-owned feature at Pool Park is designed to activate public spaces by uniting the inspiration of world class art and life changing benefits through access to healthy infrastructure.

Dance: New York’s Ballet Hispánico, one of America’s Cultural Treasures and leading Latinx organizations, will take the stage multiple times during the festival. Led by Artistic Director & CEO Eduardo Vilaro, the company is comprised of a group of technically profound artists who embody the complexity of contemporary dance today. Fourteen company dancers will perform 18+1 and Línea Recta, works by two highly sought-after choreographers, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and Gustavo Ramírez Sansano.

During their time in Green Mountain Falls, Ballet Hispánico will also travel to communities throughout southern Colorado to provide community engagement, including free masterclasses, showcasing social dances that have helped make the company famous for the last 50 years.

Music: The Opening Night Block Party will commence with a new work performed by the current poet laureate of the Pikes Peak region Ashley Cornelius, followed by a concert with the Tejon Street Corner Thieves. Don’t miss our second Block Party, the annual 4th of July event featuring The Denver Dolls and Latin GRAMMY winner El Twanguero. More opportunities to enjoy live music abound with a concert by French/Chinese/American songwriter and accordionist Jessica Fichot, Sunday Sing-Alongs, and our new “Open Mic Night” events where you can show off your music, comedy or dance skills – cabaret style!

Events: Two outdoor Film Nights will be presented by Rocky Mountain Women’s Film: Los Hermanos and An Evening of Shorts, featuring Gramma & Ginga and My Indiana Muse, and a work from the critically-acclaimed Youth Documentary Academy. For theater fans, join Theatreworks for two FREE outdoor performances of an abridged version of Shakespeare’s classic, The Tempest. Grab your pup and join us for the 2nd annual Pooch Parade and enjoy performances by The Canine Stars! – an award-winning Stunt Dog Show featured on America’s Got Talent. The entire family will enjoy spending the day at our first Puppet Palooza while enjoying shows, workshops, and even a puppet museum! More fan-favorites return this year with nature hikes, Astronomy & S’mores and our always popular ArtDesk Conversations – featuring Colorado’-based author, scientist, and autism and animal welfare activist Temple Grandin.

Classes & Camps: Once again classes, camps, and culinary arts are on the agenda, ensuring there’s something of interest for all ages to get creative in Green Box’s inspiring atmosphere. Children’s camps, for the K-12 set are presented through the Manitou Springs School District and include: Green Box Construction Arts Camp; Green Box Integrated Arts Camp; 48-Hour Musical Camp. Our popular Toddler Time series for wee ones and their adult friends returns. Culinary classes include Cocina Corazón’s Tamales and Salsa Making, Apple and Chicken Pot Pies with Lisa Huizenga, Sommelier sessions with Howard Price, and a Scotch on the Rocks event. Daily Yoga classes are back, as is Silversmithing 101 – and a new Silversmithing Keepsake Lidded Box workshop has been added to the schedule. Additional visual art classes include Fiber Fusion and Visible Mending, along with more opportunities to get creative including our Stand-Up Comedy and Puppet Making workshops.

Experience Green Box on Your Own This Summer!

Daily Skyspace Experiences: During the festival, sign up for one of our daily sunrise, sunset or closed roof shows in our new Skyspace by contemporary art and space artist James Turrell. Visit greenboxarts.org for tickets and more information.

Audio Walking Tour – The Art & History of Green Mountain Falls: Put on a pair of headphones any time you like and take your own walkabout tour exploring the art installations throughout Green Mountain Falls and the history of this beautiful place. Created by Green Box Artist-in-Residence Jessica Kahkoska, we look forward to visitors gleaning a new perspective on this natural and creative environment. Information on accessing the tour is available at the Green Box Office and greenboxarts.org.

Lantern Making Design Station: Join us in one of our studios each day during the festival to design your own water lantern!  Green Box will host a special Lantern Launch to close-out the festival following the annual 4th of July Block Party. A full kit will be provided along with various materials to help you embellish your work.

For a complete listing of festival events, visit greenboxarts.org. Many events are free, all require registration. Performance tickets and event registration goes live Monday, May 16. Registration for children’s camps is available at connect14.org/green-box-camps.  

Green Box was launched in 2009 in Green Mountain Falls, Colorado and has grown into a year-round incubator of multidisciplinary visual and performing arts. The organization provides residents and visitors from Colorado and around the world the opportunity to participate in the creative arts in the natural beauty that awaits at the foothills of Pikes Peak. Anchored by an annual summer arts festival, Green Box also engages with community year-round through an active Artist-in-Residence program, arts education, and public art installations. Renowned for its public art installations, a selection of past installations include 1.8 Green Mountain Falls by Janet Echelman; The Musical Swings by Daily tous les jours; Field of Light and Tepees by Bruce Munro; and Footprint in Green by Patrick Dougherty. Dance troupes that have performed include 2021 Green Box Artists-in-Residence American Ballet Theatre, New York’s KEIGWIN + COMPANY, Bridgman I Packer Dance, the Oklahoma City Ballet, and internationally-acclaimed ballroom duo Antonina Skobina and Denys Drozdyuk.  

Green Mountain Falls and Ute Pass –At an altitude of 7,800 ft., Green Mountain Falls is home to various festivals and events year-round. Most notably, however, it is known for the nationally-acclaimed Green Box Arts Festival. Surrounded by the Pike National Forest s, the town is located near popular area attractions including the Cave of the Winds, Manitou Cliff Dwellings, Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak and the Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway. An extremely popular hiking destination, visitors also enjoy fishing, swimming, biking, tennis courts and ice skating in winter, as well as the town’s unique restaurants, pubs and shops. The town is just 20 minutes away from the center of Colorado Springs, and closer to Manitou Springs, Woodland Park and other Ute Pass communities such as Cascade and Chipita Park.