“MEADOWS TO MOUNTAINS - A CULTURAL JOURNEY"

Let a little Sunshine into your world.

“MEADOWS TO MOUNTAINS – A CULTURAL JOURNEY”

Sunshine Tahoe is delighted to serve as Summit Sponsor for this one-of-a-kind annual hike series.

By Nicole Cheslock

Experience dancers, visual artists and musicians during the three-hour art hikes at Spooner Lake in the Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park on Sept. 6 and 7, 2014 | Tickets on sale April 22, 2014 (Earth Day)

TRAILS AND VISTAS PRESENTS TAHOE ART HIKES

“MEADOWS TO MOUNTAINS – A CULTURAL JOURNEY”

Described as magical, diverse and inspiring, Trails and Vistas’ Art Hikes blend art experiences with the beauty of being immersed in nature. This year’s guided art hikes will take place along an aspen lined trail at Spooner Lake in the Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park on Saturday, Sept. 6 and Sunday, Sept. 7.

“The work of extraordinary artists combines with tremendous trail leaders and event volunteers in an inspiring setting to make Trails & Vistas’ Art Hikes a unique and treasured experience,” shares Nancy Lopez, Creative Director of Trails and Vistas, a non-profit organization based in Truckee, CA.

“Meadows to Mountains – A cultural journey” will celebrate the environment through visual arts and nearly a dozen original performances during the first weekend in September. Featured artists, among others, include Scarlet Rivera, one of the world’s most prominent and versatile violinists and award-winning flutist Ann Licater. Santa Cruz-based SambaDá, a funk band dubbed the “the West Coast’s hottest Brazilian band” will also perform during the Sunday, Sept. 7 art hikes. Trails & Vistas collaborates with community partners including InnerRhythms Dance Theatre, KidZone Museum, For Goodness Sake, Arts in Wellness and Truckee Donner Land Trust. This year’s art hikes are co-hosted by Lake Tahoe Nevada State Parks.

Advance sellouts have become the norm for Trails and Vistas. In addition to the art hikes, there will be an evening world music concert featuring prominent and celebrated musicians from near and far on Saturday, Sept. 6. The concert includes multiple acts and serves as a fundraiser for Trails and Vistas’ Art in Nature fieldtrips for more than three hundred third grade students. In addition to the general public, people who treasure the environment and the arts but may be unaccustomed to hiking at altitude are encouraged to experience music and dance at the world concert. For tickets and the most up to date concert details, visit trailsandvistas.org.

After last year’s tenth anniversary art hikes and first ever world music concert, poet Barbara Tieken wrote, “It was like uncorking joy in a bottle as musicians and dancers took to the amphitheater stage and presented a magical review of all that is good and wonderfully uplifting about the creative experiences of life.”

“Tickets will go on sale April 22 and are expected to sell out early given the popularity of this year’s participating artists and beauty of Lake Tahoe in September,” adds Lopez.

Spooner Lake, located at an elevation of 6,980 feet, is an easy drive from the Sacramento, Reno, Carson City, Truckee, Tahoe City and Incline Village. Tickets for the art hikes and concert will go on sale on Earth Day. The early bird art hike cost is $30 for adults and $10 for children (5 to 12 years old) when purchased by July 15. Beginning July 15, art hike admission goes up to $40 per adult and $15 per child. The Art Hikes are recommended for physically healthy hikers who are accustomed to hiking at high altitude for three hours. For tickets, visit www.trailsandvistas.org.

ABOUT TRAILS & VISTAS

Trails & Vistas is a 501 c 3 nonprofit organization that creates art experiences in nature to inspire environmental awareness. Trails & Vistas’ Art Hikes are a collaborative effort led by Founder / Artistic Director Nancy Tieken Lopez with Performance Director Elizabeth Archer and vital support from volunteers and regional organizations including the Truckee Donner Land Trust, InnerRhythms Dance Theatre, For Goodness Sake and the KidZone Children’s Museum. The first art hike was created as Tieken-Lopez’ thesis project in 1994. In addition to annual public art hikes, Trails & Vistas will also present an Art in Nature field trips for 300 local third grade students and second annual world music concert in 2014. Visit trailsandvistas.org for more information about the art hikes, concert, volunteer opportunities, and to view photos from past art hikes.