“As the 2025 exchange artist and a member of our local host committee, I have experienced the mission — to promote peace — come alive through the passion to connect, person to person, community to community, around art. With little budget or resources, but full hearts and intention, the grassroots exchange committees provide deep, personalized immersion into each others’ lives as artists and communities. These are thoughtfully planned and executed exchanges where our shared love of art and mountain culture is the vehicle for connection. We become fast friends, astonished by how much we have in common, despite how far apart we are in kilometers. This is how sister cities strengthen their relationships, one friendship at a time.“
Aspen artist Lara Whitley participated in the annual Arts and Culture Exchange in Bariloche, Argentina in April 2025. “A very colorful exchange“, as expressed by Bariloche artist Paula Fischer, co-founder of the program. A volunteer group of artists from the Asociación de Artistas de Bariloche organized hosting, events, activities and meals. Lara offered a workshop and an artist talk to the community at Casa Bachmann Cultural Center. She was welcome by many local artists who opened their homes and studios.
Lara is currently the manager of the Public Arts Program for the City of Aspen. She is part of the organizing committee for the artist exchange in Aspen and in 2024 she participated in the bilingual, multicultural exhibition called “(Re)union”. This fundraising exhibition featured 21 artists from Bariloche and the Roaring Fork Valley, in celebration of ten years of the Arts and Culture Exchange Program.
Public arts tour with paintor Viviana Dziewa, co-creator of the mural “Codigo de Fuego”
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