Author visit, sled dogs and the art of ‘debauchery’

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

By Ben Cannon

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-The ongoing events of a lively winter season roll ahead at full bore this week with a visit from a bestselling author/humanitarian, another Art Association workshop gathering, and the return of some beloved little yappy workhorses.
For starters, this week marks the beginning of the 2008 International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race.

“This is the NASCAR of sled dog racing,” said race founder and director Frank Teasley, an eight-time veteran of Alaska’s Iditarod.
The stage stop race, now in its 13th year, will see about 20 teams of more than 400 scrappy Alaskan Huskies (which don’t, by the way, look much like those handsome lazy malamutes that pull sleds in Disney films) compete in a seven-stage race, running a fast course from Jackson to Park City via a serpentine route around the Wind River Range. Teams will stop through Lander, Pinedale and Big Piney, then onto Alpine Wednesday.

Festivities begin at 5 p.m. Friday on the Town Square with music by Review.
Dinner plates of slow-cooked pig  with all the trimmings will be sold and a slide show will begin at 6 p.m., with the first musher leaving the starting gate at 6:30 for a ceremoniously short leg to Snow King. Though he doesn’t race in the event himself, Teasley continues to breed pups at his Hoback Canyon home and expects two teams from his kennel are among the strongest. Also, look out for the women: Teasley said any of five female mushers - among them his wife Stacey - have a good shot at winning. Go to www.WyomingStageStop.com for schedules and more.

The upcoming visit to Jackson Hole by Bozeman resident Greg Mortenson  on Monday has generated a lot of buzz. Mortenson co-wrote “Three Cups of Tea,” a memoir about his experiences and ongoing efforts to build schools in impoverished areas of remote Afghanistan and Pakistan. The book, published in 2006, remains on the New York Times bestselling list. Though the free evening (7 p.m. @ Snow King) is sold-out, organizers encourage people without tickets to queue up for seats likely to open up.

On Friday, Bozeman journalist  Karin Ronnow, who followed Mortenson abroad and wrote about his efforts, will be on hand at the library to discuss “Three Cups of Tea.” Seating is limited; first come first serve. Call 733-2164 ext. 135 for more info.

On this, the last Friday of the month, the Art Association is reconvening its regular “Debauchery and Art” evening. Creative types from pros to artistic dilettantes meet to share and discuss work prepared since the last get-together, when the group developed a common theme or approach, coalescing the eclectic results. Newcomers are welcome. BYOB. Call 733-6379 or email amy@artassociation.org.

Photo by NEAL HENDERSON
Kirk Barnum in last year’s stage stop race.

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Author visit, sled dogs and the art of ‘debauchery’ | Planet JH News Article: General Music Arts and Culture

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