Announcing the Future of the Soldner Center

Soldner Center

Fostering Curiosity, Creativity, and Community

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HONORING THE PAST, CREATING THE FUTURE

Paul and Ginny Soldner 1988

Dear Friends,

This year 2022 has been a momentous time at the Soldner Center.

We would like to share with you what has been accomplished this year and what is planned for the future.

It is with excitement and pride that we announce Paul and Ginny Soldner’s home in Aspen Colorado has been officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Washington DC. Not only is this important recognition, it gives us access to matching grants to maintain the Soldner buildings into the future.

In addition, the National Trust for Historic Preservation welcomed Paul and Ginny Soldner’s home and studio into its Historic Artists’ Homes and Studios program. It is an honor to join this group of remarkable artists homes and studios all of whom have distinctly impacted American art and culture. The Trust includes the homes of Georgia O’Keeffe, Lee Krasner and Jackson Pollock, Sam and Frita Maloof, the Wyeth’s and more than fifty other remarkable artists homes and studios.

We are also delighted to be featured in the National Trust’s Preservation Magazine this fall. We invite you to take a few minutes to enjoy the article. The story is compelling, and the photographs are beautiful! https://savingplaces.org/stories/an-inside-look-at-the-soldner-center-a-touchstone-of-aspens-creative-past

With these honors, the National Register and the National Trust recognize Paul and Ginny Soldner’s important contributions to American art, architecture, and their unique lifestyle.

Honoring the Past

Beginning in the 1950’s Paul and Ginny understood the value of using local and repurposed materials to hand-build their unique home and were early adopters of solar energy.

Paul was a prolific artist. His ceramic or bronze sculptures as well as works on paper are in museums and private collections around the world. He loved shaping bonsai, making fruit wines, casting jewelry, and creating in-ground hot tubs. He was an innovator, and he is recognized as the originator of the American Raku ceramic firing technique.

He held 7 patents for designs of his well-known Soldner clay mixers and Soldner pottery wheels.

Paul loved teaching and was an educator at heart. He taught ceramics at Scripps College and Claremont Graduate University for 35 years, and in 1966 founded Anderson Ranch Art Center as a means to teach artists how to create and make a living. He considered himself the Godfather of the Ranch and was proud of its continuing vibrant life dedicated to the arts.

Paul and Ginny were both curious, creative, energetic, welcoming, and encouraging to everyone they knew. They were groundbreaking in so many ways.

Ginny ran Soldner Pottery Equipment Inc. until her death and concurrently was a talented painter working on an impressive scale, her color field paintings were often 6’ to 8’ high. She was curious and read voraciously, she wrote poetry and enjoyed meaningful conversations with friends. She was an amazing hostess, and cook, and always loved welcoming Paul’s many students into their home while listening to and encouraging their dreams.

Creating the Future

One year ago, the Soldner Center 501(c)3 nonprofit was formed which now offers tours of the property and conducts workshops and gatherings guided by Paul and Ginny’s wide-ranging interests. Reservations for tours or an event can be made June – August through our website www.soldercenter.com

In addition to ongoing tours of the property we have wonderful plans for this summer 2023:

Brush Making for Creatives with Glen Grishkoff

Nature Writing and Poetry with Heather Swan

Dandelion wine making

In-ground hot tub design and construction

Pit firing and dinner

Sacred Vessel, Sacred Vine, wine and ritual

Weekly tea ceremony with Madelyn Soldner Sullivan

To help protect, sustain, and enrich the future of the Soldner Center, we are delighted to announce the creation of the Paul and Ginny Soldner Founders Fund, dedicated to the long-term support and health of the Soldner Center. This financial reserve will help fund a future director, staff and the wealth of programs that inspire and transform lives as Paul and Ginny did so well. We are reaching out to you our friends, enthusiasts, and supporters for your financial gift or pledge to help the Soldner Center flourish.

We are inviting you to join us in reaching our goal of $250,000

To launch the Paul and Ginny Soldner Founders Fund,

members of the Soldner family

are pledging a yearly donation of $5,000

over the next 5 years for a total of $25,000

to the Soldner Center

We hope you will join us with your own generous pledge or gift. We appreciate donations of any amount.

Every dollar will make a difference.

To donate click HERE, or mail a check to:

Soldner Center

PO Box 90

Aspen, CO 81612

To easily donate stocks or securities, please contact our board treasure Lonnie Buerge: lbuerge@gmail.com

or call (816) 718-7130.

Thank you so much for your generosity and support. We look forward to keeping you informed about the progress of the Soldner Center and invite you to come visit us.

Please feel free to contact me directly at (970) 925-3742 or by email to: ssoldner@soldnercenter.com

Stephanie Soldner

Director

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Soldner Center Board of Trustees: Teresa Booth-Brown, Lonnie Buerge, Jan Buerge, Kirk Delman, Sam Harvey

Soldner Center 501 Stage Rd Aspen Co. 81611, PO Box 90 Aspen Co 81612

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