Fall Events

Hi Friends!

It’s terribly difficult times we are living through, but we must continue to be the best humans we can be. For me, that includes making artwork and also supporting the organizations doing great work in my community. Below there are a few upcoming events if you are in Northwest Colorado. But first, an update from The Alley Gallery and Art Studios.

Late afternoon sunlight in my studio at The Alley.

Ann Feldman and I have been in this space since March, and we love it! We’ve had a variety of shows and some guest artists bringing in their unique energy. This Friday, October 3, it’s ArtWalk again, from 5-8. If you are in Steamboat Springs, I hope to see you at The Alley. You can learn more about our space on the new website www.alleygallerysteamboat.com

Below is a new linocut, Gone to Seed, inspired by the end-of-season wildflower seed heads. It’s hanging at The Alley for our fall show.

Gone to Seed, linocut

As for upcoming events, this Saturday my family and I are planting trees with Yampa Valley Sustainability Council again. It looks like all ReTree slots are filled. However, YVSC is still looking for volunteers to plant trees in the Big Red Park burn scar October 16-18. Learn more and sign up here!

ReTree 2025- my 9th year making artwork to promote this program!

Below is the ammo can I painted for Friends of the Yampa’s Big Snow Bash fundraiser. These work well as small personal gear boxes for rafters. Check out more photos + last year’s can + me as a 12-year-old with the ammo cans I painted for my family for our Green River trip in 1981.

The good news is that the Big Snow Bash is coming up October 11, so you can still attend, or even bid on items online.

Ammo can painted for Friends of the Yampa

One more event coming up soon is It Starts with Books, STAND’s evening to discuss banned books and fighting censorship. This will be at Wildhorse Cinema and Arts on October 9th. I made the graphic below and it will be printed on t-shirts and stickers that you can get at the event.

So, with all of these things going on around town, I hope to see you soon if you are local! If not, I hope things are going well, and feel free to reply and let me know what you are doing this season.

Art News and a Challenge!

Hello Friends,

It’s June and I hope your summer is off to a lovely start!

I’ve concocted an outdoor challenge starting today- head over to my Substack newsletter, Creative Climate Action for the details. I hope you will join me in spending at least 30 minutes in outside activities every day for June. I would love to send you some artwork as a reward if you complete the challenge. Please share with friends and family!

Opening June 6, 5-8 pm, and though the month of June, I will have brand new work at Rumor Designs in Steamboat Springs, CO. The show is titled Reconstructed: Linocut Collages.

I’ve been cutting up reject prints, and sometimes even breaking out the ink and printing with the intention of cutting apart prints. It’s so fun to reassemble these parts into a new image. The show at Rumor has florals like the two bouquets at the top and wildlife art. There’s also one big mandala titled All of the Above that has landed at The Alley. If you are in Steamboat, I hope you will be able to visit both places for ArtWalk, Friday June 6, 5-8 pm.

Jill holding All of the Above, linocut collage

Speaking of The Alley Gallery and Art Studios, things are going well in our small space! Because I’ll be at Rumor Designs for ArtWalk, I’ve invited Carol Jean to hang some of her new, vibrant paintings as our first Guest Artist. Her show is titled Raise Up, and below is her painting, Sisterhood.

Sisterhood, acrylic on canvas by Carol Jean

Regular open hours at The Alley are 11-5 Wed- Sat if you can’t make it to ArtWalk. While you are there, check out our beautiful new glass doors and the new windows in Ann Feldman’s studio!

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There is also an exciting show at the Steamboat Art Museum this summer, The Art of Printmaking: Process and Passion. This collection has an incredible range of printmaking techniques, curated and mostly printed by Master Printer Sue Oehme of Oehme Graphics. She has also included work by local printmakers like me who have worked with her over the years. These prints are such a joy to experience, and there is a wide variety from abstracts to representational artwork. This show is definitely worth traveling to see if you love printmaking. Be sure to attend one of the First Fridays or events and catch Sue speaking about the work, she has lots of great stories.

My Night Garden linocut by the front door at the Steamboat Art Museum.

In conjunction with the show at the Steamboat Art Museum, there are some classes to check out. I am teaching an afternoon workshop carving and printing a small block on August 2 from 12-4. And Leon Loughridge is teaching Moku Hanga: Japanese woodblock printing. As usual, there are lots of classes and workshops at Oehme Graphics as well.

One last crazy thing…. many local printmakers under the inspiration of Garret Bock are furiously carving a big block to do Steamroller Printing. I have been drawing my image, but haven’t started carving yet. That’s now my #1 task. We will be printing in the Steamboat Creates Art Depot parking lot during Art in the Park, July 12, 10-1. These inked blocks will be printed by driving over them with a steamroller. Those are the machines used after asphalt has been applied to a road with two large rollers to flatten the pavement. None of us have done this before. Wish us luck!

Mountains Dream of the Unfolding Future and Birds are the Beating Heart of the World, linocut collages by Jill Bergman

I’m closing out this jam-packed newsletter with two more linocut collages above heading to Rumor Designs for my show Reconstructed.

Please remember to check out the 30 Days Outside Challenge and have a great summer!

The Alley Gallery & Art Studios

It’s a crazy world and things are feeling unstable, so why not start a new business, eh? My friend and fantastic painter, Ann Feldman and I are opening a new space- two working art studios with our fine art on the walls in an old building in downtown Steamboat Springs. The name gives away that our new spot is in an alley! If you are looking for us, our entrance is between 7th and 8th, and between Lincoln and Yampa St. above Del Mezcal’s brightly painted back door.

We’ve moved in, but haven’t hung the art yet, so I don’t have any great photos to share. I’ll be sharing photos on Instagram and BlueSky soon if you are following me there. And I’ll be updating this page on my website with photos and my framed art available at The Alley.

If you are in Steamboat Springs, please join us for our opening this Saturday, March 1, 5-7. Ann will be out of town the following week during ArtWalk on March 7, but I’ll be there for our first official First Friday ArtWalk 5-8. I’m also going to be trying out open hours Wed-Sat 11-5:30 starting March 1st for the rest of the winter.

One of my brand new pieces that will be hanging at The Alley is Blizzard, silver snowflakes hand printed onto colored ink circles and sewn together to hang in a sheet inside a shadowbox. The construction of this piece was challenging, but I love how the snow sways when the frame moves.

I’d also like to take a moment to introduce Ann Feldman. I love her beautiful landscapes of the mountains, trees, and rivers in our area of Northwest Colorado. She works in oils 'en plein air,' meaning outside on location, and in the studio. I can’t wait to be her studio neighbor and see what she creates!

Winter’s Tranquility, Sarvis, oil on canvas by Ann Feldman

Ann and I look forward to seeing you at The Alley sometime soon! If you’d like to come but don’t know how to find us, please email jill@jillbergman.com and I’d be happy to make sure you have good directions. xo

Fresh off the press

I’m really excited to share this brand new linocut, Sandhill Crane, that I finished carving and printed today! I wanted to have it done last week, but you know, best laid plans and all.

The crane in this image is striding across a swampy field running with spring snowmelt. Greater Sandhill Cranes regularly migrate through Northwest Colorado around Steamboat Springs and west along the Yampa River corridor. Some pairs even nest and raise their babies, called colts. If you’d like to learn more, I recommend visiting Colorado Crane Conservation Coalition’s website. This organization even sets up a nest camera in the spring as one of the couples begins to nest. You can watch the crane family until the colt(s) start foraging further afield with the adults.

The ink on the first 6 of these big, beautiful prints will be dry enough to ship on Saturday, December 14. I’ve listed them in my online shop here. For you lovely supporters, I’ve created a discount code, HOLIDAYCRANE for 20% off. It will be active until Friday night. I will ship any prints that are ordered via FedEx on Saturday 12/14/24, so they should be able to arrive before Christmas. If those first 6 of the edition are sold, more will be coming, just not before Christmas. Send me an email and we’ll figure it out.

I really appreciate all of the kind words and support from friends, family, and followers this year. I’d especially like to send a huge thank you to everyone who has purchased artwork. I’m so glad you love it enough to buy, hang, and share.

I hope each of you has a peaceful holiday season. Let’s take care of each other in the New Year!

Jill

Fall News

We’ve had gorgeous fall days in Steamboat Springs, Colorado- I hope you have too!

In September I had a collection of work at Pine Moon Fine Art titled Poems for the Wayward World. There were linocuts and collages with poetry from the sweet little zine that made its debut during the show. The poems are inspired by nature, wildlife, and my concern for the environment. You can see photos, learn more, and buy a copy here on my website. If you are in Steamboat, Ohana is now selling them as well!

Poetry reading at Pine Moon Fine Art

We even did a poetry reading! I invited other local authors to read their own work also so I wasn’t on the spot the entire time.

I’ve now left Pine Moon, September was my final month. It was a hard decision, but the right one for me. Locally, the Steamboat Art Museum Store still has many of my linocuts. I’d hoped to have exciting news about a new place in town to find my artwork, but that’s not happening yet. And while I continue to sort myself out, I’ve created a discount code that you can use on my website! Please subscribe to this inconsistent newsletter, or to Creative Climate Action on Substack so we can stay in touch. Then type in FALL10 at checkout to get 10% off anything on either my Shop page with unframed art, or my new Framed Art page. This discount is good through the end of November- use as many times as you want. And remember, shipping to the continental US or local delivery is always free through my website!

Below are a few fun additions available through my website:

Wave Chases Wave is an older carving that just got a fresh reprint with pretty blues and greens on heavy white cotton paper.

In My Dreams- number 1/20 is still available framed for this linocut printed in gold and dark blue ink!

Get your own copy of Poems for the Wayward World, or give one as a gift! Send me a message if you’d like anything on my site sent as a gift and I’ll wrap and include a card for the recipient.

Bye for now! Below are smiles from us after a sunny morning planting trees. Head over here to see a few more photos.

My family at Yampa Valley Sustainability Council’s ReTree this October.

Spring News and Art!

Hi Friends,

It’s been fairly cold and snowy here in Steamboat, but the daffodils and tulips are blooming, so it must be spring! As is appropriate for spring, new things are underway that I wanted to share.

I’m now working part time for Yampa Valley Sustainability Council (YVSC), a wonderful organization that I have done illustration and volunteer work for over many years. I am making artwork, doing some writing, and helping with events. My official title is Creative Climate Communications Associate, and it’s such a great match with my skills and interests!

There is no greater treasure than all of the sunrises and sunsets glowing golden over this rich, wild land.

YVSC’s big event and fundraiser is coming up soon, Insight: Art for Climate Action. This year, artwork will be hanging at the Steamboat Creates Depot for June with an opening reception June 7, 5-8 pm. All of the artwork will also be listed online for bidding. This leads up to the main event Saturday, June 29 at the Larson Barn just outside of Steamboat Springs. I hope you will be able to see the artwork in person or online, there are so many great pieces! I’ll share online links on social media soon.

Above, you can see one of my submissions for the Insight event, No Greater Treasure. This is a collage made from parts of linocut prints that didn’t quite make the edition. One way I challenge myself as an artist is to reuse materials whenever possible, keeping things from landing in the trash. With some care, scissors, and fun, these pieces assembled into a glowing landscape, so much better than any of the prints on their own. It’s the same when people come together toward a common goal. All of our different skills and experiences working to combat climate change can achieve so much more collectively than an individual on their own.

I made a second piece for Insight as well! I am excited about a future with clean, renewable energy as the norm. I think people will look back at the era of fossil fuels the way we now look at the era of cooking and heating with fire. It’s a wasteful, messy way to gain energy, but a phase we went through before arriving at something much better. To honor the future we are working to achieve, my artwork celebrates the sun, one of our greatest sources for renewable energy.

Solar

This piece was made by printing hand-carved stamps in a symmetrical pattern with gold, copper, and silver ink onto black paper, and then I cut out parts of the black paper. Behind this is a sheet of golden paper to emphasize the idea of the sun. I was given a round black frame that was lightly scratched and unusable, so I scratched it intentionally with sandpaper and rubbed gold paint onto the surface. It turned out looking like a perfect frame for the sun.

And one more bit of news, I’ve started a newsletter on Substack called Creative Climate Action. I plan to post every other week with interesting action items that you can tackle and get friends and family inspired to try as well. I’ve only written two so far, but another is coming out May 20. I hope you will subscribe, and send me ideas and feedback!

Wildlife: Linocuts and Paintings

I’m happy to announce TWO shows in March, 2024! My wildlife linocuts and paintings will be at Rumor Designs, 912 Lincoln Ave, Steamboat Springs. The opening is during ArtWalk, March 1, 5-8 pm, and the artwork will be showing through the month of March.

Each of my large animal linocuts have been hand colored for their debut at Rumor. In addition, I’ve painted some charming animals with gouache on black paper.

Blue Raccoon, gouache by Jill Bergman

Among the Wildflowers, gouache by Jill Bergman

The other show that I want to share is for my husband, Matt Irvin! Matt Irvin has been operating a snowcat at Steamboat Resort for 23 years. While grooming the terrain, he sees gorgeous sunsets over the Yampa Valley, and striking snowscapes at night. This collection of photographs showcases his unique perspective and love for his work. To see more, visit him on Instagram @mattnthecat

Groom with a View: Photographs by Matt Irvin
The Barley, March 5 - April 28
635 Lincoln Ave, Steamboat Springs
Meet the Artist 6-8 pm, March 7

Nightfall

Last fall, my friend and fantastic paper artist, Paulina M. Johnson and I started talking about what would be exciting and interesting to have as a theme for a show. We decided on NIGHT. There are so many good things about night time- stars, and the moon, and the mystery, and the beautiful sky colors as evening transitions into night, and as night turns through dawn and into early morning. And so, opening June 2 at Pine Moon Fine Art, we present Nightfall.

I explored new directions and got a little experimental for this show! I made really big (for me) linocuts, did some joyful and challenging paper weaving from rejected prints, painted a couple watercolors on black paper, and I was brave enough to include some poems with my work.

Printing The Night Mysteries

The Night Mysteries, linocut

The Night Mysteries was printed with two blocks, one with the background colors, and the silver ink on top with the imagery and text. These prints went really well, but there were a couple of rejects, and I decided to weave them. I combined them with reject prints from a couple of other editions, added some colored ink to tint them, and learned how to weave with circles!

The corners and every circle are cut from one reject print of the Night Mysteries, I just turned the circles a bit to mess up the design. Below is how it turned out!

Falling into a Dream, woven cut linocuts and paintings

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Above are Foxes at the River and Moth Moon, two watercolors on black paper

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Here are some process photos for creating Night and Day, a three color linocut. The poem I wrote that goes with this image is called Guardians. I imagined Night and Day were two women that oversaw their day or nighttimes, and only met briefly twice a day at the transitions. I’m interested in creating work that has a mythical feeling, and this was a piece headed in that direction.

Night and Day, linocut

There are many more exciting new pieces in this show at Pine Moon Fine Art, including fantastic work by my friend, Paulina M. Johnson. I hope you can stop by for the opening, June 2, 5-8 pm, or sometime during the month of June if you are in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. If not, Check this Featured Exhibition link during June to see the pieces on Pine Moon’s website. You can also follow me or Paulina on Instagram to see more!