The La Plata Open Space Conservancy may have lost its Citizen of the Year boss, but that won’t affect the organization’s signature annual event.

The 18th Snowdown Wine Tasting and Fine Art Exhibition will be an assembly of works by 15 of the Durango area’s finest artists. Most of the works are paintings, but there’s also a pit-fired clay pot, two photographs and a handwoven pine-needle basket.

Katherine Roser, who retired in December after two decades as the conservancy’s executive director, said the event will go on without her. Scott Perez took the position Jan. 1 and Thursday’s exhibition was Roser’s last task.

“We choose artwork that’s representative of what we do,” Roser said.

This year’s roster of artists (all painters, unless noted) is Sharon Abshagen, Milt Beens, Mimi Bonkowske (basket), Robert Bridges (photography), Boots Brown (fired clay), Peter Campbell, Leonard Davies, Mar Evers, Eileen Fjerstad, Elizabeth Kinahan, Jane Mercer, Linda Pampinella (photography) Ann Smith, Lorraine Trenholm and Rebecca Koeppen. This year, Koeppen was chosen by a committee as the exhibition’s featured artist. Her pastel, “Hovering Cloud-Ship,” will be made into reproduction prints that will be given to attendees.

“It’s really difficult. There were several that were exquisite, but I think everyone loved the colors that Rebecca used,” Roser said.

In the painting, the fields, trees and mountains of the foreground, are almost an afterthought compared to the boldly colored skyline and clouds. It’s eye-catching, to be sure.

All of the entries will be displayed through Wednesday at Bank of Colorado. Then, on Thursday, all will be sold through a silent auction. Bidding can be competitive. The event is usually attended by 350 to 400 people, and nothing is ever left behind.

The exhibition is typically a respite from the madness of Snowdown and bucks the theme year after year: There will be no fairy-tale imagery, and all of the art reflects the conservancy’s mission to preserve open spaces, forests and historic ranchlands.

ted@durangoherald.com