Trail Mix by Anna Tsouhlarakis: Guided Hike, Meditation + Artist Talk
(BIFA) Breckenridge International Festival of Arts
Iowa Hill Trail
FREE WITH REGISTRATION
Trail Mix weaves together the natural beauty of Breckenridge with moments of artistic discovery—inviting hikers and bikers to encounter pop-up performances, outdoor installations, and guided mindfulness experiences along scenic local trails.
Start your morning with a guided hike that invites reflection and connection with nature. The journey continues with a meadow meditation and immersive sound experience, followed by an artist-led walkthrough of Edges of the Ephemeral by Anna Tsouhlarakis—culminating in a brief musical sendoff beneath the trees.
About the installation: Edges of the Ephemeral
This work explores Navajo creation stories and belief systems that deal with the idea of multiple worlds. It was originally created as part of the 2012 exhibition titled Time—a statewide project presented by the Museum of Contemporary Native Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Some believe that we are currently in the 4th world, others think we are in the 5th, while others still say this is the end, and some say there is more to come.
This large wooden spiral structure stands at about 20 feet in diameter. The viewer enters the spiral and walks through to the core. The language presented at the beginning of this journey conveys a more negative tone; as the viewer continues, the message becomes more neutral; and then, as they reach the center of the spiral, the message is full of hope and optimism.
Tsouhlarakis employs the template of parking and safety signage that are both familiar and authoritative. The text on the signage was inspired by a project where the artist used social media to ask questions of her Navajo community on their thoughts on where we are in the Navajo cycle of worlds. She received 60 responses, many of which were incorporated into this immersive work. Through this process, Tsouhlarakis realized that members of Native communities wanted to contribute, and they wanted to be heard.
Trail Directions
Iowa Hill Trail
Trail Difficulty: Intermediate
From Blue River Plaza, travel north on Main Street. At the roundabout, continue north on Highway 9. At the second stoplight, turn left onto Valley Brook Road and then turn right onto Airport Road. Travel 0.25 miles and the trailhead will be on the left directly after the Public Works facilities. Parking is available in the dirt lot. To find the performance area, follow the trail to the left to find the signs at the performance area. Please allow at least 5 minutes to get to the performance area from the trailhead.
Performance