Exhibitions

Jasmine Ross + Laurie Shapiro: Live Facilitation

Ridge Street Arts Square

Aug 20 at Dusk

First Light

This special preview experience offers a first glimpse into the themes of Inner Harmony and Inner Space. Through breath, reflection, meditation, and a symbolic tea-light ritual, participants are invited to set intentions for the festival weekend and illuminate the possibilities that lie ahead. As individual lights are illuminated, we honor the unique spark each person brings to the collective experience and offer a first glimpse into the spirit of connection, creativity, wonder and belonging that will unfold throughout the weekend.

Breckenridge International Festival of Arts

Laurie Shapiro is part of Breck Create’s signature annual festival—BIFA.

Learn More About BIFA

Artist Statement: Jasmine Leslie Ross

My work explores the intersection of creativity, connection, ritual, and human experience. Through participatory experiences, immersive environments, contemplative practices, and community gatherings, I create spaces where people can pause, slow down, and reconnect with themselves, each other, and the world around them.

At the heart of my work is a belief that creativity belongs to everyone. Creativity is not limited to traditional art forms—it is a way of engaging with life. It is the spark of inspiration, curiosity, imagination, and purpose that lives within each of us. My work seeks to create opportunities for people to tap into that inner spark, remember what lights them up, and reconnect with the unique gifts, passions, and wisdom they carry within.

Drawing from a background in art, psychology, mindfulness, movement, and community engagement, I create experiences that invite reflection, participation, and presence. Whether through installation, ritual, movement, meditation, storytelling, or collaborative art-making, I am less interested in art as an object and more interested in art as an experience—something that can be felt, shared, and lived.

Nature is a constant source of inspiration in my work. The rhythms of breath, the changing seasons, and the interconnectedness of all living things remind us that we are part of something larger than ourselves. Through simple acts of presence and participation, I hope to create environments where people feel welcomed, inspired, and connected.

This philosophy is reflected in my participation with BIFA and my collaboration alongside Laurie Shapiro’s Inner Harmony installation. Through the Inner Space activations, I am honored to help support and extend Laurie’s vision by creating opportunities for stillness, reflection, creativity, and connection. Together, these experiences invite participants to step away from the pace of daily life, explore their own inner landscape, and reconnect with a sense of belonging, possibility, and wonder. My hope is that people leave feeling more alive, more connected, and more empowered to bring their unique gifts into the world.

About the Artists

LAURIE SHAPIRO

Laurie Shapiro (b. 1990, New York, based in NYC) creates handmade, painted, immersive installations and 3D/wall-hanging pieces focused on internal listening, safety, care, and interconnectedness. She holds a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University (2012) and lived in California for 12 years. Shapiro has exhibited internationally at venues including the San Diego Museum of Art, the Contemporary Jewish Museum, and SACI Florence. Her immersive installations have been commissioned by Otherworld, Walter Studios, Weedmaps, and international festivals like The Governors Ball, Life is Beautiful, and Phish Riviera Maya. She has completed residencies at the American Academy in Rome, Kala Art Institute, and the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles, and is a recipient of a California Council for the Arts Fellowship and a Puffin Grant. Her work is in public and private collections globally, including SACI Florence and Bilkent University. Her work has been featured on TV (WTAE, KTNV) and in publications such as Fiber Arts Now and Artillery Magazine.

Jasmine Leslie Ross

Jasmine Leslie Ross is a Breckenridge-based community-engaged artist, facilitator, and creator of participatory experiences whose work explores connection, creativity, ritual, and the human experience. Drawing from a background in art, psychology, mindfulness, and community engagement, she creates immersive environments and experiences that invite reflection, curiosity, and meaningful connection.

Ross studied Art and Psychology at Union College, where her creative practice focused on mixed-media art, artist books, installation work, and experiential environments. Early influences include an internship with Bread and Puppet Theater, co-founding a college art club, developing cabaret-style installations and events, and creating a three-wall immersive interpretation of Where the Wild Things Are. Her artistic exploration also included bookbinding studies at Anderson Ranch and teaching after-school art classes for elementary-aged children.

Over the past three decades, her work has evolved to include community-based art experiences, custom prayer mala creation, intention-setting workshops, immersive activations, movement and meditation offerings, and ceremonies that honor life’s meaningful transitions. Inspired by nature, contemplative practices, and the power of shared experience, Ross creates spaces where people can slow down, reconnect, and engage more deeply with themselves, each other, and the world around them.

Her work lives at the intersection of art, ritual, wellness, and community, inviting participants to move beyond observation and become active contributors to the creative experience. Through installations, gatherings, and facilitated experiences, she explores how creativity can foster belonging, reflection, and a deeper connection to what matters most.