When was the last time you went to an exhibit of climbing art? Well, you probably didn’t.

On November 18 the American Mountaineering Museum and American Alpine Club library will host a free opening of an exhibition of climbing art.

“This is the first show of its kind," says Sarah Wood Blair, museum director, "and we are thrilled to be hosting it." The brainchild of Jamie Givens, whose works, with those of Renan Ozturk, Emilie Lee, Mike Tea and Keith Svihovec, will be displayed, the exhibit is titled Alpine Styles and will be held in Golden, Colorado.

"I've always dreamed about putting together an all-climbing art exhibit, " says Givens. "Mountaineering and climbing have such a great tradition of storytelling and adventure, and there are artists out there who eke out a living bringing this world to life.... Some work was created in the open air, on the exposed slopes of mountains, in foreign lands, sometimes in bad weather. They are so much more than paintings, they are infused with our experience."

The artists will attend.

"Yes, I will be there for the reception," says Emilie Lee, who intends to fly in from work at a fellowship with Hudson River School Painters in New York. "Looking forward to it!"

Music and refreshments will be provided, and art will be both displayed and for sale, with part of proceeds to benefit the museum and library. Some of the works have appeared in the climbing press and other publications, and some is personal work that has not been shown before.

"These artists make it clear that climbing is moving forward with their challenging, beautiful and sometimes edgy creations,” says Phil Powers, executive director of the AAC. “It's fun to see our museum—usually focused on history—looking into the future with this exhibition."

Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. For more on the artists and works, please click here.