Creativity Comes Full Circle: An Interview with Peter Waanders

Peter Waanders on humility, craft, and the community that keeps creativity circling at the Ranch

As President of Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Peter Waanders doesn’t claim the title of artist—but he’s an amateur maker and devoted learner. A literary mind with a community builder’s heart, Peter came to the Ranch after years of leading idea-driven organizations in the Roaring Fork Valley and beyond. He sees cultivating creativity as a shared act—one that grows through mentorship, access, and generosity.

That spirit inspires our end-of-year fundraising campaign, Full Circle: Creativity for All. This idea reflects our belief that creativity thrives when access, mentorship, and generosity connect in a continuous loop—from the first spark of inspiration to the act of giving back, and so many important moments in between.

“One experience at the Ranch can stay with you for 40 years—and bring you back to reconnect with your practice and the soul of this place.”

Q: What brought you to the Ranch—and what keeps you inspired today?

Peter: I first came to the Ranch 25 years ago for lectures and Friday Auctionettes. It’s such a magical and welcoming place—truly a core part of what makes this valley special in the arts and culture world. I worked at other organizations in the valley for many years, but I kept thinking about the culture, the humanity, the humbleness, and the world-class quality of what happens at Anderson Ranch. It’s such a special thing.

Q: What makes the Ranch special?

Peter: Because it’s the Ranch, it’s also a little crazy. It’s funky. It challenges the norm. There’s something new every day. You see people grow in their practice—learn about themselves, learn how to communicate their vision. And there’s also the quirky, crazy stuff: a bear walking through campus, a long coffee break with an artist midafternoon, a famous artist giving an afternoon talk, a spontaneous midnight studio party. You never know what’s going to happen at the Ranch. It’s always funky! You just need to show up and check it out.

“You never know what’s going to happen at the Ranch. It’s always funky! You just need to show up and check it out.”

Q: The Ranch is more than a place to make art—it’s a community where learning, mentorship, and creativity come full circle. Since you’ve witnessed this cycle firsthand, what does full circle mean to you? Can you share a story of someone who came as a student or resident and returned as a teacher or mentor?

Peter: I love this question—and it makes me a little uncomfortable. What happens at the Ranch is profoundly meaningful to people and sometimes very personal. There are transformational experiences here, and part of the magic is respecting the privacy of that process. So I’ll share a composite of examples.

This summer, someone in a workshop told the coordinator they’d first been here in the ’70s. I chased him down and told him how cool that was—I can never find any records from the ’70s—and asked which workshop he took. He remembered right away. He was a college kid, and was so excited to study with David Ellsworth in the wood program, but he didn’t have a place to stay or eat. He slept in a pop-up tent outside his car. Eventually, on the morning of the third day, when they realized he was covered in sawdust, they let him shower under the hose next to the shed in the middle of campus. Now, 40-plus years later, he wanted to come back to the Ranch. That one experience stuck with him. It changed his life. He wanted to reconnect with his practice—and with the community, with the soul of what’s going on. Things came full circle in his life.

Another story is about a family that’s been part of the Ranch since the ’60s. This year, their fifth generation of grandkids took a workshop in the children’s building! After teaching art to neighborhood kids in the same building, Grandma brought her kids; they brought their kids; and now those kids are bringing theirs. It’s an amazing multigenerational cycle. For these folks, the Ranch is part of who they are. It’s part of what it means to come to the Roaring Fork Valley—it’s the Maroon Bells, it’s the Ranch, it’s jumping in the Punch Bowl.

Q: Reciprocity feels central to the Ranch. It’s not just what artists receive, but what they give. Is there a moment when someone left a lasting impact on the Ranch community?

Peter: There are the impacts we recognize—and the ones we haven’t yet. On a philanthropic level, there are people who took a workshop, had an amazing experience, came back year after year, then joined the National Council, joined the board, and even chaired the board. When they prepared their will, they thought of the Ranch as a place where they wanted to leave a legacy. I’m talking about Ann Korologos—an incredible leader, an early and powerful woman in business and politics. The Ranch is where she found her heart and soul. She dedicated a large part of her life to the Ranch and left a legacy that will keep it strong for generations. That’s a lasting impact.

Peter and long-time Ranch supporter and artist, Betsy Chaffin, look through the archives.

Q: Tell us more about you, your vision, and what’s next for the Ranch.

Peter:

Coming to the Ranch as President and CEO is both an incredible honor and, honestly, a little intimidating. There’s no other job like it. A wise advisor told me before I started: keep your mouth shut as long as you can—what you think you know will probably be wrong. And that’s true. You get past the flashy stuff and down to the heart of it. The Ranch is humble—it asks you to let go of your ego.

My vision isn’t about me—it’s about us. It’s a community of visionaries with artists and art-making at the center. The struggle and joy of making art in the studio is at the core of this place. It’s deeply personal, but it happens in community. That experience—of creation, discovery, and sharing—is the legacy we must protect. It’s not about status, output, or social connection. Those things come naturally, but the act of making is what matters most.

Even when I’m thinking about practical stuff—fixing a roof or adding solar panels—I’m really asking, how does this support that legacy? How does it help us sustain a place where creativity thrives?

I don’t want a bullet-point vision statement. I want to steward this legacy of culture, community, and creativity. My vision is for the Ranch to stay what it’s always been—humble, vibrant, a little funky, and fully alive. A place where anyone can make, learn, and belong.

The legacy I want to leave is the one I inherited: that the Ranch remain accessible, inclusive, and true to its purpose. That requires scholarships, opportunities, and an endowment to make sure it lasts long after I’m gone. I want this to stay a place of strength and safety where artists can experiment, challenge, and grow. That’s what the world needs now—and it will take a big, loyal circle of friends to make it happen.

“So the vision always ties back to the core values—art-making, inclusion, diversity of thought, diversity of practice, diversity of background—and to how we stay true to what makes the Ranch and the community so special.”

When supporters step in, the circle continues—keeping access, mentorship, and art-making alive for the next generation.

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