EVENT PREVIEW The
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EVENT PREVIEW The
READ ME FIRST! Here are some tips on how to best navigate, find and read the articles you want in this issue. Down the side of your screen you will see thumbnails of all the pages in this issue. Click on any of the pages and you’ll see a full-size enlargement of the double page spread. Contents Page The Table of Contents has the links to the opening pages of all the articles in this issue. Click on any of the articles listed on the Contents Page and it will take you directly to the opening spread of that article. Click on the ‘down’ arrow on the bottom right of your screen to see all the following spreads. You can return to the Contents Page by clicking on the link at the bottom of the left hand page of each spread. The Preview Contents Page This page shows you which artists have Preview articles in the issue. Click on any of the list of artists shown and it will take you to the artist’s preview article in the issue where you can see and read the whole feature. You can return to the Preview Contents Page by clicking on the link at the bottom of the left hand page of each spread. Direct links to the websites you want All the websites mentioned in the magazine are linked. Roll over and click any website address and it will take you directly to the gallery’s website. Keep and file the issues on your desktop All the issue downloads are labeled with the issue number and current date. Once you have downloaded the issue you’ll be able to keep it and refer back to all the articles. Print out any article or Advertisement Print out any part of the magazine but only in low resolution. Subscriber Security We value your business and understand you have paid money to receive the virtual magazine as part of your subscription. Consequently only you can access the content of any issue. TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX APRIL 2009 20 STATE OF THE ART TEXAS CONTENTS 46 APRIL 2009 The State of the Art: Texas DEPARTMENTS SPECIAL FEATURES 20 THE SAVVY COLLECTOR’S PREVIEW GUIDE to Western Art Coming Available for Sale Coast to Coast 24 Follow the Western Art Trail Calendar Western Art Collector’s Guide to Major Upcoming Events, Sales and Auctions 70 Art Nomads The Nómadas del Arte’s annual Paint Out and Show presents the Southwest in plein air. 174 SOLD! Who’s buying whose art they first saw in this magazine. AUCTION AND EVENT PREVIEWS 136 Scottsdale Scene Rare Charles Schreyvogel painting highlights the Scottsdale Art Auction. 144 Art and Artifacts Apache bow and quiver signed by Geronimo leads Cowan’s April American Indian Auction. 148 Rendezvous 2009 The Gilcrease Museum’s annual Rendezvous promises to be another reunion of top Western art. 154 Art of the West New exhibition spotlights paintings by 18 deceased masters at National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. AUCTION AND EVENT REPORTS 168 Western Americana Thrives The 19th annual High Noon Western Americana Auction brought thousands of visitors and over $1.2 million in sales. 172 Western Brilliance The J. Willott Gallery’s Western Artists of America Miniature Show and Silent Auction brought out artists and collectors. 160 Western Force The Autry’s 12th annual Masters of the American West Fine Art Exhibition and Sale sees record attendance, $3.6 million in sales on opening night. PHOTO COURTESY ACVB CONTENTS APRIL 2009 Previewing New Exhibitions Every Month Coast To Coast MISSOULA 118 86 RENO CINCINNATI BRECKENRIDGE LOS ANGELES TULSA PRESCOTT PALM DESERT OKLAHOMA CITY PHOENIX SCOTTSDALE SANTA FE TUCSON DALLAS TUBAC 90 126 FREDERICKSBURG SANTA FE ST. PETERSBURG 26 FEATURES AND UPCOMING SHOWS WESTERN ART INSIGHTS SOLO SHOWS GROUP SHOWS 26 86 114 Pulse of the Desert Preserving Native Arts The multi-million-dollar Helen Cox Kersting Collection of Southwestern Cultural Arts reflects a collector’s passion and devotion. By James H. Nottage 34 42 Richard D. Thomas Montana riders 90 Susan Kliewer Expressions of the heart 94 Phyllis Shafer Into the Landscape: Vistas and Visions Wonder of Nature A keen eye and photographic memory launch Robert Peters into the category of one of America’s great landscape painters. By John Geraghty 98 Keeping the Faith 106 Jeff Ham Devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe results in her image appearing in the work of both the acclaimed and accomplished, to the humble and untrained. By John O’Hern Alfredo Rodriguez A life in color 102 Elmer “Skinny” Schooley The early years Electrifying the West 110 Robert Schlegel Following the back roads Six of today’s top Southwest painters unveil their latest works on canvas. 118 East Meets West Chinese artists present new works depicting Chinese, Tibetan and Native American cultures. 122 Sketches of Life Group show features the process of artwork from start to finish. 126 Spring Reflections Group show ushers a fresh perspective. 130 Wildlife & Western Visions Annual event brings together 19 acclaimed wildlife and Western artists. L APRIL 2009 Monthly EDITORIAL EDITOR Joshua Rose [email protected] ASSISTANT EDITOR Sarah Handfield [email protected] SENIOR EDITOR Michelle Borgwardt [email protected] SANTA FE EDITOR John O’Hern CONTRIBUTING EDITOR John Geraghty ADVERTISING 866.619.0841 ADVERTISING & Amy Elliott MARKETING DIRECTOR [email protected] SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Lindsay Green [email protected] SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Lori Kyle Lee [email protected] SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Allison Peters [email protected] SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Cindy Crigler [email protected] MARKETING COORDINATOR Alexandra Backalukas [email protected] TRAFFIC COORDINATOR Amy Rosenberg [email protected] PRODUCTION PRODUCTION MANAGER Adolfo Castillo [email protected] PRODUCTION ARTIST Sonia Hurtado PRODUCTION ARTIST Katie Mott PRODUCTION ARTIST Tammy Nordin-Garcia SUBSCRIPTIONS 877.947.0792 SUBSCRIPTIONS MANAGER Emily Yee [email protected] SUBSCRIPTIONS CLERK Jenny MacGregor [email protected] ADMINISTRATOR Sarah Birchfield E T T E R F R O M T H E P U B L I S H E R Best in the West W estern Art Collector strives to be the best and most reliable resource for art collectors available on the market today. We have added to this comprehensive coverage by creating two new sections designed to give active collectors of Western art even more useful and practical knowledge. Insights on how to buy not just painting and sculpture, but everything from Navajo rugs and pottery to books, beadwork and jewelry. The first of these new special sections is titled State of the Art and provides an up close and personal breakdown of the art market in each of the Western states throughout the year. Each month, a different Western state will be the target of this never-before-seen seasonal coverage. Our guide will include everything from new art available for sale, the hottest art towns—small and large—within each state, and timely quotes and advice from gallery owners to artists to some of the largest collectors of Western art in the region. Our other new section is also a guide, but focuses on themes within the collecting genre. Our first Focus feature captured the history, nuances and latest news about collecting landscape paintings. Our next special Focus, set for next month’s issue, will concentrate on rugs and pottery, both historic and contemporary. This has always been a stimulating part of the market for us, and we would like to share the insights we’ve learned with our best and most active collectors. We are launching these new sections because we’ve learned that collecting within the Western art world is a journey for most that touches on all of these areas. Western collectors love to acquire painting and sculpture. But they also love everything else that comes with it—pottery, rugs, artifacts, clothing, beadwork, books, saddles, guns, etc. Collecting Western art and objects is a passion for most and we want to position ourselves to help you make informed decisions when on your own personal collecting adventures. [email protected] Copyright © 2009. All material appearing in Western Art Collector is copyright. Reproduction in whole or part is not permitted without permission in writing from the editor. Editorial contributions are welcome and should be accompanied by a stamped self-addressed envelope. All care will be taken with material supplied, but no responsibility will be accepted for loss or damage. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the editor or the publisher. The publisher bears no responsibility and accepts no liability for the claims made, nor for information provided by advertisers. Printed in the USA. Western Art Collector 7530 E. Main Street, Suite 105, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 Telephone (480) 425-0806. Fax (480) 425-0724 or write to Western Art Collector, PO Box 2320, Scottsdale, AZ 85252-2320 Single copies $6.95. Subscription rate for one year is $36. To place an order, change address or make a customer service query, please email [email protected] or write to PO Box 2320, Scottsdale, AZ 85252-2320. Periodicals postage rates paid at Scottsdale, AZ and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send all address changes to Western Art Collector, PO Box 2320, Scottsdale, AZ 85252-2320 Sincerely, Joshua Rose Editor P.S. Summer is approaching soon. Make sure you make plans to visit one of the summer art destinations this year, like Montana, New Mexico, Wyoming or Idaho. Look for our State of the Art spotlights for each of these destinations throughout the summer months. ON THE COVER. . . PUBLISHED BY VINCENT W. MILLER WESTERN ART COLLECTOR (ISSN 1936-7546) is published 12 times a year by International Artist Trust A.C.N. 105 312 016 www.WesternArtCollector.com 4 Andy Thomas, Leaving Old Mexico, oil on canvas, 36 x 48” Estimate: $45,000-$65,000, available at the Scottsdale Art Auction in Scottsdale, AZ, April 4, 2009. I N D E X Artists in this issue Coleman, John 133 McElwain, Louisa Coleman, Nicholas 130 Payne, Dustin 132 Thomas, Richard D. DeVary, David 116 Payne, Vic 133 Wei, Z.Z. 127 Ham, Jeff 106 Peters, Robert 34 Wilms, Jurgen 126 Hill, Tom 115 Rodriguez, Alfredo 98 Wilson, Nicholas 116 Kim, Grace 128 Rogers, Julia 132 Yorke, David 131 90 Saubert, Tom 132 Zhou, Jie Wei 121 Kliewer, Susan 114, 128 Liang, Calvin 119 Schafer, Phyllis 94 Liu, Huihan 118 Schlegel, Robert 110 Schooley, Elmer 102 86 Advertisers in this issue American Masters at Salmagundi Club (New York, NY) 17 Grelle, Martin (Clifton, TX) 55 Hallmark, George (Meridian, TX) 55 Anderson, Kathy (Redding, CT) 81 Heritage Gallery (Scottsdale, AZ) 9 Birdsall, Stephanie (Tucson, AZ) 81 Hermsen, Jack (Dallas, TX) 68 InSight Gallery (Fredericksburg, TX) Joe Wade Fine Art (Santa Fe, NM) Booth Western Art Museum (Cartersville, GA) 3 Breckenridge Gallery (Breckenridge, CO) 18 Buchholz, Mary Ross (Eldorado, TX ) 63 Carrillo, Cindy (Tempe, AZ) 77 Cherry, Mary Ann (Idaho Falls, ID) 10 Curt Mattson Sculpture (Peoria, AZ) 8 Dana Gallery (Missoula, MT) 12 Darby, John (Amarillo, TX) 79 Journeys West Gallery (Solana Beach, CA) Phippen Art Museum (Prescott, AZ) 10 Pitzer’s Fine Arts (Wimberley, TX) 57 Porter, Walter (Tucson, AZ) 82 53 Powell, Bo (Fort Worth, TX) 67 23 Rive Gauche Art Galleries (Scottsdale, AZ) 11 Sahli, Don (Evergreen, CO) 77 Santillanes, Dave A. (Fort Collins, CO) 82 Cover 3 Justus, Wayne (Pagosa Springs, CO) 12 Keegan, Suzette (Santa Fe, NM) 79 Larsen, Ann (Edinburg, NY) 77 Legacy Gallery (Scottsdale, AZ) Lincoln, Debbie Grayson (Bluff Dale, TX) Manitou Galleries (Santa Fe, NM) Desert Caballeros Western Museum (Wickenburg, AZ) 18 Dodd, Frances (Pueblo West, CO) Mary Garrish Fine Art (Merritt Island, FL) 82 Eiteljorg Museum (Indianapolis, IN) Medicine Man Galleries (Tucson, AZ) 2 Scottsdale Art Auction (Scottsdale, AZ) Cover 2 15 Settlers West Galleries (Tucson, AZ) 1 61 Stanley, Susan Volk (Scottsdale, AZ) 82 Swinney, Carol (Tucson, AZ) 81 Templeton, Ann (Driftwood, TX) 79 Texas Art Gallery (Dallas, TX) 49 Plainsmen Gallery, The (Clearwater, FL) 19 7 75 Cover 4 Museum of Western Art, The (Kerrville, TX) 67 Trailside Galleries (Scottsdale, AZ) 13 Turner, Cecy (Dallas, TX) 79 Whistle Pik Galleries (Fredericksburg, TX) 59 Woosley, Brigitte (New Braunfels, TX) 68 Eubanks, Tony (Clifton, TX) 55 Evans, Amy (Breckenridge, CO) 81 Nancy Cawdrey Studios & Gallery (Bigfork, MT) Greene, Bruce (Clifton, TX) 55 Nómadas del Arte (Arvada, CO) 73 Pace, Laurie Justus (Dallas, TX) 61 Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art (San Antonio, TX) 51 5 S COTTSDALE ART AUCTION SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2009 CHARLES SCHREYVOGEL ESTIMATE: $1,500,000 – $2,500,000 24" X 30" OIL MARTIN GRELLE ESTIMATE: $50,000 – $75,000 MAYNARD DIXON 29 3⁄4" X 20" GOUACHE ESTIMATE: $150,000 – $250,000 Z.S. LIANG ESTIMATE: $75,000 – $125,000 30" X 24" OIL 44" X 64" OIL S PECIALIZING IN I MPORTANT 19 TH –21 ST C ENTURY WESTERN , WILDLIFE & S PORTING ART color catalogue available $40 Regularly updated auction information is available at www.scottsdaleartauction.com SA 7176 MAIN STREET • S C OT T S D A L E A RT A U C T I O N SCOTTSDALE ARIZONA 85251 • www.scottsdaleartauction.com • 480 945-0225 Working with Grandma oil 24 x 20 $4,200 SETTLERS WES T GALLERIES 6420 North Campbell Tucson Arizona 85718 tel 520.299.2607 [email protected] www.settlerswest.com ® Quest for the West Art Show & Sale Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art September 11–12, 2009 Exhibition continues through October 11 Curt Walters Evening’s Dance of Light 2008, oil, 36 x 36 inches 2008 Quest Artist of Distinction Award winner. September found us in Indianapolis for one of the best Western art shows in the country: Quest for the West… This show is truly the high point of the year for us and for the collectors that attend… No show will feed you better, give you more opportunities to mingle and have fun with the artists than this one. —Curt Mattson, winner, 2008 Cyrus Dallin Award for Best Sculpture 2009 Participating Artists Cyrus Afsary Tim Cherry Roy Andersen John Coleman Gerald Balciar Donald V. Crowley Brian Blood John DeMott Dan Bodelson Steve Devenyns Tom Browning Dennis Doheny John Buxton Josh Elliott Arturo Chávez Tony Eubanks John Fawcett Michael Godfrey Richard Greeves Robert Griffing George Hallmark Karin Hollebeke Doug Hyde William Scott Jennings Greg Kelsey Francois Koch David Mann William Matthews Curt Mattson Robert McGinnis Eric Michaels Denis Milhomme Jay Moore Jim Morgan John Moyers Terri Kelly Moyers Brenda J. Murphy Rock Newcomb P.A. Nisbet Robert Peters Jacob Pfeiffer Howard Post M.C. Poulsen Sherry Salari Sander Roseta Santiago Daniel Smith Nathan Solano Michael Stack Curt Walters H. David Wright White River State Park • Indianapolis, Indiana • (317) 636-9378 • www.eiteljorg.org The Westin Indianapolis is the official hotel of Quest for the West. For reservations: (317) 262-8100 or www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/quest09. Register today by calling (317) 275-1341 L APRIL 2009 Monthly EDITORIAL EDITOR Joshua Rose [email protected] ASSISTANT EDITOR Sarah Handfield [email protected] SENIOR EDITOR Michelle Borgwardt [email protected] SANTA FE EDITOR John O’Hern CONTRIBUTING EDITOR John Geraghty ADVERTISING 866.619.0841 ADVERTISING & Amy Elliott MARKETING DIRECTOR [email protected] SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Lindsay Green [email protected] SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Lori Kyle Lee [email protected] SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Allison Peters [email protected] SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Cindy Crigler [email protected] MARKETING COORDINATOR Alexandra Backalukas [email protected] TRAFFIC COORDINATOR Amy Rosenberg [email protected] PRODUCTION PRODUCTION MANAGER Adolfo Castillo [email protected] PRODUCTION ARTIST Sonia Hurtado PRODUCTION ARTIST Katie Mott PRODUCTION ARTIST Tammy Nordin-Garcia SUBSCRIPTIONS 877.947.0792 SUBSCRIPTIONS MANAGER Emily Yee [email protected] SUBSCRIPTIONS CLERK Jenny MacGregor [email protected] ADMINISTRATOR Sarah Birchfield E T T E R F R O M T H E P U B L I S H E R Best in the West W estern Art Collector strives to be the best and most reliable resource for art collectors available on the market today. We have added to this comprehensive coverage by creating two new sections designed to give active collectors of Western art even more useful and practical knowledge. Insights on how to buy not just painting and sculpture, but everything from Navajo rugs and pottery to books, beadwork and jewelry. The first of these new special sections is titled State of the Art and provides an up close and personal breakdown of the art market in each of the Western states throughout the year. Each month, a different Western state will be the target of this never-before-seen seasonal coverage. Our guide will include everything from new art available for sale, the hottest art towns—small and large—within each state, and timely quotes and advice from gallery owners to artists to some of the largest collectors of Western art in the region. Our other new section is also a guide, but focuses on themes within the collecting genre. Our first Focus feature captured the history, nuances and latest news about collecting landscape paintings. Our next special Focus, set for next month’s issue, will concentrate on rugs and pottery, both historic and contemporary. This has always been a stimulating part of the market for us, and we would like to share the insights we’ve learned with our best and most active collectors. We are launching these new sections because we’ve learned that collecting within the Western art world is a journey for most that touches on all of these areas. Western collectors love to acquire painting and sculpture. But they also love everything else that comes with it—pottery, rugs, artifacts, clothing, beadwork, books, saddles, guns, etc. Collecting Western art and objects is a passion for most and we want to position ourselves to help you make informed decisions when on your own personal collecting adventures. [email protected] Copyright © 2009. All material appearing in Western Art Collector is copyright. Reproduction in whole or part is not permitted without permission in writing from the editor. Editorial contributions are welcome and should be accompanied by a stamped self-addressed envelope. All care will be taken with material supplied, but no responsibility will be accepted for loss or damage. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the editor or the publisher. The publisher bears no responsibility and accepts no liability for the claims made, nor for information provided by advertisers. Printed in the USA. Western Art Collector 7530 E. Main Street, Suite 105, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 Telephone (480) 425-0806. Fax (480) 425-0724 or write to Western Art Collector, PO Box 2320, Scottsdale, AZ 85252-2320 Single copies $6.95. Subscription rate for one year is $36. To place an order, change address or make a customer service query, please email [email protected] or write to PO Box 2320, Scottsdale, AZ 85252-2320. Periodicals postage rates paid at Scottsdale, AZ and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send all address changes to Western Art Collector, PO Box 2320, Scottsdale, AZ 85252-2320 Sincerely, Joshua Rose Editor P.S. Summer is approaching soon. Make sure you make plans to visit one of the summer art destinations this year, like Montana, New Mexico, Wyoming or Idaho. Look for our State of the Art spotlights for each of these destinations throughout the summer months. ON THE COVER. . . PUBLISHED BY VINCENT W. MILLER WESTERN ART COLLECTOR (ISSN 1936-7546) is published 12 times a year by International Artist Trust A.C.N. 105 312 016 www.WesternArtCollector.com 4 Andy Thomas, Leaving Old Mexico, oil on canvas, 36 x 48” Estimate: $45,000-$65,000, available at the Scottsdale Art Auction in Scottsdale, AZ, April 4, 2009. TRAILSIDE GALLERIES & GERALD PETERS GALLERY ® An Auction of Past and Present Masters of the American West SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2009 CU R R E NT LY P URC H AS IN G A N D ACCE PT I NG CON SI G NME N TS O.E. B ERNINGHAUS , A LBERT B IERSTADT, E RNEST B LUMENSCHEIN , E DWARD B OREIN , C ARL O SCAR B ORG , J OHN C LYMER , E.I. C OUSE , G ERARD C. D ELANO , M AYNARD D IXON , W. H ERBERT D UNTON , C HARLIE D YE , H ENRY FARNY, N ICOLAI F ECHIN , L EON G ASPARD , W ILLIAM G OLLINGS , M ARTIN G RELLE , V ICTOR H IGGINS , C LARK H ULINGS , F RANK T ENNEY J OHNSON , B OB K UHN , W.R. L EIGH , TOM L OVELL , F RANK M C C ARTHY, A LFRED JACOB M ILLER , T HOMAS M ORAN , B ILL OWEN , E DGAR PAYNE , B ERT P HILLIPS , F REDERIC R EMINGTON , C ARL R UNGIUS , C HARLES M. R USSELL , O LAF C ARL S ELTZER , J.H. S HARP, R AY S WANSON , H OWARD T ERPNING , WALTER U FER , O LAF W IEGHORST AND OTHERS JACKSON HOLE ART AUCTION LIMITED CO. P.O. BOX 1568 - 130 EAST BROADWAY, JACKSON, WY 83001 WEBSITE JACKSONHOLEARTAUCTION.COM TEL 866-549-9278 EMAIL [email protected] Martin Grelle, (1954-), Following The River, oil on canvas, 48 x 48 inches. George Hallmark, (1949-), Dia De Lluvia, oil on canvas, 48 x 36 inches. Anatomy of the Magazine How to use this magazine so you can be the first to acquire new works for sale at upcoming shows from coast to coast Previews In the Preview pages we reveal new works by contemporary and historic Western artists about to come available for sale at the country’s leading Western Art galleries. UPCOMING SHOW Up to 28 works on show October 1, 2009 Western Art Gallery 7530 E. Main St. Suite 105 Scottsdale, AZ 85251 Auction and Event Previews Each month we alert you to upcoming Western Art auctions and events nationwide. Read our reports on prices fetched so you can stay informed and up-to-date on the market. AUCTION PREVIEW Collectible Masterpieces Come with us to the studios of top-ranking artists to see what they are working on now. These artists reveal the inspiration behind the latest series of works they are painting or sculpting for upcoming gallery shows and auctions. Collectible Masterpieces Western Art Insights Find out everything the discerning collector needs to know. Each month our panel of art consultants, museum curators and experts share their behind-the-scenes knowledge of how the Western Art market works. Coast-to-Coast Coverage Find out what’s happening across the nation. Western Art Collector is the first magazine to provide nationwide coverage of upcoming gallery shows and auctions showcasing Western Art from coast to coast. Art Show Locations At the top of each Preview page, you’ll see the destinations where the upcoming exhibition is showing, the dates, gallery address and contact details so you can make inquiries about paintings and sculptures that catch your eye—before they go on sale to the general public. Western Art Lover’s Guides Broaden your art horizons by reading about the fabulous Western Art to be shown in some of the USA’s most exciting and stimulating Western Art destinations. The keyed maps in our Western Art Lover’s Guides will help you plan your gallery walk. Price Range Indicators Check out and compare each contemporary Western Artist’s prices and see what you can expect to pay for their small, medium and large works. You can even see how their works have been increasing in value as they have become more widely collected. Virtual Art Walk Visit www.WesternArtCollector.com to see our sensational Virtual Art Walk. When a show announcement catches your eye, click on it and the art will enlarge. Click again and you will be linked directly to the gallery mounting the upcoming show. Website Links At the end of each Preview you will see an icon inviting you to visit www.WesternArtCollector.com where you can find direct links to galleries that are mounting important upcoming shows. Price Range Indicator Our at-a-glance Price Range Indicator shows what you can expect to pay for this artist’s work. 2001 2009 Small $12,000 $18,000 Medium $20,000 $40,000 Large $40,000 $60,000 MANITOUGALLERIES Judy McCombs, “Hollyhocks”, Oil, 20” x 24” Jurgen Wilms, “Spring Snow”, Oil, 18” x 24” 123 West Palace Ave., Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 505.986.0440 ManitouGalleries.com 800.283.0440 6th ANNUAL PHIPPEN MUSEUM • FRIDAY, MAY 1 - MONDAY, MAY 25 ARTISTS ON DISPLAY AT THE PHIPPEN MUSEUM: MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND MAY 23-25, 2009 Come and experience Arizona's premier outdoor western art show and sale at the historic Courthouse Plaza in Prescott, Arizona. Featuring more than 130 WESTERN ARTISTS TABLE OF CONTENTS Cyrus Afsary William Ahrendt Kathy Quick Anderson Guadalupe Apodaca Wayne Baize CA Gerald Balciar Phil Beck Joseph Bohler Harley Brown CA Lynn Brown Shawn Cameron G. Russell Case Bonnie Casey Nancy Dunlop Cawdrey Tim Cherry John Coleman CA M.L. Coleman Bonnie Conrad Don Crowley CA Tom Darro Jess Davila Rose Ann Day Steve Devenyns Gene Dieckhoner Lorna Dillon Patricia Dobson Tom Dorr J.R. Eason Tony Eubanks Joni Falk Fred Fellows CA Deborah Copenhaver Fellows Brent Flory Dennis Gallagher Veryl Goodnight Bruce Graham Sheri Greves-Neilson Susan Guy Russell Houston Doug Hyde Hyrum C. Joe Oreland Joe CA Greg Kelsey T.D. Kelsey CA Mark Kohler Steven Lang Mehl Lawson CA Linda Loeschen Thomas W. Lorimer Jan Mapes Alvin Marshall Curt Mattson Gerry Metz Herb Mignery CA Denis Milhomme Vel Miller Connie L. Morse Bill Nebeker CA Joe Netherwood Rock Newcomb Gary Niblett CA Ralph Oberg Kim Obrzut Robert Peters Sarah Phippen Dave Powell CA Clark Kelley Price CA Sheila Rieman Cynthia Rigden Bonita Roberts Dan Robinson Ken Rowe Tom Ryan CA Tom Ryan III Sherry Salari Sander Brad Schmidt Bill Shaddix Tim Shinabarger W. Jason Situ Gordon Snidow Grant Speed CA Kathryn Stats Sherry Blanchard Stuart Greg Sumida Trevor Swanson D. Michael Thomas Lynn Vanlandingham Paul VerBurg Curt Walters Fritz White CA Jim Wilcox Bradford Williams PLACE AN INTENT TO PURCHASE AT THE MUSEUM OR ON-LINE. Sale by Draw - Monday, May 25 at 11:00 AM at the Museum For more information, please call 928-778-1385 or visit www.phippenartmuseum.org PREVIEW CONTENTS P P IN INDEX RESCOTT ◆ A RIZONA Tineke Riede “Evening” 15” x 19.5" Batik Rive Gauche Art Galleries 7173 E.Main Street Scottsdale, Arizona 85251 www.rivegauchegalleries.com 480.947.6372 Wayne Justus “His Story” oil, 35¼” x 40½” 970.264.4462 www.waynejustus.com [email protected] TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX Bring home the beauty of Montana! Glacier Park: Where Earth Meets Sky 30ÓH x 40ÓW French Dye On Silk Nancy Cawdrey Studios & Gallery Painting the We s t on Silk 2230 Riverside Road, Bigfork, MT 59911 Gallery hours: MÐF, 10-4 or by appointment Phone: 406-755-2727 www.nancycawdrey.com Rock Creek Longhorns 24ÓH x 30ÓW French Dye On Silk Summer Cantata (Detail) 19ÓH x 36ÓW French Dye On Silk CONTENTS 46 APRIL 2009 The State of the Art: Texas DEPARTMENTS SPECIAL FEATURES 20 THE SAVVY COLLECTOR’S PREVIEW GUIDE to Western Art Coming Available for Sale Coast to Coast 24 Follow the Western Art Trail Calendar Western Art Collector’s Guide to Major Upcoming Events, Sales and Auctions 70 Art Nomads The Nómadas del Arte’s annual Paint Out and Show presents the Southwest in plein air. 174 SOLD! Who’s buying whose art they first saw in this magazine. AUCTION AND EVENT PREVIEWS 136 Scottsdale Scene Rare Charles Schreyvogel painting highlights the Scottsdale Art Auction. 144 Art and Artifacts Apache bow and quiver signed by Geronimo leads Cowan’s April American Indian Auction. 148 Rendezvous 2009 The Gilcrease Museum’s annual Rendezvous promises to be another reunion of top Western art. 154 Art of the West New exhibition spotlights paintings by 18 deceased masters at National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. AUCTION AND EVENT REPORTS 168 Western Americana Thrives The 19th annual High Noon Western Americana Auction brought thousands of visitors and over $1.2 million in sales. 172 Western Brilliance The J. Willott Gallery’s Western Artists of America Miniature Show and Silent Auction brought out artists and collectors. 160 Western Force The Autry’s 12th annual Masters of the American West Fine Art Exhibition and Sale sees record attendance, $3.6 million in sales on opening night. PHOTO COURTESY ACVB “BLACK MESA SPRING” “EDGE OF NOVEMBER” 20" X 30" OIL Available in the Scottsdale Art Auction 24" X 36" OIL T H E L E GA C Y G A L L E RY I S P L E A S E D T O R E P R E S E N T RO B E RT P E T E R S To view additional works please visit www.legacygallery.com T H E L 7178 E G A C Y MAIN STREET • SCOTTSDALE , ARIZONA BOX 4977 • G A L L E 85251 • 480 945-1113 75 NORTH CACHE • JACKSON , WYOMING 83001 W W W. L E G A C Y G A L L E R Y. C O M R Y CONTENTS APRIL 2009 Previewing New Exhibitions Every Month Coast To Coast MISSOULA 118 86 RENO CINCINNATI BRECKENRIDGE LOS ANGELES TULSA PRESCOTT PALM DESERT OKLAHOMA CITY PHOENIX SCOTTSDALE SANTA FE TUCSON DALLAS TUBAC 90 126 FREDERICKSBURG SANTA FE ST. PETERSBURG 26 FEATURES AND UPCOMING SHOWS WESTERN ART INSIGHTS SOLO SHOWS GROUP SHOWS 26 86 114 Pulse of the Desert Preserving Native Arts The multi-million-dollar Helen Cox Kersting Collection of Southwestern Cultural Arts reflects a collector’s passion and devotion. By James H. Nottage 34 42 Richard D. Thomas Montana riders 90 Susan Kliewer Expressions of the heart 94 Phyllis Shafer Into the Landscape: Vistas and Visions Wonder of Nature A keen eye and photographic memory launch Robert Peters into the category of one of America’s great landscape painters. By John Geraghty 98 Keeping the Faith 106 Jeff Ham Devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe results in her image appearing in the work of both the acclaimed and accomplished, to the humble and untrained. By John O’Hern Alfredo Rodriguez A life in color 102 Elmer “Skinny” Schooley The early years Electrifying the West 110 Robert Schlegel Following the back roads Six of today’s top Southwest painters unveil their latest works on canvas. 118 East Meets West Chinese artists present new works depicting Chinese, Tibetan and Native American cultures. 122 Sketches of Life Group show features the process of artwork from start to finish. 126 Spring Reflections Group show ushers a fresh perspective. 130 Wildlife & Western Visions Annual event brings together 19 acclaimed wildlife and Western artists. PLAN TO JOIN US IN NEW YORK CITY “Little Warm Springs” by Scott L. Christensen, Oil on Canvas, 24 x 48 inches. Will be available for purchase. William Acheff Douglas Allen Bill Anton Clyde Aspevig Del-Bourree Bach Christopher Blossom Tom Buechner Tim Cherry Scott Christensen John Coleman Don Demers Jane DeDecker Dennis Doheny Josh Elliott Gerald Fritzler Carol Guzman Dwayne Harty George Hallmark David Jon Kassan Steve Kestrel April 29–May 7, 2009 GALA EVENT Friday May 1, 2009 Tickets are limited A fine art show and sale held at and for the benefit of THE SALMAGUNDI CLUB 47 Fifth Avenue | New York City For further information call (212) 255-7740 ext. 300 www.americanmastersart.com Sarah Lamb David Leffel Richard Loffler Leon Loughridge Walter Matia Sherrie McGraw Herb Mignery Dean Mitchell Jim Morgan John Moyers Terri Kelly Moyers Morgan Samuel Price Grant Redden Richard Schmid Sandy Scott Tim Shinabarger Matt Smith Tucker Smith John Stobart John C. Traynor Curt Walters SPECIAL RAFFLE — A Wanderer by Frank Tenny Johnson Frank Tenny Johnson, long-time exhibiting member of the Salmagundi Club, won the Samuel T. Shaw prize for this painting in 1923. At a dinner given in his honor, all 49 artists in attendance signed copies of this print. Limited to the number of members in attendance, these prints are extremely rare. Signatures include Frank Tenny Johnson as well as Ernest Blumenschein, Bruce Crane, Hobart Nichols, Edward Potthast and many other prominent artists. This raffle is a unique opportunity available only to attendees on the night of the gala. RICHARD D. THOMAS ONE MAN SHOW OPENING: SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2009 REPRESENTING THIS MOST TALENTED ARTIST FOR OVER 30 YEARS! BRECKENRIDGE GALLERY - ESTABLISHED IN 1969 “AUTUMN RIDERS” OIL ON CANVAS 36” X 28” 124 S. MAIN ST. • P.O. BOX 650 • BRECKENRIDGE, CO 80424 • 970.453.2592 • WWW.BRECKENRIDGE-GALLERY.COM Joyce Lee 2009 Artists DESERT CABALLEROS WESTERN MUSEUM Maryann Bodnar Bartman Laurie J. Lee Jeanne Bonine Linda Loeschen Sophy Brown Denise LaRue Mahlke Shawn Cameron Jan Mapes Kim Casebeer Krystii Melaine Nancy Dunlop Cawdrey Mary Michael Jane Skaar Coleman Vel Miller Harriet "Rox" Corbett Judith Moore-Knapp Sheila Cottrell Gayle Nason Lisa Danielle Julie Oriet Nancy Davidson Jean Perry Nancy Denzler Jeri Quinn Joni Falk Cynthia Rigden Deborah Copenhaver Fellows Tamara Rymer Jenny Forge-Schmalstieg Roseta Santiago Linda Glover Gooch M. Haynes Scott Veryl Goodnight Sandy Scott Invitational Exhibition & Sale Lisa Gordon Sharon Standridge Sheri Greves-Neilson March 27 – May 3, 2009 Linda St. Clair Carol Hagan Sherry Blanchard Stuart Ann Hanson The most important exhibition & sale Carol Swinney Sherry Harrington for western women artists in the country. Tamara Thomas Moni Heil And we invite you to come along for the ride! V. . . . Vaughan Linda Carter Holman Sarah J. Webber Christina Holmes For tickets to opening weekend events & sale March 27 -29 Kathy Wipfler Donna Howell-Sickles call (928) 684-2272 or visit www.cowgirlupart.com. Liz Wolf Marti Miller Hubbell Mary Wood Susan Kliewer Brigitte Woosley W I C K E N B U R G • A R I Z O N A Sue Krzyston The BEST WESTERN WOMEN ARTISTS ALL IN ONE PLACE AT ONE TIME. ©2009 DCWM TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX 10th Annual Wildlife & Western Visions Art Show April 25th & 26th, 2009 • Preview on-line April 13th Raymond James Financial Center, St. Petersburg, Florida Meet 19 award-winning artists Nicholas Coleman “Crow” David Wang “Sisters” Trevor Swanson “Willow Hunters” Tom Saubert “Red Lodge Dancer” Michael Coleman “Old Traveler” Al Agnew “Moment in the Sun” Co-sponsored by The Plainsmen Gallery and Raymond James Financial For more information contact: The Plainsmen Gallery, Clearwater, Florida 1-888-779-2240 • www.wildlifeartshow.com THE SAVVY COLLECTOR’S GUIDE TO Our unique state-by-state calendar informs you about upcoming shows featuring new works coming available for sale by contemporary and historic Western artists. ARIZONA Denis Milhomme, Tranquil Eve Miniature Masterpieces Art Show & Sale Opening: April 30, 2009 Exhibition Dates: April 30 - May 25, 2009 “The Miniature Masterpieces Show and Sale adds great dimension to the overall Western Art Show and Sale. Included in this portion of the show are works of art that range from 5 by 7 to 11 by 14 inches and are often studies of larger works. Prices range from $500 to $5,000, whereas the larger works of art could sell for $150,000 or more. This is wonderful opportunity to obtain art by some of the country’s top Western artists.” — Melissa Swinehart, Lewis Marketing Phippen Museum, 4701 Highway 89 North, Prescott, AZ, 86301 (928) 778-1385 Jeff Ham, Indian with Canunpa, acrylic on canvas, 66 x 56” Electrifying the West Opening: April 2, 2009 Exhibition Dates: April 2 - 15, 2009 “Bright, bold, colorful people and animals of the West comprise Jeff Ham’s exciting new body of work. His brushstrokes dazzle, accentuate, dance and surprise on large-scale canvases. Ham’s work is graphic, sleek and sensual, capturing a coyote at his fiercest, a young woman at her most vulnerable, a powerful Indian chief in his prime, and many others in their elements.” — J.J. Jakubisin Rive Gauche Art Galleries, 7173 E. Main Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85251, (480) 947-6372 Vision Seekers, oil on linen, 48 x 36” Solo Show - Alfredo Rodriguez Opening: March 30, 2009 Exhibition Dates: March 30 - April 12, 2009 “A renowned master realist, Alfredo Rodriguez paints the people of the American West with passion and remarkable beauty. His paintings depict the rich history and culture of Native Americans, trappers, and the gold miners that embody the spirit of the West. Heritage Gallery in Scottsdale will mount his new works in a solo show that runs March 30 through April 12. These new highly sought after paintings will again be sold by set price drawing and sealed bid auction.” Heritage Gallery, 7190 Main Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85251, (480) 941-9041 Huihan Liu, Riding Home Tibet, oil, 24 x 30” Charlie & Monte, bronze, ed. of 35, 18½ x 21½ x 7” Solo Show - Susan Kliewer Opening: April 1, 2009 Exhibition Dates: April 1 - 30, 2009 “Medicine Man Gallery in Tucson boasts an extensive collection of bronzes by Susan Kliewer. The gallery will spotlight Kliewer’s maquettes throughout April, including up to four never-beforeseen pieces fresh from the foundry.” Medicine Man Gallery, 7000 E. Tanque Verde Road, Tucson, AZ, 85715, (800) 422-9382 East Meets West Opening: March 30, 2009 Exhibition Dates: March 30 - April 11, 2009 “Renowned Chinese artists take center stage in Trailside Galleries’ fourth annual East Meets West group show that runs March 30 through April 11 in Scottsdale. The inaugural show was held in April 2006 and was so popular with collectors that the gallery continues to host it every spring. This year’s participating artists are Mian Situ, Jie Wei Zhou, Calvin Liang, Tong Luo, Huihan Liu and Tang Wei Min.” Trailside Galleries, 7330 Scottsdale Mall, Scottsdale, AZ, 85251, (480) 945-7751 20 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX Joni Falk, Sunlight Path to Taos, dye on silk, 20½ x 23” Cowgirl Up! Art from the Other Half of the West Opening: March 27, 2009 Exhibition Dates: March 27 - May 3, 2009 “Cowgirl Up! Art from the Other Half of the West Exhibition and Art Sale features over 200 pieces of work by 58 of the top Western women artists. Cowgirl Up! opens with a spirited roundup of events March 27-29 in Wickenburg.” Desert Caballeros Western Museum, 21 N. Frontier Street, Wickenburg, AZ, 85390, (928) 684-2272 WESTERN ART FOR SALE COLORADO IDAHO Drive to Three Forks, oil, 40 x 64” Carl Rungius, Moose in Marshland, oil, 24 x 32” Solo Show - Richard D. Thomas Opening: April 4, 2009 Exhibition Dates: April 4 - 5, 2009 “For 35 years Richard D. Thomas has been painting what he lives and loves. Represented by Breckenridge Gallery in Colorado since 1977, the gallery will mount his latest oil paintings during a solo show April 4 and 5 with an artist’s reception set for Saturday, April 4, from 2 to 6 p.m. Known for cowboy and Native American genre, landscapes, and the American frontier, Thomas’ ability to paint transcends his Western subject matter.” Breckenridge Gallery, 124 S. Main Street, Breckenridge, CO, 80424, (970) 453-2592 Coeur d’Alene Galleries Opening: April 1, 2009 “For over two decades, Coeur d’Alene Galleries has specialized in rare paintings by historical masters and sought after contemporary artists of wildlife, sporting and Western art. We are also actively seeking quality artwork for consignment and outright sales.” — Buddy Le Coeur d’Alene Galleries, 115 S. 2nd Street, Suite A, Coeur d’Alene, ID, 83814, (208) 667-7732 MONTANA Bird, mixed media, 8 x 6” FLORIDA Solo Show - Robert Schlegel Opening: April 3, 2009 Exhibition Dates: April 3 - 26, 2009 An avid traveler, artist Robert Schlegel enjoys wandering the back roads of the country. From his century-old farm house in Oregon, located about 25 miles west of Portland in the middle of the woods on top of a hill, he sets out by car and takes in the sights all the way to the East Coast and back again. Explorations through the back roads of America have been the inspiration for a new body of work for artist Robert Schlegel. Ranging in size from 8-by-6 inches to 48-by-36 inches, Schlegel presents up to 30 new paintings in oils and acrylics on gesso prepared paper, panel and canvas. Dana Gallery in Missoula, Montana will mount his new works in a solo show that opens April 3 and runs through April 26 with an opening reception April 3 from 5 to 8 p.m. Dana Gallery, 246 N. Higgins Avenue, Missoula, MT, 59802, (406) 721-3154 Mary Ann Cherry, Shawl Dancer, pastel, 17 x 22” David Yorke, Approaching Storm, oil, 36 x 24” 10th annual Wildlife & Western Visions Art Show Opening: April 24, 2009 Exhibition Dates: April 25 - 26, 2009 “This outstanding show will be open to the public on April 25 and 26 at the international headquarters of Raymond James Financial in St. Petersburg, Florida. Nineteen award-winning artists will be present for the show, which features original paintings, sculpture, giclee prints and fine Native American jewelry. Tours of the Tom and Mary James/Raymond James Financial Art Collection will be available. Free parking and admission. Preview the show online April 13.” —Jill Berry, co-owner The Plainsmen Gallery, 2450 Sunset Point Road, Clearwater, FL, 33765, (888) 779-2240 Phippen Museum Juried Western Art Show & Sale Opening: May 23, 2009 Exhibition Dates: May 23 - 26, 2009 “The Phippen Museum Western Art Show and Sale — Arizona’s premier outdoor Western art sale — is held each year in downtown Prescott, Arizona, the Cowboy Capital of the American West. The 2008 event featured over 130 artists in booths surrounding the historic courthouse. The show and sale urges local residents and visitors to view exceptional Western art and to also meet and greet with professional Western artists.” —Mary Ann Cherry, PSA Mary Ann Cherry, 760 W. Riverview Drive, Idaho Falls, ID, 83401, (208) 524-1284 21 UPCOMING SHOWS STATE BY STATE she says. New works can be seen on her website, at her studio, and the upcoming Round Up Show in Kerrville, Texas.” —Brigitte Woosley Studio brigitte Woosley, 4875 IH 35 S, New Braunfels, TX, 78132, (830) 627-0823 NEW MEXICO “Deep in the heART of Texas you can visit Patina of Marble Falls and enjoy the latest works from Texas artist Laurie Pace. In her third show with Patina, Pace brings in a new approach on canvas. Working with colors and multiple layers of paint, she continues to capture the majesty of the horse through exploding lines and color. Her spring palette ranges from soft greens to brilliant reds, accompanied by true blues and deep turquoise. Pace’s paintings are gallery represented internationally.” — Laurie Pace Patina of Marble Falls, 1506 Hwy 1431, Marble Falls, TX, 78654, (830) 637-7662 Z.Z. Wei, Harvest, oil on canvas, 48 x 48’’ Spring Group Show featuring Z.Z. Wei Opening: April 3, 2009 Exhibition Dates: April 3 - 17, 2009 “All gallery artists will participate. Opening night is Friday, April 4, 5-7:30 p.m. The Pacific Northwest has inspired artist Z.Z. Wei to paint beautiful images of the unique architecture and landscape of the rural countryside. Show will be on exhibit for two weeks. The same evening is the West Palace Art District’s First Friday Art Walk.” — Manitou Galleries Manitou Galleries, 123 W. Palace Avenue, Santa Fe, NM, 87501, (505) 986-0440 TEXAS John Cook, Hush of Wonder, oil, 12 x 16” Sketches of Life Opening: March 28, 2009 Exhibition Dates: March 28 - April 11, 2009 “Opening March 28 and running through April 11, Whistle Pik Galleries in Fredericksburg, Texas, presents Sketches of Life, a group show featuring the process of artwork from start to finish. Gallery artists participating include Cyrus Afsary, Michael Albrechtsen, Joe Anna Arnett, Cheri Christensen, John Cook, Jeff Gottfried, Brian Grimm, Ann Hardy, G. Harvey, Chauncey Homer, Jeff Legg, Michael Malm, and Hodges Soileau, among others.” Whistle Pik Galleries, 425 E. Main Street, (800) 999-0820, Fredericksburg, TX, 78624 (800) 999-0820 Robert Hurst, Skull-volution II, acrylic on canvas Round Up 2009 Art Show and Sale Opening: April 24, 2009 Exhibition Dates: April 21 - May 23, 2009 “Art preview and registration April 24, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Art Show and Sale April 24, 6-8:30 p.m. April 25, 8:30-9:30 a.m. Quick Draw featuring Brigitte Woosley, Shad Beebe, Roy Lee Ward and Xiang Zhang. April 25, 6-11 p.m., Round Up 2009 Jamboree Dinner Dance and Live Auction. Also available is a Round Up 2009 catalog to preview artwork.” — Aurora Ramirez The Museum of Western Art, 1550 Bandera Highway, PO Box 29430, Kerrville, TX, 78029, (830) 896-2553 To find out how your shows can be included in our Savvy Collector’s Preview Guide, please call (866) 619-0841. Brigitte Woosley, Mom, oil, 14 x 18” Round Up @ The Museum of Western Art , Kerrville, TX - Brigitte Woosley Opening: April 24, 2009 Exhibition Dates: April 24 - May 30, 2009 “Brigitte Woosley will participate in Round Up 2009 at The Museum of Western Art. Woosley is an accomplished Western and wildlife artist painting both contemporary as well as historical Western themes. Her paintings of the West, its animals and wildlife, have drawn a strong following. “Right now I’m doing a series of Old West paintings of horse thieves, stage robbers and soiled doves,” Laurie Justus Pace, Hint of Spring, oil/acrylic overlays on canvas, 24 x 36“ Deep in the heART of Texas - Laurie Justus Pace Opening: April 11, 2009 Exhibition Dates: April 10 - May 31, 2009 22 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX Jack Sorenson Easy to Come By, Hard to Get Away With oil 48x36 El Centro 102 E. Water Street Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 505.988.2727 fax 505.988.2725 info @ joewadefineart.com www.joewadefineart.com THAT-A-WAY ARIZONA THIS-A-WAY Through May 3 New Mexico Museum of Art—Alternative Spaces ONGOING Through April 5 Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture—George Longfish: A Retrospective Santa Fe, NM (505) 476-5059 www.mfasantafe.org Spokane, WA (509) 456-3931 www.northwestmuseum.org Oklahoma City, OK (405) 478-2250 www.nationalcowboymuseum.org Steamboat Springs, CO (970) 870-1755 www.steamboatmuseum.org Through April 19 Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian—Works by Chessney Sevier Santa Fe, NM (800) 607-4636 www.wheelwright.org Through April 19 Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian—From the Railroad to Route 66: The Native American Curio Trade in New Mexico Santa Fe, NM (800) 607-4636 www.wheelwright.org Dennis Ziemienski, the artist whose work we featured on our January cover, has kindly given us permission to reproduce the marvelous car in his painting at the top of this page. Corning, NY (607) 974-4254 www.rockwellmuseum.org Through May 3 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum— American Indian Mural Painting in Oklahoma and the Southwest Through April 12 Steamboat Art Museum— Clyde Aspevig Solo Exhibition Through May 10 Autry National Center—Bold Caballeros y Noble Bandidas Los Angeles, CA (323) 667-2000 www.autrynationalcenter.org Through May 10 Joslyn Art MuseumSentimental Journey: The Art of Alfred Jacob Miller Omaha, NE (402) 342-3300 www.joslyn.org Through May 10 National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum— Guardians of Glacier Park Through May 17 Austin Museum of Art— Clifford Ross Photography: Outside Realism 823 Congress Avenue at 9th Street Austin, TX (512) 495-9224 www.amoa.org Through May 17 Fred Jones Jr, Museum of Art—Gathering Fragments: Edward S. Curtis in Oklahoma Norman, OK (405) 325-3272 www.ou.edu/fjjma/home.html Through May 17 Nevada Museum of Art— Between Grass and Sky Reno, NV (775) 329-3333 www.nevadaart.org Through May 24 Boise Art Museum—Ansel Adams: Early Works Oklahoma City, OK (405) 478-2250 www.nationalcowboymuseum.org Boise, ID (208) 345-8330 http://boiseartmuseum.org Through May 10 National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum— Transcending Vision: American Impressionism 1870-1940 Through May 24 Booth Western Art Museum—Native Visions: The Art of John Nieto Oklahoma City, OK (405) 478-2250 www.nationalcowboymuseum.org Medicine Man Gallery, which shows Ziemienski’s work, was inundated with phone calls as soon as the January issue hit. Cartersville, GA (770) 387-1300 www.boothmuseum.org Through May 24 Sid Richardson Museum— Bluebonnets and Beyond: Julian Onderdonk, American Impressionist Fort Worth, TX (817) 332-6554 www.sidrichardsonmuseum.org 24 TABLE OF CONTENTS Through May 11 Rockwell Museum of Art—Remington’s West and the Popular Prints PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX Through June 7 IAIA Museum—Fritz Scholder: An Intimate Look Santa Fe, NM (505) 983-1777 www.iaia.edu Through June 14 Phoenix Art Museum—In Contemporary Rhythm: The Art of Ernest L. Blumenschein Phoenix, AZ (602) 257-1222 www.phxart.org Through June 14 The Indian Portrait Gallery of Thomas L. McKenney Omaha, NE (402) 342-3300 www.joslyn.org Through June 14 Gilcrease Musuem—Willard Stone: Storyteller in Wood Tulsa, OK (918) 596-2754 www.gilcrease.org Through July San Antonio Museum of Art—Perspectivas Populares San Antonio, TX (210) 978-8100 www.samuseum.org APRIL April 3 Nómadas del Arte Dallas, TX (800) 272-9910 www.nomadasdelarte.com April 4 Scottsdale Art Auction Scottsdale, AZ (480) 945-0225 www.scottsdaleartauction.com WYOMING NEVADA OKLAHOMA April 4 Cowan’s American Indian Art Auction Cincinnati, OH (513) 871-1670 www.cowans.com April 4-June 7 Nevada Museum of Art— Looking Forward, Looking Back: The Collection in Context Reno, NV (775) 329-3333 www.nevadaart.org April 8-June 21 Gilcrease Museum—2009 Rendezvous Tulsa, OK (918) 596-2754 www.gilcrease.org April 18 Heard Museum North Scottsdale-Beyond Face Value Scottsdale, AZ (480) 488-9817 www.heard.org April 18 Facing West: Celebrating 20 Years of the Eiteljorg Museum Indianapolis, IN (317) 636-9378 www.eiteljorg.org April 24-May 30 Museum of Western Art— Round Up 2009 Kerrville, TX (830) 896-2553 www.americanwesternart.org MAY May 8-9 Texas Art Gallery Patron’s Party & Auction TOP WESTERN EVENTS & AUCTIONS Dallas, TX (800) 783-4278 www.txartgallery.com May 9 Sharlot Hall Museum— “Evening at Sharlot’s Place” Live Art Auction Prescott, AZ (928) 445-3122 www.sharlot.org May 20 Christie’s Auction House— American Paintings New York City, NY (212) 492-5485 www.christies.com May 20 Sotheby’s— American Indian Art including Property from the Collection of Frieda and Milton Rosenthal New York City, NY (800) 813-5968 www.sothebys.com May 23-25 Phippen Art Museum—35th annual Western Art Show and Sale Prescott, AZ (928) 778-1385 www.phippenartmuseum.org AT A GLANCE April 4 Scottsdale Art Auction Scottsdale, AZ (480) 945-0225 April 8-June 21 Gilcrease Museum Rendezvous September 18 Western Visions Miniatures and More Show and Sale National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson Hole, WY (800) 313-9553 Tulsa, OK (918) 596-2754 September 19 Jackson Hole Art Auction May 8-9 Texas Art Gallery Patron’s Party & Auction Jackson, WY (866) 549-9278 Dallas, TX (800) 783-4278 June 12-13 Prix de West Invitational Art Exhibition and Sale National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Oklahoma City, OK (405) 478-2250 July 25 Coeur d’Alene Art Auction September 25-26 Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale Cody, WY (888) 598-8119 October 16-17 44th annual Cowboy Artists of America Exhibition and Sale Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix, AZ (602) 257-1222 Reno, NV (208) 772-9009 November 7 Santa Fe Art Auction May 30-31 Arizona Highways Travel Show August 22-23 SWAIA Santa Fe Indian Market Santa Fe, NM (505) 954-5858 Phoenix, AZ (480) 838-9123 Santa Fe, NM (505) 983-5220 April 24-Sept. 6 New Mexico Museum of Art—Intertwined Contemporary Baskets from the Sara and David Lieberman Collection Santa Fe, NM (505) 476-5059 www.mfasantafe.org NEW MEXICO INDIANA September 11-12 Quest for the West Art Show and Sale In every issue of Western Art Collector, we will publish the only reliable guide to all major upcoming sales, events and auctions nationwide. Contact our assistant editor, Sarah Handfield, to discuss how your event can be included in this calendar at (480) 246-3783. Eiteljorg Museum, Indianapolis, IN (317) 636-9378 December 5 Altermann Galleries’ American Western Art Auction and American Indian Art Auction Santa Fe, NM (505) 983-1590 25 WESTERN ART INSIGHTS Preserving Native Arts The multi-million-dollar Helen Cox Kersting Collection of Southwestern Cultural Arts reflects a collector’s passion and devotion. By James H. Nottage P i cture an elegant Arizona home filled with Navajo weavings, Apache and Hopi baskets, Pueblo pottery and Hopi kachinas. Such decoration is not uncommon, but in the case of Helen Kersting the art reflects great passion and a lifetime devoted to creating a major collection. Helen Kersting is a native of Belleville, Illinois. As a child, her mother encouraged her in the collecting of buttons. It was in the company of her parents that Helen first visited the Southwest and developed a taste for jewelry and other native arts of the region. In the years since the 1940s, she has become deeply knowledgeable and has a high level of connoisseurship. Her sophisticated collection numbers nearly 800 objects, including the best of Southwestern pottery, jewelry, and other objects including weavings, kachina dolls, and baskets. Conscious of how important it is to preserve the collection and to share it with future generations, Helen recently began to consider placing her collection with an important institution. The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art is proud to announce that it has been selected to receive this multi-million-dollar collection that has been donated as the Helen Cox Kersting Collection of Southwestern Cultural Arts. 26 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX A third phase Navajo chief ’s blanket surmounts the fireplace in Helen Kersting’s home. Apache baskets and pottery by both historical and contemporary artists fill niches and the mantel. 27 WESTERN ART INSIGHTS Angelina Medina’s portrait of a traditional Zia mother and her baseball-loving son sits in Kersting’s music room. It is surrounded by San Ildefonso and Santa Clara pottery created by members of the Martinez and Tafoya families. A sampling of pottery in the Arizona room of Helen Kersting’s home. 28 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX A view into Helen Kersting’s living room. The donor has led a fascinating life filled with art, culture, and world travel. She graduated from the Millikin University School of Music (Decatur, Illinois) and attended the Juilliard School of Music (New York City), debuting with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Leonard Bernstein. A mezzo soprano, she went to the Cologne, Germany, Opera on a four-year contract, met and married Dr. Hans Joachim Kersting, and resided in Cologne until her husband’s death in 1999. Commenting upon how meaningful the collection is to her, Helen recalls how “the objects always meant very much to my late husband and me. I’d like to tell you of the extraordinary generosity of my German engineer, in whose memory I gift this collection, of his willingness to fly to the U.S. almost every vacation, of spending large sums of money for the acquisition of things originally outside his European and even technical sphere. It is no wonder this intimacy of collecting-devotion earns a special future where it can demonstrate its character and content and be a learning tool of Native art history for years to come. Simply, I felt and feel all of my hopes could be fulfilled by the Eiteljorg with its vigorous ‘young museum’ mentality.” Jewelry is a particular strength of the collection with over 300 pieces, including belts, boxes, rings, bracelets, necklaces, pins, earrings, bolo ties, hair pins and cufflinks. A number of examples are from the famed C. G. Wallace collection auctioned by Sotheby Parke Bernet in 1975. Zuni examples by master artists Leo Poblano, Leekya Deyuse, Frank Dishta, John Gordon Leak and Dan Simplicio are notable. Hopi artist Charles Loloma was a friend of the Kerstings and is represented. The fine micro-inlay work of Navajo artists Carl and Irene Clark (Navajo) is evident along with work by Vernon Haskie (Navajo), Charlene and Frank Reano (Santo Domingo), and many others. While her parents collected pre-contact examples of Anasazi pottery and other early coiled jars, Helen has developed a sophisticated collection of pottery ranging from late 19th and early 20th century Zia, San Ildefonso, Santa Clara, Santo Domingo, Cochiti, Maricopa and Zuni to the best work by contemporary artists. The nearly 400 pieces have been systematically collected to reflect the work of extended families of potters and the list of major pieces reads like a blue book of Southwestern artists. There is depth in the number of works by artists so that stylistic changes through time can be observed and documented. There is an expansive group of work by Maria Martinez in different forms and colors, several with her potter son Popovi Da and later examples by her grandson Tony Da. Other well-known potters included are: Sarafina, Nampeyo of Hano, Paqua Najo, Gloria Kahe, Les Namingha, Rainy 29 PHOTOGRAPHY BY JENNIFER LEGGE WESTERN ART INSIGHTS An architectural niche featuring pottery from: Tammy Garcia, Nathan Youngblood, Russell Sanchez and Jennifer Tafoya Moquino. Naja, Dora TsePe, Mary Cain, Margaret Tafoya, Tammy Garcia, Autumn Borts, Daisy Hooey Nampeyo, Steve Lucas, Sharon Naranjo Garcia, Joy Navasie, Jacob Koopee, Helen Cordero, Virgil and Inez Ortiz, Desideria, Tonita Roybal, Susan Folwell, Grace Medicine Flower, Nathan Youngblood, Nancy Youngblood, Roxanne Swentzell, Rondina Huma, Jody Naranjo, Carmelita and Carlos Dunlap, among many others. “It is difficult to overstate the significance of this collection to the field of Native American art and specifically to the Eiteljorg Museum. The Helen Cox Kersting Collection is profoundly important to both,” says John Vanausdall, president and CEO of the Eiteljorg Museum. “This stunning group of objects will expand the breadth and depth of the Eiteljorg’s holdings of Southwest materials to a dramatic degree and will enrich the museum visitor’s experience for generations to come. We are grateful John Gordon Leak’s distinctive inlay work done in the 1930s is easily recognized. This Zuni artist is strongly represented in the Kersting collection. 30 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX A special knife wing pin by Leo Poblano was an early gift from Helen Kersting’s husband to be. Years later, he received a bolo tie with a similar figure by the same artist. The necklace shown here is also attributed to the Zuni artist and came originally from the famed C. G. Wallace collection. for Helen’s generosity, and her trust in the Eiteljorg Museum to be the steward of her life’s work and passion.” What makes the Kersting collection so valuable and unique is that it demonstrates both tradition and innovation in Southwestern native arts by providing important examples from multiple generations of individual families of artists. Through their magnificent work we gain better understanding of how their tribal cultures have survived and thrived. This is evident not only in the pottery and jewelry, but also the selections of Navajo weavings, Southwestern basketry, and other items. Visitors to the Eiteljorg Museum can expect to see select pieces from the collection in the exhibition Facing West: Celebrating 20 Years of the Eiteljorg Museum, March 14 through August 9, 2009. In 2010, a major exhibit of the Kersting collection will be the museum’s featured exhibition, accompanied by an elegant book documenting it in full. Many of Helen Kersting’s favorite ceramics are found in this cabinet. A rich range of Rodina Huma’s Hopi Tewa pottery is found on the second shelf from the bottom. A famous platter by Maria Martinez’s grandson, Tony Da, is located on the next shelf up. If you are a student of Southwestern pottery, you will recognize many of the wonderful examples by great artists included in this assembly. James H. Nottage, vice president and chief curatorial officer, has been with the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis, IN, since September 2001. Previously, he was founding Chief Curator at the Autry Museum of Western Heritage in Los Angeles. He has curated or developed more than 100 special exhibitions. Nottage holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Wyoming and a master’s in Museum Studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program. He is also a graduate of the Getty Leadership Institute for Museum Management. Nottage has edited, authored or contributed essays to a dozen books and publishes frequently in historical journals and magazines. 31 We Western Weste Art Collector is the only magazine devoted previewing new contemporary and historic Western to pre up for sale before the shows even open. artt coming co Su Subscribe ubs to the beautiful print magazine and yo ou will w not only receive it in your mailbox 12 you tim me a year, but you will also receive it online, times di irec to your computer, up to 10 days earlier direct ea ach month. each i off th the printed i t d magazine. i • 12 issues UPCOMING SHOW SHOW L OCATIO N SCOT TSDALE , AZ Up to 28 pieces on show Summer 2007 Willow Gallery 7175 - 7177 E. Main St. Scottsdale, AZ 85251 (480) 424-7300 CHUCK SABATINO Reverence Every month we’ll mail you the monthly edition with PREVIEWS off new Western artt from upcoming W t f i shows. h All the art shown in our editorial pages is available for sale. The glorious, large-sized images of the latest art from the country’s best living Western artists and the finest in historic Western art, allow you to get a real sense of the art that is coming up for sale. In fact, you could call the gallery and buy it— right off our pages! 9 110 huck Sabatino’s connection know most of with Native the dealers in Americans goes Santa Fe and go to as many back to his childhood when auctions as I he played Cowboys can. I learn as much as I and Indians with can. friends. Chuck his “I first started realized he always out just painting wanted to be the Indian. pottery, and it started As a still life to look the focusing on artist same. So I started adding Indian different elements. brings that reverence artifacts, Sabatino beading on tobacco The to his paintings. bags fascinated “In addition Then I added me. to the Native the photographs American pottery I paint, and the ledger drawings. I try to interject Then, as people artifacts like other wanted larger work, shirts and beaded I added dresses bags. I want people to and war shirts. I started take away the adding white feeling that the Indians had flowers with the pottery. They when they made don’t interfere. things. I want these It’s not a color challenge.” people to think about how it felt to be those Sabatino gives Indians, making a lot of thought things, using those to placement the the materials of items and the that were at hand. What they juxtaposition of colors. did with what they had to work with “Most of the was amazing.” time I work from Sabatino takes photographs that great pride I’ve taken of the in the artifacts he includes pottery. If I’m going to in his work. do a 40 x 30” “A lot of times I’ll put I look tall piece and in Indian ledger a couple of shorter for a and drawings books pieces. I’ll look for one that they were that is round or doing during the 1880s. I a wedding vase that has also use the the two spouts Edward Sheriff Curtis photos on it. A lot of Santa Clara from the early is black pottery. 1900s. He was commission I can put that with an Acoma ed by Vanderbilt that is white or at the turn of the century tan and get good light to document contrast. Zia pottery all the Indian tribes. mostly birds has and a lot of flowers. That “The war shirts gives you another are called spirit look to it. and they were shirts “I love the golds supposed to and the okras block the bullets, or keep the sienna. them from being I love the luminosity and include those, hit. I doing washes. of too. All the pottery “As for the pottery is hues of oranges, reds, in the paintings— brick color. I it took a while get a feeling when to learn the I finish the painting nice pottery and who made varnish it. It and what. Different just glows from pueblos intermarried within. I hear that from and the styles a lot of people and the symbols overlapped. who look at my work. All of the different pueblos have “I work in washes. their own look It’s the Chiaroscuro to the pottery. What School of lights fascinates me is combining and darks. I the different like to get the lights styles and getting and darks working them to work well in the luminosity. and harmony with I work on three one another. I have a pretty or four paintings at a good collection time because of pottery. I started to collect I put them out in the sun at western locations to dry. And then years and another I work on them again. career ago. I could work Now I on the same painting maybe four times a day.” Cheyenne Warriors, oil on canvas, 30 x 48” 111 • Get all the content up to 10 days earlier with an automatic link to the magazine online every month. Each month of your subscription we’ll email you the link to the magazine online. You get all the content that’s in the printed edition up to 10 days earlier so you can flip through the pages and read the entire magazine right on your monitor. You will also be able to keep and access all the online issues you’ve paid for during the period of your subscription. There’s even a search directory to help you find the artists you’re looking for. “I want people to take away the when they made feeling that the these things. I Indians had want people to think about how felt to be those Indians, makin it g those things, the materials that using were at hand. What they did what they had with to work with was amazing.” Preview New Art on Our Coast-to-Coast Interactive CHOOSE A STATE Each month scroll through the Virtual Art Walk to search galleries' announcements by state, Coast to Coast. ARIZONA Virtual Art Walk Scroll through this Virtual Art Walk and click on the image to get a direct link to the opening show. ARIZONA BACK UPCOMING SHOW Willow Gallery 7175 - 7177 E. Main St. Scottsdale, AZ 85251 (480) 424-7300 CHUCK SABATINO Reverence 9 huck Sabatino’s connection with Native Americans goes back to his childhood when he played Cowboys and Indians with his friends. Chuck realized he always wanted to be the Indian. As a still life artist focusing on Indian artifacts, Sabatino brings that reverence to his paintings. “In addition to the Native American pottery I paint, I try to interject other artifacts like shirts and beaded bags. I want people to take away the feeling that the Indians had when they made these things. I want people to think about how it felt to be those Indians, making those things, using the materials that were at hand. What they did with what they had to work with was amazing.” Sabatino takes great pride in the artifacts he includes in his work. “A lot of times I’ll put in Indian ledger books and drawings that they were doing during the 1880s. I also use the Edward Sheriff Curtis photos from the early 1900s. He was commissioned by Vanderbilt at the turn of the century to document all the Indian tribes. “The war shirts are called spirit shirts and they were supposed to block the bullets, or keep them from being hit. I include those, too. “As for the pottery in the paintings— it took a while to learn the pottery and who made what. Different pueblos intermarried and the styles and the symbols overlapped. All of the different pueblos have their own look to the pottery. What fascinates me is combining the different styles and getting them to work well in harmony with one another. I have a pretty good collection of pottery. I started to collect at western locations years and another career ago. Now I Simply click to enlarge the pages so you can read the magazine online every month NEXT SHOW LOCATION SCOTTSDALE, AZ Up to 28 pieces on show Summer 2007 “I want people to take away the feeling that the Indians had when they made these things. I want people to think about how it felt to be those Indians, making those things, using the materials that were at hand. What they did with what they had to work with was amazing.” know most of the dealers in Santa Fe and go to as many auctions as I can. I learn as much as I can. “I first started out just painting pottery, and it started to look the same. So I started adding different elements. The beading on tobacco bags fascinated me. Then I added the photographs and the ledger drawings. Then, as people wanted larger work, I added dresses and war shirts. I started adding white flowers with the pottery. They don’t interfere. It’s not a color challenge.” Sabatino gives a lot of thought to the placement of items and the juxtaposition of colors. “Most of the time I work from photographs that I’ve taken of the pottery. If I’m going to do a 40 x 30” I look for a tall piece and a couple of shorter pieces. I’ll look for one that is round or a wedding vase that has the two spouts on it. A lot of Santa Clara is black pottery. I can put that with an Acoma that is white or light tan and get good contrast. Zia pottery has mostly birds and a lot of flowers. That gives you another look to it. “I love the golds and the okras and the sienna. I love the luminosity of doing washes. All the pottery is hues of oranges, reds, brick color. I get a nice feeling when I finish the painting and varnish it. It just glows from within. I hear that from a lot of people who look at my work. “I work in washes. It’s the Chiaroscuro School of lights and darks. I like to get the lights and darks working and the luminosity. I work on three or four paintings at a time because I put them out in the sun to dry. And then I work on them again. I could work on the same painting maybe four times a day.” 110 Use your mouse to flip the pages to see all the content in the issue Cheyenne Warriors, oil on canvas, 30 x 48” 111 EVERY SUBSCRIBER RECEIVES THE ONLINE VERSION SUBSCRIBE AND FIND OUT ABOUT WESTERN ART COMING UP FOR SALE BEFORE OTHER COLLECTORS. Unique Editorial Content The magazine’s unique editorial format shows PREVIEWS of the art that major Western artists are creating in their upcoming shows. When you subscribe to Western Art Collector you’ll be the first to know about these works because each month we’ll email you the link to the latest issue online. This means you’ll have instant access to the current issue up to 10 days earlier than receiving your hotoff-the-press printed copy. Because each monthly issue is in collectors’ hands the month before the show, buyers are able to contact the galleries before the shows even open. Western Art Insights In every issue, art consultants and serious collectors of Western art allow us into their lovely homes so we can show you the art they have collected over the years. Much of this work, by some of the icons of Western art, has never been seen before because it was acquired privately. Collectible Masterp R 72 y Mood At eighty-seven years of age, But this NAWA Kenneth R. Riley Charter Member is a living legend. , Cowboy Artist 23 times Prix of America Emeritu de West exhibito s Member, r and 1995 Prix Award Winner, de West Purchas is still pushing e his boundar ies. • 12 issues of the printed monthly magazine This work will Hidatsa Dreams, acrylic be exhibited on board, 11 x 9” at the Coeur d’Alene in Reno. UPCOMING SHOW 73 Up to 28 works on show Month 00-00, 2009 Previews Previ Western Art Gallery 7530 E. Main St. Scottsdale, AZ 85251 Hundr of paintings from Hundreds exhibitions and auctions exhibi about to open Price Ran Range Indicator Our at at-a-glance a glance P Price Range Indicator shows what you can expect to pay for this artist’s work. Includes each artist's Price Range and Price History 2004 2009 Small $12,000 $18,000 Medium $20,000 $40,000 Large $40,000 $60,000-$80,000 THE SAVVY COLLECTO TO WESTERN ART R’S GUIDE You can refer to all the online Past Issues of your subscription right on your monitor. WYOMING ARIZONA Gary Ernest Smith, Red Curt Mattson, Wild West in Wichita, bronze, 23 ½ x 31 x 40" Barn in Corn, oil on linen, 30 Gary Ernest Smith New Works and experimentation, subject canvas, 50 x 60" CALIFORNIA training “Following years of artistic of a on the artist’s background matter began to emerge based selfthe values of hard work and rural life-style that celebrates life came together and became reliance. These aspects of Smith’s Living in the west, his work style. the catalyst for his distinctive traditional but it is not western in the is primarily of that region, AZ sense.” – Overland Gallery Art, 7155 Main Street, Scottsdale, Overland Gallery of Fine x 11" Curt Mattson New Works excite images that will encourage, “I sculpt to bring to the world will be create lasting sculptures that and enrich. It is my goal to collector. It is vitally important a constant source of joy to each not only accurate from a historical to me that my sculpture be, ingredients of truly great art, perspective, but also have the and is the world of the buckaroo regardless of genre. My passion both contemporary and historic.” of horsemen and horsewomen, – Curt Mattson 322-4826 www.curtmattson.com (623) Curt Mattson Sculpture, ARIZONA ARIZONA NEW MEXICO TEXAS 85251, (480) 947-1934 CALIFORNIA Martin Grelle, Trapper’s Bride, oil on linen, 30 x 24" Martin Grelle New Works American West, both contemporary “Martin Grelle’s images of the open understanding of the wide and historical, reflect his deep spirit landscape and of the pioneering vistas of the southwestern Grelle’s dedication to research, of the people who live there. West, aspects of the old and new exploring historical and social his paintings. Scenes are is evident when standing before of the landscape and the people. crafted with an understanding work.AMSuch attention new7:56:24 with each7/2/07 Technical expertise is honed himself has enabled him to carve for to both the basics and detail art world.” – Overland Gallery an impressive niche in the Western Main Street, Scottsdale, AZ Art, 7155 Overland Gallery of Fine 85251, (480) 947-1934 1 1272 Art Collector Ad.indd Chuck Sabatino, Blackfeet Man’s Shirt, oil on canvas, 48 x 36" Chuck Sabatino New Works Opening: Summer 2007 acquired an extensive personal “Over the years, Sabatino has pueblos of New Mexico and collection of pottery from the in various groupings for his Arizona, which he combines the roomy studio is almost always paintings. Today, his bright, in progress. He mixes his own site of two or three paintings This of paint in very thin oil glazes. 1 material and applies layers emphasis 1272 Art Collector Ad.indd with a chiaroscuro-style painstaking technique, along as though a rich luminosity – almost on light and shadow, yields At the same time, a warm the paintings are lit from within. contributes to a sense of browns palette of amber, gold and the subject.” – Willow Gallery timelessness well suited to Arizona East Main Street, Scottsdale, Willow Gallery, 7175-7177 85251, (480) 424-7300 Alan Wolton New Works Wolton canvas, you understand “Once you’ve studied an Alan point to point, creating a motion how he moves your eye from peaceful landscape alone cannot. with color and form that a from it, and color dictates Mood is the key - all else springs Wolton’s is a startling, refreshing and predominates over form. AZ approach.” – Willow Gallery East Main Street, Scottsdale, Willow Gallery, 7175-7177 85251, (480) 424-7300 Ed Mell, Back Bay/Lake Powell, oil on linen, 30 x 40" Ed Mell New Works subjects has constantly changed the “Throughout the years, Mell to capture them. Beginning he depicts and the techniques to other landscapes, he has moved specifically with southwest cattle cowboys, horses, longhorn southwestern subjets including he also known for his oil paintings, and cactuses. Although best collectors for his bronze sculptures. developed an avid body of when a unique visual impression Collectors are often left with tangling of reality with imagination.” they witness first-hand the AZ – Overland Gallery Art, 7155 Main Street, Scottsdale, Overland Gallery of Fine 85251, (480) 947-1934 John Moyers New Works Opening: July 2007 Mark Martensen, The Dance of Color, oil on canvas, 20 x 16" Mark Martensen New Works photo combined with his talent for “Mark’s loose painterly style, his vision. Mark’s passion for realism, ignite the canvas with is exemplified in his work. With this period in American history is able to and the molding of clay, he imagination, brushstrokes current work in Oils time. Mark’s 7/2/07 7:56:24 AM reincarnate the spirit of another talent and old fashioned work and Bronze reflect his amazing date and most diverse and mature to ethic. They are some of his in of many collectors and Museums are capturing the attention abroad.” – Journeys West Gallery both the United States and South Cedros Avenue, Solana Journeys West Gallery, 346A 355-2484 Beach, California 92075, (866) John Modesitt, Bigsky Camp, oil on canvas, 25 x 25” COLORADO John Modesitt New Works Impressionists John Modesitt is a Representational/American feels about nature and translates painter. John paints what he experiences into rhythmic color his emotional and spiritual to in California, he often travels compositions on canvas. Living and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. France, New Mexico, Montana the content of some of his most The American West has been Gallery recent works.” – Journeys West South Cedros Avenue, Journeys West Gallery, 346A (866) 355-2484 Solana Beach, California 92075, John Moyers, Monsoon Season, oil, 30 x 30" the record of accomplishment in “John has achieved a remarkable Since of contemporary western art. highly competitive climate has won Cowboy Artists in 1994, John becoming a member of the in head at the group’s annual exhibition a total of nineteen awards of the of the best western artists to head competition with some a major Claggett/Rey Gallery marks day. This one-man show at career. It is the most extensive milestone in John’s distinguished purchase. assembled and available for collection of his work ever everything from his signature The subject matter includes of each air paintings, and the quality to Southwestern scenes to plein of John’s continuing commitment piece is convincing evidence artistic excellence.” – Don Hedgpeth 10, Vail, East Meadow Drive Building 100 Gallery, Claggett/Rey Colorado 81657, (800) 252-4438 Dan Ostermiller, Pricilla, bronze, 63 x 56” Dan Ostermiller New Works wildlife and the outdoors with “Dan Ostermiller’s connection sculpture. Dan gained an absolute continues a legacy in American of animals while working with understanding of the anatomy him to this understanding allows his father, a taxidermist, and the about proportions, allowing sculpt freely without thinking is less convey to come through. Dan essence of what he wants to the of his subjects as he is with concerned with the physique shapes of the compositions, by moods, personalities, and general of motion and creates expression and he establishes a fluidity – Claggett/Rey Gallery manipulating animals’ features.” East Meadow Drive Claggett/Rey Gallery, 100 81657, (800) 252-4438 Building 10, Vail, Colorado Scott Christensen, August High Country, 42 x 60" Scott Christensen New Works Opening: August 9, 2007 established himself among rmly “Scott L. Christensen has fi a air painters, demonstrating the ranks of the finest plein subtle use of color. His extraordinary sophistication of design and 27 7/2/07 7:56:24 AM 1 1272 Art Collector Ad.indd NATION WIDE AUCTIO N RESULT S GOING . . . GOING . . . Special Features Western Art Collector covers the major art destinations in our new special section titled State of the Art. Our appealing State of the Art sections provide in-depth coverage on the breakdown of the art market in each of the Western states throughout the year. Our guides will include everything from new art available for sale, the hottest art towns—small and large—within each state, and timely quotes and advice from gallery owners to artists to some of the largest collectors of Western Art in the region. Direct access to the entire magazine online where you can flip the virtual pages to see new pieces up to 10 days earlier than they appear in the printed edition. • Keep Past Issues online FOR SALE of upcoming gallery shows with this state-by-state calendar up for sale. Plan your collecting strategy and Historical Masters coming featuring new works by contemporary Alan Wolton, Telluride, oil on Find out well in advance the rare and prized Western art being offered at Auctions and Events nationwide in our complete Preview coverage. Our follow-up reports on major auctions and events will keep you up-to-date on Western art market trends. • Monthly online link to the magazine's content Scroll through the interactive Virtual Art Walk to search for new art from major galleries nationwide. COLORADO Extensive Auction and Event Coverage A visual feast of large-format images and articles PREVIEWING new and historic Western art intended for upcoming shows, Coast to Coast. • Access to the online Virtual Art Walk Savvy Collector's Guide Our unique state-by-state calendar informs you about upcoming shows featuring new works coming available for sale by contemporary and historic Western artists. $3 PER MONTH GIVES YOU iley’s is a classic story, since he has followed I needed a whole the path of many new change of the greatest of scene. I’d been meeting things, trying Western Artists deadline after of all time. He to find subject deadline. Then the Park started out as matter doesn’t nail you Service sent an illustrator and honed his down to a specific that me to the Tetons and the drawing and circumstances. set of Badlands and storytelling skills then, like I was very inspired by the the Taos Artists “I have a fairly West. That’s why him, succumbed before complete library originally to Tombstone I moved to do a lot of reading and I and its art, where the lure of the West and then Tucson. on historical I loved the country.” attention to historical subjects. Inevitably you’ll detail is essential. come across “I had a lot something that appeals, but of experience Riley was born it’s been done illustrations, doing in small-town a thousand times before. so a transition Missouri and won a scholarship The challenge to doing Western Art was pretty is to find something that to the prestigious Art Students natural. You has a different only be very excited League in New can feeling—if it has color possibilities York City about such a where he learned type of history. pristine in terms of mood the classical or something I love to draw, elements of art. At the that and I’ll start fits the subject just making drawings same time, he but it’s a little offbeat in studied at the Central Art School and start to back terms of what up with some where his tutor it happened. “I’m still enjoying visual things Dunn emphasized Harvey that would lend it authenticity painting very the subjective It’s a way of much. . I do use photography of painting, like aspects life and I’m so but I try to get color and mood. , fortunate to have this as away from it Riley’s career my life’s work. as soon as I can by going was put on hold I still love to paint the to drawing.” he served in while Mandan, the World War II, Riley was a charter Apache, the Missouri River and he returned, member of NAWA people. I’m (The National he began working when really not committed to Academy of illustrator with any single project Western Art), and was inducted Life, The Saturday as an of any one vein. in terms Post, National Evening Artists of America into the Cowboy Geographic, “The variety and Reader’s Digest in what of hangs in permanentin 1982. His work has been called still excites me—it’s the subject matter the Golden Age of Illustration. West Point Museum, collections in the specific in terms Indian and of the Riley explains, Pioneer White the Smithsonian things, but there’s House, “My original so much color Institution, the ambition was to be an available and Museum and Custer illustrator, which I’ve always been hooked the Air Force I did for almost thirty on design and Academy, among others. years. I greatly color. “It’s taking that, because enjoyed me longer “I hope that things I was doing and longer to produce editorial illustrations— have gotten a things. The more lucid and not advertising. little subject matter determines the better. I’ve given But it was a real release shape and size, up to focus on to start painting generally work and I specific historical trying I could paint because in different sizes. where you get events for myself However, I’m not working wound author’s or magazine’s instead of to an in bigger sizes You lose the opportunity up in the story. specifications. than 36”) at eternally grateful to do something this point because (larger I’m that has a more for that background harder they’re universal concept. to do.” had reached . I it leads you I think the point where into an alleyway Riley still likes I felt that you can’t get out of. I’m people who acquire to interact with the looking at more his art. general “I love to have collectors who own Price Range Indicator FOR ONLY YOUR ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION ieces Kenneth R. Rile Master of Western Subscribe now to this unique magazine—and—website subscription offer GONE! We report on the record-setting $8,256,864 Scottsdale Art Auction 220 221 UNIQUE! NO RISK MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE If, at any time during the period of your subscription, you are unhappy for any reason, you can cancel for a full refund on undelivered copies — no questions asked! Subscribe online www.westernartcollector.com or mail the Order Form between these pages WESTERN ART INSIGHTS Wonder of Nature A keen eye and photographic memory launch Robert Peters into the category of one of America’s great landscape painters. By John Geraghty I t was opening night for the 2007 Masters of the American West Fine Art Exhibition and Sale. As usual I was going in six different directions attempting to assist the patrons and greeting friends and artists. My son Steve and his wife Pam (who I refer to as my second daughter) caught up with me and asked my opinion on a Robert Peters painting, Summer Pearls, a 36-by-56-inch oil on linen. They were convinced this was one of the best paintings in the entire show. Of course I remembered this particular work as it had drawn my attention while placing all the paintings for the staff to position on the walls. I followed them over to Robert’s paintings and together we admired what was truly a magnificently composed landscape. Realizing they had two daughters in college, their other two youngsters were in private schools, I looked for some negative aspect in the painting to discourage them. I had to agree, this was one of Robert Peters strongest efforts. The only negative comment I could make was they already had some great works in their collection and it was a major investment at this particular time, and excused myself. Pam and Steve spent the next hour contemplating their decision. Finally, just before the final bell, together they decided to drop their intent-to-purchase tickets into the box. Their analogy was if “God” meant them to have Summer Pearls their names would be drawn, otherwise it was just not meant to be. Pam’s name was drawn and the painting hangs in their living room; they could not be happier. Possibly this is the way we should all approach our art purchases. I have been carefully observing Robert Peters progression in fine art for over 12 years. We have known each other for most of this time and have become good friends. I invited Robert to be one of the founding artists of the Masters of the American West Fine Art Exhibition and Sale, and it has been a pleasure to observe his continual development and acceptance as one of America’s great landscape painters. There exists an interesting dissimilarity between Robert Peters the artist and myself, an observer and somewhat knowledgeable collector, in the description and definition of his work, which I will share with you. Although Robert does not refer to himself as a plein air painter, he records both visually and with a sketchpad the landscapes he encounters, taking notes of color values, shapes and forms, capturing in his mind that precise moment when the light is perfect or the atmosphere is most intriguing. He records the movement of light across a mountain face as it creates natural abstract shapes formed by the shadows. He has a keen eye and almost photographic memory. He can recall Summer Morning, Mt. Moran, oil, 48 x 60" 34 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX 35 WESTERN ART INSIGHTS Seasons Change, oil on linen, 24 x 40" these images while contemplating wa painting in his studio, just as the plein air painter refers to his field study. Robert has the unique ability to use his artistic freedom to improve on Mother Nature, composing a well-designed balanced presentation through a lifetime of visual reference. Robert considers himself a purist of landscape realism. In my opinion, the definition of his work is considerably broader. Robert has introduced a more painterly, somewhat impressionistic approach to his painting. This has raised the level of his work and introduced a new perspective and expansion of his collector base. Suggestion of detail is now often accomplished through precise meaningful brushstrokes, while he also masterfully introduces interesting abstract shapes and forms. Robert has acquired a wonderful understanding of Ancestral Pueblo, oil, 28 x 30" 36 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX Summer Pearls, oil, 36 x 56" Merrick Butte, Monument Valley, oil, 18 x 20" 37 WESTERN ART INSIGHTS color and the sensitive transition of values. Robert has developed an understanding of the use of edges, often losing or exaggerating an edge to embellish a specific point of interest. Unlike many landscape artists, Robert often skillfully introduces structures, animals or waterfowl into his paintings, providing a more comprehensive composition or as a method of establishing perspective. Robert’s work has a compelling sense of freshness; there consists a sensitive delicacy that he refers to as “a judicious use of detail.” He is especially rewarded when he has been able to translate his emotions to a viewer who has never experienced the wonder of nature. Although Robert was born in upstate New York, his earliest memories were of Phoenix, Arizona. His father, Robert Peters Sr., worked in the printing and visual communications division of Motorola; his mother Barbara was the family matriarch. When the opportunity arose, the family, his mom, dad and two sisters would pack the car and travel to southwestern Colorado where they camped, hiked, hunted and fished. These were memorable times. He enjoyed being out in nature and believes these experiences were the foundation of his interest and appreciation of nature’s landscape. Robert recalls always having an interest in art. He drew as did many of his classmates. His grandmother Cecila Bulmer, who painted as a hobby, attempted to encourage these interests. Robert continued to draw with a rather high level of efficiency. Although he had visited the Phoenix Art Museum several times and was inspired by several of the 19th century masters, his interests seemed to be focused on his high school sweetheart, Nanette Lumley, certainly not a career in art. After entering Northern Arizona University, without selecting a major, Robert in his sophomore year made the decision to take his first art class. His initial interest was photography however the required drawing courses encouraged him to direct his attention to art and art history. One of his art professors, Melinda Pordenlon, also an accomplished commercial illustrator, recognized Robert’s talent and Amid Summer Blooms, oil, 44 x 60" 38 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX 39 WESTERN ART INSIGHTS Robert Peters lives in the high country outside Prescott, Arizona, along with his wife, children, horses and dogs. tutored him not only in his art, she also introduced him to the commercial art world. She assisted him in understanding the role of an agent, a properly prepared portfolio, and the competitive environment he was planning to enter. In relatively short order, Robert began earning a substantial living as an illustrator working from home through his agent with a large New York advertising and publishing company. During the 1980s and 1990s he did extremely well. Robert and Nanette were married, she had graduated from Phoenix University with a nursing major and was employed as a registered operating room nurse. Robert was accepted into the Society of Illustrators and was providing illustrations for prominent magazine covers. Life was progressing wonderfully for Robert and Nanette, and together they made the decision to move to Durango, Colorado, the area where he had fond memories of his family vacations. They found a 15-acre ranch and began to breed and raise horses. 40 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX While continuing his illustration career and Nanette employed as a registered nurse, life was comfortable and Robert began to focus on fine art, horses and Western landscape painting became his primary interest. The late 1990s, Robert and Nanette moved to Paso Robles, California. They made the decision to start their family; their daughter Katherine, now 11, and son Bryce, now age 8, were born, as was Robert’s fine art career. Robert and his family now live just outside Prescott, Arizona. Although he Autumn Air, oil, 44 x 60" had been inspired by the picturesque coastline and the beautiful rolling hills and vineyards of Paso Robles, Big Sur and Carmel, they agreed they needed to be near their families; it was of primary interest that the children should enjoy their grandparents. Their home is near the granite mountain wilderness area and provides an excellent opportunity for Robert to pack his bedroll and ride his horse in search of new subject matter. The Grand Canyon is only a couple hours drive and these ever-changing vistas have become a new inspiration. Robert has constructed his perfect studio, only a few steps from their home, the north facing windows with the supplemental cool lighting of the carefully placed fixtures, it is an ideal atmosphere to work in. It has been a rewarding experience to observe the progression of this young artist to the top of his profession. Robert Peters is represented by the Legacy Gallery in Scottsdale, Arizona, and Jackson, Wyoming, Settlers West Galleries in Tucson, Arizona, and Texas Art Gallery located in Dallas, Texas. About John Geraghty John Geraghty, Trustee and Special Advisor to the Autry National Center’s Masters of the American West Fine Art Exhibition and Sale, shares his insights on the Western art scene. Both he and wife Saralynn are afflicted with the incurable passion of collecting Western art. 41 WESTERN ART INSIGHTS Keeping the Faith Devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe results in her image appearing in the work of both the acclaimed and accomplished, to the humble and untrained. By John O’Hern O n e of the most powerful images throughout the Southwest and Mexico is Our Lady of Guadalupe. The image first appeared miraculously on the cloak of Juan Diego in Mexico in 1531. Since then it has been reproduced on the hoods of low riders, dish towels, T-shirts, and tattoos—but always with a deep sense of devotion and pride among the MexicanAmerican population. Juan Diego was a poor field worker. While walking one day in the hills near what is now Mexico City, the Virgin Mary appeared to him, surrounded by Our Lady of Guadalupe in memorials at Agua Fria Cemetery, Santa Fe, New Mexico. Nicholas Herrera, Guadalupe Liberty, carved wood and natural pigments, 17 x 12 x 13” COURTESY SAN ANGEL FOLK ART GALLERY, SAN ANTONIO, TX 42 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX Arthur López, San Juan Diego, wood, mixed media, 25 x 12½ x 5” COURTESY PARKS GALLERY, TAOS, NM A photograph of the original image of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the Basilica of Guadalupe, Mexico City. COURTESY SANCTA.ORG light. She spoke to him in his native Nahuatl, and asked for a church to be built on the site where she appeared. When Juan Diego told the bishop about his encounter and her request, the bishop asked for a miraculous sign to prove his story. Juan Diego returned to the site where he met the Virgin. She appeared again and told him to gather roses to take to the bishop even though it was early December. Juan Diego found the roses, gathered them into his cloak, and returned to the bishop. When he opened the cloak to present the roses, an image of the Virgin miraculously appeared on it. The Virgin had called Juan Diego “the most humble of my sons.” He spent the rest of his life as a hermit serving the first pilgrims to visit the shrine housing the holy image, and was raised to sainthood in 2002. In Mexico, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe is also known as La Virgen Morena or “The Brown-skinned Virgin.” The image on San Juan Diego’s cloak is now housed in a basilica at the sight of her appearance. In the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe, she is seen standing on a crescent moon and supported by an angel, a symbol of royalty to the Aztecs. Standing on the moon, a symbol of the god of the night to the native population, she shows she is more powerful than he. She stands in front of the rays of the sun god demonstrating that she represents a god who is greater than theirs. The interpretation of the symbols in the original miraculous image is rich and varied. Some Mexican interpretations of the rays of light have them representing the spines of a local cactus. The Spanish conquistadors and Franciscan friars who settled Mexico, and what is now the American Southwest, brought with them an intense Roman Catholic faith. Since their access to the finely wrought religious images of Spain 43 WESTERN ART INSIGHTS Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Santa Fe, New Mexico. was limited, the untrained friars carved and painted images themselves and eventually taught the people of the region to make them. Two-dimensional santos are known as retablos and 3-D sculptures as bultos. The artists are santeros. Arthur López has made a bulto of San Juan Diego wearing his miraculous cloak and holding a rose in each hand. Titled San Juan Diego, San Juan stands on a base of prickly pear cactus and his body is in the shape of a cactus pad. The red fruit of the prickly pear is still a source of food and the pads are sometimes eaten as a vegetable. López may intend the roses to represent not only the miracle of their appearing in mid-winter but also the stigmata, or wounds, of Jesus when he was nailed to the cross. Nicholas Herrera is a santero who comments on contemporary issues in his work. He follows a family tradition, in the footsteps of his great uncle Jose Inez Herrera, a celebrated santero. His troubled youth and a near fatal car accident resulted in a devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, whom he credits with saving his life. An image of Our Lady of Guadalupe in painted tinware. Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe y Corazón depicts the Virgin rising within a broken heart with her power to heal. The heart, often bleeding and ringed with a crown of thorns, is the symbol of the Sacred Heart—a representation of the heart of Jesus, his suffering, and his love for all people. Guadalupe Liberty transmogrifies the 44 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX Virgin of Guadalupe into the Statue of Liberty—more formally known as Liberty Enlightening the World. She holds the familiar torch in one hand and a representation of San Juan Diego in the other. Terry Enseñat Mulert lives in Córdova, New Mexico, a village known for its santeros who carve unpainted aspen Nicholas Herrera, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe y Corazon, carved wood and natural pigments, 14 x 15 x 9” COURTESY SAN ANGEL FOLK ART GALLERY, SAN ANTONIO, TX wood santos. His rendition of Our Lady of Guadalupe is reduced to its elements, the rays of light surrounding her figure become aspen leaves and she holds the crescent moon in her hands. The Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe in Santa Fe was built in the late 18th century and has adobe walls nearly 3 feet thick. Last December the Santuario was dedicated as the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It is the oldest shrine in the U.S. dedicated to her and is at the end of the Camino Real (The King’s Highway), which ran from Mexico City, via Chihuahua, to Santa Fe. A 12-foot statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe, sculpted in Mexico by Georgina “Gogy” Farías, was trucked over roughly the same route and installed at the shrine in August 2008. Devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe results in her image appearing in the work of both the acclaimed and accomplished, to the humble and untrained. The extraordinary faith of santeros over 400 years continues today in the work of the nearly 250 Hispanic artists who show their work in the annual Spanish Market sponsored by Spanish Colonial Arts Society in Santa Fe. The 58 th Traditional Spanish Market will take place July 25 and 26 in and around Santa Fe’s famed Plaza. Santa Fe Editor John O’Hern, who has retired after 30 years in the museum business, specifically as the Executive Director and Curator of the Arnot Art Museum, Elmira, N.Y., is the originator of the internationally acclaimed Re-presenting Representation exhibitions, which promote realism in its many guises. John was chair of the Artists Panel of the New York State Council on the Arts. He writes for gallery publications around the world, including regular monthly features on Art Market Insights in American Art Collector magazine. Having succumbed to the lure of the West, he now lives in what he refers to as a“converted adobe goat shed,” in the high desert of New Mexico, where he is acquainting himself with new flora and fauna. 45 T he history of Texas and the history of Western art are deeply intertwined and share many common threads—a strong narrative tradition, a deep understanding and appreciation of natural beauty and a strikingly modern vision on traditional ways of life. The second largest state in the U.S. in both area and population, the Lone Star State also boasts a long history as a center of the American cattle industry. As such, Texas is associated throughout much of the world with the image of the cowboy. The phrase “everything is bigger in Texas” stems in part from its geographic magnitude and the wide open spaces TABLE OF CONTENTS of its desert and prairie regions. It’s also home to important contemporary Western artists like Martin Grelle, Tony Eubanks, G. Harvey, George Hallmark, Jason Rich, Bob Pummill, Wayne Baize, Donna Howell-Sickles, Joshua Tobey and Kent Wallis, among scores more. Despite the downslide in the economy, discussions with many of the top gallery owners and artists in the state revealed that the current art market is anything but sluggish. Hot art districts line the state, like Dragon Street in the Design District in Dallas, which houses galleries like Gerald Peters Gallery and the Houston Museum District, which boasts 18 institutions with PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX more than 7 million annual visits, and Austin’s blocks of 6th street is peppered with dynamic galleries. But these are just a few of the nearly hundreds of districts sprinkled throughout the state in larger cities like San Antonio, Fort Worth and Corpus Christi, to smaller cities like Kerrville, Amarillo, Abilene, Ennis, El Paso, Plano, San Angelo, Victoria and the wooded hills of Bosque County. New galleries are even opening, like InSight Gallery in Fredericksburg, whose owners picked that location because they feel the area is quickly becoming nationally known as a fine art destination in the Western genre. Artists are reporting State of the Art in PHOTO BY SCOTT TEVEN/WWW.PHOTOHOUSTON.COM the same if not more sales than last year. As many collectors have learned, quality artwork never goes out of style and will always sell. “I have been painting for a living for over 30 years, and have seen a number of downturns in the economy, and during those downturns, the market for good artwork by reputable, dedicated artists has not wavered,” says Martin Grelle, Cowboy Artists of America member and Clifton, Texas, native. Artist Sonya Terpening believes that Western art in Texas is in great demand because the state is the myth and legend of the West. “Texas embraces the West in its language, dress and especially in the arts. Not only do we have Texas’ own great history to be told in paint, but we also have Hollywood myths and legendary ranches still being worked today,” says Terpening. While discussing Western art and Texas, it is impossible not to associate these words with Bill Burford, owner and president of Texas Art Gallery for over 40 years. Burford’s impact on the Western art market spans decades, and his loss is felt deeply by the Western art community. In May, Western Art Collector will feature a tribute article on Mr. Burford, reflecting his lasting legacy and further loss to the art world. TEXAS Grapevine Fort Worth Dallas Eldorado Marble Falls Fredericksburg Wimberley Kerrville New Braunfels San Antonio 47 State of the Art in TEXAS A traditional gallery, Greenhouse Gallery showcases fine oil paintings by 21st century masters, outstanding designs and vibrant color of art glass and bronze by leading artists. Galleries Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art 6496 N. New Braunfels Avenue San Antonio, TX 78209 (210) 828-6491 The Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art has long been deemed a key destination for seasoned and new collectors visiting San Antonio. Pairing a traditional art experience with over 12,000 square feet, Greenhouse Gallery is one of the largest and respected retail fine art showrooms in the country. The gallery houses nationally and internationally recognized artists, many featured in fine museums and prestigious collections, including Calvin Liang, William Berra, Brent Jensen, Clement Kwan, Ignat Ignatov, W. Jason Situ, Andy Thomas, Jeffrey Watts and Gregory Packard, among others. In April, the gallery hosts its annual Salon International Juried Exhibition featuring 348 oil paintings from emerging and well-known artists from 43 states and 16 countries. The show begins April 11 with an opening reception 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and runs through May 1, 2009. May 12 through 29, the gallery presents the strong, powerful oil paintings of Kathryn Stats in a solo exhibition with an opening reception May 16 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Greenhouse Gallery has represented Stats’ work since April 2004. Within this period of time, Stats’ stunning paintings have made her one of the gallery’s top selling artists. “We help our clients see the art and distinguish what it is they are looking for, so they can become secure and confident when they walk into a gallery on their own. They must enjoy it—that’s the first thing.” — Jim Janes, co-owner, Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art, A Fine Desert Day, oil, 18 x 24", by Kathryn Stats. 48 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX P ATRON ’ S P ARTY & A UCTION B6N Featured in November 2008 Preview 2009 Auction Overland Mail Oscar E. Berninghaus (1874-1952) Oil 35” x 40” L6CI:9ID7JNDG688:EI>C<DC8DCH><CB:CIDG><>C6A6GI;DG6J8I>DC call or email information and images of artwork to: auction @ txartgallery.com SOME OF THE ARTISTS WE ARE LOOKING FOR: William Acheff Cyrus Afsary Roy Andersen Gerald Balciar James Bama Joe Beeler O.E. Berninghaus Albert Bierstadt Emil Bisttram Lavern N. Black Ernest Blumenschein Edward Borein James Boren Carl Oscar Borg Harley Brown Paul Calle Ken Carlson Henry Casselli Gerald Cassidy Eugene Henri Cauchois Chen Chi John Clymer Edouard Cortes E.I. Couse Donald Crowley Gerard Curtis Delano Maynard Dixon Harvey Dunn Herbert Dunton Charlie Dye Marcel Dyf Nick Eggenhofer Fremont Ellis Henry Farny Nicolai Fechin James Earle Fraser Eugene Galien-Laloue Leon Gaspard William Gilbert Gaul Victor Gilbert Rod Goebel William Gollings Martin Grelle Emile A. Gruppe H.W. Hansen Carl Hantman Marsden Hartley G. Harvey John Hauser E. Martin Hennings Jules Rene Herve Hermann Herzog Victor Higgins Thomas Hill Frank Hoffman Grace C. Hudson Clark Hulings Peter Hurd Harry Jackson Frank Tenney Johnson Gene Kloss W.H.D. Koerner Robert Kuhn W.R. Leigh Robert Lougheed Tom Lovell John Marin Frank McCarthy R. Brownell McGrew Thomas Moran B.J.O. Nordfeldt Julian Onderdonk Edmund Osthaus Bill Owen Sheldon Parsons Edgar Payne E.S. Paxson Bert Geer Phillips George Phippen Frederic Remington James Reynolds Kenneth Riley Carl Rungius Charles M. Russell Tom Ryan Porfirio Salinas Richard Schmid Frank E. Schoonover Charles Schreyvogel Olaf C. Seltzer Jospeh H. Sharp David Shepherd Mian Situ Eric Sloane Gordon Snidow Grant Speed John Mix Stanley Oleg Stavrowsky Ray Swanson Donald Teague Howard Terpning Walter Ufer Harold Von Schmidt Curt Walters Melvin Warren Morgan Weistling Fritz White Olaf Wieghorst Guy Wiggins Robert Wood Wyeth’s TEXAS A RT GALLERY INWOOD VILLAGE ~ SUI T E ~ WEST LOVERS L ANE ~ DALL AS, T EXAS WM. E. BURFORD #TX ~ www.txartgaller y.com ~ State of the Art in TEXAS “We feel that our part of Texas, more specifically Fredericksburg, has been becoming more and more nationally known as a fine art destination.” — Shannon Hanna, InSight Gallery co-owner and director InSight Gallery, Gillespie County Ag Exempt, oil, 12 x 24", by John Austin Hanna. InSight Gallery 244 W. Main Street Fredericksburg, TX 78624 (830) 456-4086 InSight Gallery owners David and Meredith Plesko and Thad and Shannon Hanna believe that now is the right time to become a part of something they love: fine art. Opening in early April in downtown Fredericksburg, the gallery’s focus is on its artists first and foremost, and plans to provide a beautiful, professional and friendly atmosphere offering collectors the opportunity and comfort to participate in the “art experience” both emotionally and intellectually. “A large part of the decision to open our gallery is the fact that we believe that Fredericksburg is an emerging player in the national art community,” says Shannon Hanna, co-owner and director of InSight Gallery. Focusing on traditional “represent- InSight Gallery, Texas Born, acrylic, 24 x 36", by James Robinson. 50 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX ationalism,” the gallery will feature oils, acrylics, pastels and bronzes by artists such as Nancy Bush, Carolyn Anderson, John Austin Hanna, Mark Haworth, Denise LaRue Mahlke, Suzanne Owens and James Robinson, among others. “Art, to us, has an intrinsic value that is impossible to determine and as such it will not be sacrificed in trying times; it will be honored for its ability to speak to our dignity emotionally as well as intellectually,” adds Hanna. Exclusively Representing A N DY T H O M A S Oil 26 x 38 “TRUE AMERICAN GRIT” HECK THOMAS IN THE INDIAN TERRITORY WWW.GREENHOUSEGALLERY.COM G REENHOUSE G ALLERY OF F INE A RT 6496 N. New Braunfels • San Antonio, Texas 78209 • (800) 453-8991 or (210) 828-6491 State of the Art in TEXAS Mary Ross Buchholz Fine Art Studio Rt. 1, Box 83 A Eldorado, TX 76936 (325) 853-3839 A pioneering ranching family heritage has enabled artist Mary Ross Buchholz and her husband to raise their family in rural West Texas near the town of Eldorado. Their ranching operation, spread over several West Texas counties, consists of a variety of livestock that includes cattle, sheep, goats, and quarter horses along with diverse wildlife. Depicting these scenes on canvas comes natural to Buchholz. “My art does not romanticize our way of life; it simply and honestly portrays the people, the animals, and the environment of West Texas,” says Buchholz. Over the past 10 years, Buchholz’s detailed portrait commissions have been her main focus; but now, many of her noncommissioned paintings and drawings are slated for juried shows and exhibitions. In April, Buchholz will be participating in the Round Up Art Show & Sale at The Museum of Western Art in Kerrville, Texas, and in June she will be at the Ellen Noel Art Museum in Odessa for the American Plains Artist Show & Sale. “Even though the economy has slowed, I feel lucky to have portrait commissions in line,” says Buchholz. “It is a great compliment to me when I am entrusted to paint or draw loved ones. At the same time, sharing my other works through exhibitions and shows is certainly important to me.” Buchholz is a member of the Portrait Society of America, the Oil Painters of America, and is a signature member of the American Plains Artists. Mary Ross Buchholz's studio in rural West Texas near the town of Eldorado. “Even though the economy has slowed, I feel lucky to have portrait commissions in line.” — Mary Ross Buchholz, West Texas artist Majestic Monarch, graphite, 16 x 25”, by Mary Ross Buchholz. 52 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX Texas Born James Robinson Acrylic 24”x36” Mountain Storm Nancy Bush Oil Cypress on the Medina Mark Haworth Oil 16”x 12” Gillespie County Ag Exempt John Austin Hanna Oil 12”x24” OPENING SPRING 2009 24 4 West M a i n ° Fred eric ks b urg , Texas ° 8 30.456. 4086 ° insightgaller y.com 22”x 28” State of the Art in TEXAS “Despite the decline in our national economy, I have not seen a drop in my gallery sales or in my commission work.” — Laurie Pace, Texas artist Patina of Marble Falls 1506 Hwy 1431 West Marble Falls, TX 78654 (830) 637-7662 Located in the beautiful Hill Country, Patina of Marble Falls presents the works of Texas artists Laurie Pace and Debbie Lincoln. Pace enjoys working with oils, strong hues, a palette knife and brushes, capturing the energy of colors and motion on the canvas. Lincoln rarely sticks to a standardized palette, and her new works are a reflection of her recent experiences on an extended trip to northwest Montana. “Despite the decline in our national economy, I have not seen a drop in my gallery sales or in my commission work,” says Pace. “I believe in educating collectors to realize the true value of investing in artwork is not near as risky as investing in the current economic stock market.” Patina of Marble Falls owner John Stange shares this viewpoint and believes the impact of the economic crisis on art lovers in the Hill Country has only helped to strengthen interest in the works of Pace and Lincoln. “I find that my customers look at their homes as a safe haven from negative outside forces and they relish the opportunity to enhance it with original works,” says Stange. “Both artists deliver the beauty of their subjects with underlying statements of grace and peace, which is very comforting to the homeowner and their guests.” Patina of Marble Falls, Morning has Broken, oil, 5 x 7", by Laurie Justus Pace. Patina of Marble Falls, Future Fear, oil on canvas, 16 x 20", by Debbie Lincoln. 54 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX BOSQUE COUNTY, TEXAS “TAOS OF TEXAS” BRUCE GREENE, CA “Day Break on the Rim” 36X66 Oil on Linen Available at Trailside Galleries Represented by: Claggett Rey Gallery - Vail, Colorado • Trailside Galleries - Scottsdale, AZ and Jackson Hole, WY www.brucegreeneart.com TONY EUBANKS GEORGE HALLMARK “Crossing Big Muddy” 20X24 Oil on Canvas Featured in the 2009 Prix de West Invitational Represented by Whistle Pik Gallery, Fredericksburg, TX www.tonyeubanks.com “Pinon Morning” 36X36 Oil on Linen Featured in the 2009 Prix de West Invitational Represented by: Trailside Galleries - Scottsdale, AZ and Jackson Hole, WY www.georgehallmark.com MARTIN GRELLE, CA “Trappers in the Wind Rivers” 44x56 Oil on linen, 2008 Sold at the 2008 Prix de West Invitational • Represented by: Overland Gallery of Fine Art, Scottsdale, AZ State of the Art in TEXAS “People figure out that good art, by established artists, from reputable galleries holds its value, even in tough times.” — Robert Pitzer, owner, Pitzer’s Fine Arts Pitzer’s Fine Arts, Geococcyx (Roadrunner), bronze, 15 x 5 x 10½", ed. of 100, by Kent Ullberg. The outdoor sculpture garden at Pitzer’s Fine Arts showcases top quality sculpture. Pitzer’s Fine Arts PO Box 2850 13909 Ranch Road 12 Wimberley, TX 78676 (512) 722-6032 Located in historic Wimberley and established in 1978, Pitzer’s Fine Arts is more than just traditional paintings and sculpture, but an exceptional art experience. Ranging from realism to impressionism, Pitzer’s Fine Arts offering includes original paintings, sculpture, photography and other artistically fitting mediums such as pottery, handmade rugs, gourds and baskets, and expresses a variety of subjects including landscape, still life, Western, wildlife and more by renowned artists like Randal Dutra, Kent Ullberg and Laurie Kersey, among many others. Bronze sculpture has been and continues today to be a significant part of the gallery, which features smaller to life-size works by many distinct artists. The gallery has a picturesque outdoor sculpture garden that showcases the top and highly sought after works. “Pitzer’s has been through more than one or two economic downturns over the 30-plus years in the business of retail fine art,” says gallery owner Rob Pitzer. “People figure out that good art, by established artists, from reputable galleries holds its value, even in tough times.” Pitzer’s Fine Arts, Among the Teasels, oil on linen, 40 x 30”, by Randal Dutra. 56 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX Homework by Nelson Boren 22" x 40" Watercolor Abstract Art by Julie T Chapman 30" x 30", Oil Visit The Comfort of Our On Line Callery www.pitzersart.com Into The Light by Karen Bonnie 48" x 36", Oil Beyond the Blue by Angela Mia De la Vega Available in two sizes: 15" H and 61"H Mallards by Randal Dutra 40" x 30", Oil 13909 Ranch Road 12, P.O. BOX 2850 WimberlEy, TX 78676 512.722.6032 [email protected] State of the Art in TEXAS Texas Art Gallery Inwood Village, Suite 396 5570 W. Lovers Lane Dallas, TX 75209-4220 (800) 783-4278 Texas Art Gallery is one of the cornerstones of Western art in Texas and beyond. Spearheaded by the late Bill Burford, the gallery has showcased a diverse selection of Western, American and European art since 1964, in addition to two highly successful annual auctions. The gallery collection features more than 40 local, regional and national skilled artists, plus works by deceased masters. In April, the gallery features the artwork of Tom Buechner, an impassioned painter whose works hang in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Smithsonian National Museum of American Art. Other top gallery artists include Jason Rich and Kent Wallis. Texas Art Gallery hosts two annual art auctions, one in May and the other in November. May’s Patron’s Party & Auction is comprised of the Set Price Draw Sale, held May 8, 2009, at the gallery, and the auction the following evening May 9. “Bill Burford has been my friend for nearly 40 years. Bill was the pioneer in marketing contemporary Western art. He was enthusiastic, entertaining and passionate about the art business, and devoted to his wife Pat. Bill always had a great story to share. I referred to Bill respectively as the Barnum & Bailey of the art world. I will miss our weekly conversations. I loved the guy and will miss Bill Burford as will all that knew him.” — John Geraghty, Trustee and Special Advisor to the Autry National Center and Contributing Editor to Western Art Collector Texas Art Gallery, Winter Shadows, oil on canvas on board, 48 x 60”, by Jason Rich. Texas Art Gallery has showcased top Western, American and European art for over 40 years. The recent passing of president and owner Bill Burford has deeply affected the art community. 58 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX State of the Art in TEXAS Sonya Terpening 516 Dunn Court Grapevine, TX 76051 (817) 488-3001 Artist Sonya Terpening does not remember a time when she did not paint or draw. Her art is a narrative of her life and the world around her. Like many Americans, Terpening comes from pioneers who settled the West. This is the story she captures in paint on canvas. “I think Western art is important now more than ever because it immortalizes the hard work and perseverance that made this country great,” says Terpening. “It is an image of what we so desperately need right now.” Terpening says she must have an emotional reason to paint. A realist, her detailed scenes play with light and color, but they also reflect her feelings in choosing the subject and hoping to make the viewer experience similar sentiments. “I think art touches the soul and teaches in ways words cannot,” says Terpening. Terpening will be participating at the Gilcrease Rendezvous in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on April 16 and has just finished painting for the Prix de West show June 12 at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. She is also preparing for an upcoming show with Whistle Pik Galleries at Boot Ranch in Fredericksburg, Texas. Still Beats Office Work, oil on linen, 30 x 40", by Sonya Terpening. “Western art in Texas is in great demand because Texas is the myth and legend of the West. Texas embraces the West in its language, dress and especially in the arts. Not only do we have Texas’ own great history to be told in paint, but we also have Hollywood myths and legendary ranches still being worked today.” — Sonya Terpening, artist Prairie Flowers, oil on linen, 16 x 20", by Sonya Terpening. 60 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX Patina of Marble Falls,Texas Future Fear 16 x 20 Oil Lincoln Future Fear 16 x 20 Oil Lincoln Fair Warning 16 x 20 Oil Lincoln DEBBIE GRAYSON LINCOLN Deep in the heART of Texas LAURIE JUSTUS PACE Morning Has Broken 36 x 30 Oil Pace www.debbielincoln.artspan.com 1506 hwy 1431 west marble falls, texas 78654 Hint of Spring 24 x 36 Oil Pace www.lauriejustuspace.com phone 830.637.7662 www.patinaofmarblefalls.com State of the Art in TEXAS "Texas history and history of the American West are intertwined. The same can be said for Texas art and art of the American West; both include a strong narrative tradition and a deeper appreciation of the natural beauty of the landscape." — Aurora Ramirez, facility/tour coordinator of The Museum of Western Art The art on display at The Museum of Western Art in Kerrville, Texas, depicts every aspect of Western life. The Museum of Western Art 1550 Bandera Highway PO Box 294300 Kerrville, TX 78029 (830) 896-2553 The Museum of Western Art is located in Kerrville, in the heart of the famed Texas Hill Country. This outstanding facility provides the opportunity for one and all to relive the roots of Western heritage through great Western art. “Texas history and history of the American West are intertwined,” says Aurora Ramirez, facility/tour coordinator of The Museum of Western Art. “The same can be said for Texas art and art of the American West; both include a strong narrative tradition and a deeper appreciation of the natural beauty of the landscape. Both also include thoroughly modern visions of traditional subjects and themes.” In April, the museum presents its nationally recognized 26th annual Round Up Art Show & Sale opening April 24 with a special event 6 to 8:30 p.m. featuring the artists, dinner and dancing. The museum serves as a bridge between the past and present, ensuring that the legacy of the American West will be preserved for the future. Fred Fellows, An Honest Day’s Work, bronze, The Museum of Western Art. CREDIT JOHN ACETI Hill Country, pen, ink and pencil, 13 x 17", by Robert “Bo” Powell. “Although today’s art market is suffering from the financial crises, a viable market is still out there.” — Robert “Bo” Powell, Texas artist Robert “Bo” Powell 1822 Roberts Cut Off Fort Worth, TX 76114 (817) 223-3838 A Fort Worth native, Robert “Bo” Powell started drawing and painting at about 10 years old. In addition to a life of fine art, Powell spent his professional career working on the rails as a locomotive engineer. Powell has always had a love for travel and carries a camera with him wherever the adventure takes him, including Canada, Wyoming, Idaho, New Mexico, Texas, Alaska, Arizona, the Caribbean and, especially, Colorado. He does a lot of sketching and final art 62 TABLE OF CONTENTS Fort Worth native Robert “Bo” Powell prefers to work in pen and ink. PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX while on trips and never leaves his art supplies at home. Powell prefers to work in the pre-dawn hours of the day, accompanied by a mix of light symphony and Jimmy Buffet music. His favorite medium is pen and ink, and prefers graphite pencil and acrylics for larger pieces. Powell is represented by the Morton House Gallery in Fort Worth and the Art Center for the Islands in Port Aransas, Texas. Powell says that although today’s art market is suffering from the financial crises, a viable market is still out there and he is not discouraged about continually marketing his creations. Above: “Robert” - 22" x 14" - graphite Left: “Gunner” - 20" x 14" - charcoal and graphite Inset: “Harvey” - 22" x 16" - graphite Mary is a member of Oil Painters of America (OPA), Portrait Society of America (PSA), and is a Signature Member of the American Plains Artists (APA). State of the Art in TEXAS Legendary Bosque County Martin Grelle, George Hallmark, Bruce Greene and Tony Eubanks Bosque County, one of Texas’ most beautiful areas, possesses a rich history filled with the spirit of the pioneers who settled the area. Made up of several small towns, Bosque County’s pristine landscape includes hills, canyons, prairie land, farms, wildflowers, more wildlife than “you can shake a stick at,” and many lakes and streams, including the Brazos and Bosque rivers. The famous area has long been associated with Western art as both James Boren and Melvin Warren once called it their home. Today, four incredibly talented Western artists also call Bosque County their home and muse. Established artists Martin Grelle, George Hallmark, Bruce Greene and Tony Eubanks all reside within the wooded hills of the Springtime in Bosque County. Meridian Creek, Bosque County. 64 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX State of the Art in TEXAS Camp Meat and Mules, oil on linen, 40 x 54", by Martin Grelle fetched $316,250 at the 2008 Jackson Hole Art Auction, well over its $80,000 to $120,000 estimate. Three Came Riding, oil, 28 x 42", by Tony Eubanks. Texas native Tony Eubanks paints what he knows best: the West. 65 State of the Art in TEXAS View from Grelle Mountain. George Hallmark and his wife Lisa live on a gentle plateau that overlooks the entire valley. An exclusive look at George Hallmark’s 2009 painting for Prix de West, titled Pinon Morning, oil, 36 x 36". Born and raised in Clifton, Texas, artist Martin Grelle, CA, still makes his home here with his wife Terri, living on a small ranch among the wooded hills of Bosque County. Based in the Texas Hill Country, CA artist Bruce Greene’s primary interest is in depicting the working cowboy, both in oil and bronze. Shallow Water and Deep Sand, oil, 32 x 48", by Bruce Greene was painted for the 2008 Prix de West, an event he has been invited to participate in for seven years. PHOTO ROSS HECOX area. Each artist is extremely successful in their own right, participating in the top Western art shows across the country and highly sought after by collectors. The Bosque Conservatory is the center for the arts in the community. Located in Clifton, the established cultural center stables an impressive art gallery, which grows each year with its annual Art Classic held in September. Art workshops 66 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX are also offered, including the George Hallmark Plein Air oil workshop in the spring and the Greene-Grelle Plein Air workshop in the fall. CONTINUED ON PAGE 69 J ACK HERMSEN HERMSEN GALLERY 16823 Village Lane Dallas, Texas 75248 www.hermsengallery.com 972-248-3771 16” X 20” “Lookin’ For Strays” Brigitte Woosley WESTERN ART C O L L E C T O R New Braunfels, Texas 830-627-0823 “Hey Cowboy” 22 x 28 Oil on Canvas MAY 2009 IS ISSUE Oil on Canvas www.bwoosley.com Currently Exhibiting 26th Annual Round Up Art Show & Sale The Museum of Western Art April 24-May 30, 2009 1550 Bandera Highway • Kerrville, TX 78029-4300 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P Contact our Sales Team to reserve your advertising space at (866) 619-0841 or email us at [email protected] IN INDEX State of the Art in TEXAS “I think you have to keep on creating the best art possible, regardless of the market; you have to believe in yourself and keep faith with your collectors.” — Brigitte Woosley, Texas artist CONTINUED FROM PAGE 66 Hermsen Gallery 16823 Village Lane Dallas, TX 75248 (972) 248-3771 Artist Jack Hermsen has always been interested in the creative arts, which has led him down such paths as advertising, graphic design and fine arts. At a young age, he worked in a sign painting shop, developing various artistic and creative skills. Hermsen feels most comfortable painting from live models or photo references, and paints in oils, gouache, watercolors and acrylics. “I enjoy the challenge of oil painting, painting various realistic themes and Western subject matter as I experience Western outdoor imagery and lifestyles,” says Hermsen. A distinguished alumnus from the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles, Hermsen has been recognized with numerous graphic design and fine art awards. Artist Jack Hermsen at the easel in his Dallas, Texas, studio. Brigitte Woosley 4875 IH 35 S #3 New Braunfels, TX 78132 (830) 627-0823 Texas artist Brigitte Woosley began her artistic career as a courtroom artist, capturing the raw emotion of trials for years. Now Woosley has changed direction and is fulfilling a lifelong ambition of being a full-time fine art painter. “I love painting animals, the Western landscape, Native Americans and Western people in general,” says Woosley. Brigitte Woosley paints from her studio in the lush Texas Hill Country. Woosley has been invited to participate in a number of Western art venues across Texas and beyond, and in April is gearing up for The Museum of Western Art's Round Up Art Show & Sale opening April 24. “For me the market is doing surprisingly well,” says Woosley. “I’m selling as much so far this year as I did last year. Don’t know how things will go in the future, but then, who does? I think you have to keep on creating the best art possible, regardless of the market; you have to believe in yourself and keep faith with your collectors.” A Cool Drink, oil, 24 x 30”, by Brigitte Woosley. 69 April Art Show Preview Art nomads Presenting the Southwest in plein air, the Nómadas del Arte’s annual Paint Out and Show will be held at the Southwest Gallery in Texas. O pening April 3 and running through the rest of the month, roughly 160 of the top artists working in plein air will unite showcasing two landscape paintings each at the Southwest Gallery in Dallas, Texas. With more than 300 works expected at the show in oil, watercolor, acrylic and pastel, sprawling throughout the 16,000-square-foot gallery, there is a superb selection of plein air paintings. Artists are juried in through a submission process and also invited to participate. The paintings presented by the artists must have been completed during the 2008 year in one of these six Southwestern states: Arizona, Colorado, Wes Hyde, Rush, oil, 16 x 20" 70 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX Nevada, New Mexico, Texas or Utah. Keystone artists for this event are Albert Handell, Anita Louise West, Guido Frick, Stephanie Birdsall, Brent Cotton and Carol Swinney. Other artists include Mary Garrish, Don Sahli, Amy Evans, Ann Larsen, Ann Templeton, Dave Santillanes, Cindy Carrillo, John Darby, Mary Garrish, Last Light-Red Rock, oil, 9 x 12" Cecy Turner, Fran Dodd McConnell, Kathy Anderson, Walter Porter, Stephanie Birdsall, Suzette Keegan, Susan Volk Stanley, and founders Mark Coulter, Wes Hyde and Anita Mosher. Florida artist Mary Garrish found out near the end of 2007 that she was accepted into the Nómadas del Arte show. She immediately planned a trip to Utah. “I am always looking for a chance to paint out West,” says Garrish. In September 2008, Garrish and her husband rented an RV and toured southern Utah for two weeks, spending time in Zion, Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef national parks, with both of her paintings completed during this time. “Capitol Reef National Park was painted just as the first light of day was kissing the Red Rock Canyons,” explains Garrish, “And Last Light-Red Rock was painted during a glorious clear sunset in the park.” For Nómadas, Don Sahli presents Cool Day–Golden Willow, painted on a fall day during one of his classes he teaches in Evergreen, Colorado. “The brisk cool light was pleasant to capture,” says Sahli. “The historical red barn along the willows that follow Bear Creek added a wonderful accent of color to add to the composition.” Sahli says that the philosophy and concept of the Nómadas del Arte show speaks to his heart. “I’ve always said I would like to be known as a painter—one who painted what he saw while wandering around on his journey. Plein air painting is a large part of that journey and sharing it with collectors and other artists is always a pleasure,” adds Sahli. The lack of restrictions of both location and time is something participating artists relish. “I love the freedom to paint wherever and whenever I wish within the six specified states,” says painter Amy Evans. 71 April Art Show Preview Stephanie Birdsall, February Morning, oil, 12 x 9" Amy Evans, Along the Cimarron, oil, 9 x 12" Carol Swinney, Along the Pathway, oil on canvas, 9 x 12" “I think that this gives this exhibition a unique flavor. There is such variety in subject matter, style, and seasons. The ‘Nomads’ are seasoned artists who love to paint plein air.” Evans paints in oils, primarily in plein air. For Nómadas, Evans selected two paintings that were done in Colorado for this year’s exhibition, Fall Frenzy and Along the Cimarron. Kathy Anderson, Aspens in Telluride, oil, 14 x 10" Arizona artist, and one of the six keynote artists, Carol Swinney thinks the show is a great concept because it allows participants plenty of time to paint at their favorite place or season. For Nómadas, Swinney presents Along the Pathway, a rich and colorful oil completed on a warm, sunny spring morning while she was enjoying the company of several other plein air painters. 72 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX “I love the way the shadows crossed the pathway leading to more undiscovered gardens,” says Swinney. Selected at the 2007 Nómadas show as Master Landscape Artist, Ann Templeton presents Aspens, painted on location in the Ouray, Colorado, area. “The image of multiple tree trunks lends itself to interpretive color and repetitive variations on a theme, which April Art Show Preview Don Sahli, Cool Day–Golden Willow, oil, 5 x 7" goes hand in hand with my way of pushing color and being aware of patterns in the landscape,” says Templeton. Templeton will also be on hand along with Bob Rohm for a book signing during the reception on April 4. Suzette Keegan draws inspiration for her paintings from nature. She enjoys painting with a palette knife, which she describes as “being more fun than icing a cake,” making the colors on her canvas pop and highly textured. Jemez Afternoon was painted on a cold and windy day north of Santa Fe. “The view was so stimulating that the weather, while a nuisance, played second fiddle to the wonder of being Ann Templeton, Aspens, oil, 12 x 12" 74 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX Mary Garrish Fine Art Stellers Gallery, Ponte Vedra, FL 904.273.6065 L2 Gallery, Destin, FL 850.231.1091 Marshall Art Gallery, Greensboro, NC 336.545.8268 Chasen Galleries, Richmond, VA 804.204.1048 “Sunset From My Porch” 16 x 12, oil on canvas Mary Garrish Fine Art www.marygarrishfineart.com [email protected] 321.698.4431 “A Quiet Splendor” 20 x 24, oil on canvas April Art Show Preview Ann Larsen, Early Utah Snow, oil, 11 x 14" Mark Coulter, December’s Light, oil, 12 x 16" Cindy Carrillo, Catalina Shadows, oil, 9 x 12" in that amazing landscape. The Jemez Mountains have always held a special allure,” says Keegan. When artist Ann Larsen was invited to participate in Nómadas, it gave her a wonderful opportunity to paint in her favorite parts of the country. She spent a month traveling through Utah, from the Colorado Plateau to Zion National Park. Early Utah Snow was painted on that trip. “The way the light was hitting the rocks and softly illuminating the snow was just irresistible,” says Larsen. “I love painting outside in the Southwestern 76 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX Fran Dodd McConnell, Turn in the River, oil, 16 x 20" environment. Being surrounded by the light and atmosphere of the Southwest is unbelievably inspiring and energizing.” Walter Porter describes Nómadas as “a plein air painting competition on steroids.” For the show, Porter says he spent part of a week painting in the Ann Larsen En P l e i n Ai r! Oil Paintings “Rockport Yacht Club” 07?B 6 x 8 Oil Larsen Studio www.AnnLarsen.com [email protected] Cindy Carrillo Bravo! Vail 24 x 20 “Sedona Reds” For Events and Galleries www.cindycarrillo.com 9x12 Oil SAHLI STUDIO EVERGREEN, COLORADO 303-670-8615 [email protected] WWW.SAHLISTUDIO.COM April Art Show Preview Susan Volk Stanley, Lone Saguaro, oil, 12 x 16” John Darby, Rio Grande at Taos, oil, 30 x 40" White Mountains of Arizona. The result is Early Morning at Horseshoe Lake, one of his paintings for the show. “Just as the first rays of sun crested the mountains, the fall grass across from me lit up in a brilliant, warm gold that was set against the cool, blue lake and surrounding hills,” says Porter. “The whole painting was right there in front of me … even the cattle were cooperating. All I had to do was capture that moment and not screw it up. But that’s really what plein air painting is all about, isn’t it?” The Catalina Mountains, just north of Tucson, is a favorite locale for Arizona artist Cindy Carrillo and the subject in her thickly painted and moody Catalina Shadows for Nómadas. “There had been a warm spell so there was a thin layer of green spring grass,” explains Carrillo. “After two hours the wind came up and the temperature dropped dramatically. By the time I could clean up my brushes a fog dropped down over the mountain edges and it started to sleet! I have painted this mountain range many times, and each time I am rewarded with a painting that is a keeper.” Light Snow in Endo Valley, painted by artist Cecy Turner, was created in Endo Suzette Keegan, Jemez Afternoon, oil on panel, 12 x 16" Dave Santillanes, Poudre River Study, oil on board, 12 x 16" Valley in Rocky Mountain National Park last November. “I love the challenge of producing well composed and thought-out paintings outdoors with the wind, sun, etc., constantly at your side and in your face, then showing them alongside paintings by other outdoor painters dedicated to doing 78 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX the same thing,” says Turner. When Arizona artist Stephanie Birdsall goes out on location, she looks for the design that light makes on water, trees, the mountain or snow. For Nómadas, she presents February Morning, painted at 9,000 feet on Mount Lemmon, just 30 minutes from her home. Cecy Turner “Looking Through Aspens - Many Parks Curve” 8 x 10 oil www.cecyturner.com [email protected] John Darby Suzette Keegan Tumbleweed Gallery “Winter Arroyo” “Chamisa” 40” x 30” Oil Galleries of Sunset Center 3701 Plains Blvd. #96-98 • Amarillo, TX 79102 • 806-341-7209 12x16 Oil on Panel www.suzettekeegan.com 505.780.4859 April Art Show Preview Walter Porter, Early Morning at Horseshoe Lake, oil, 12 x 16" “My challenge is to capture that single moment when the light and shadow are special and relate this in my painting,” says Birdsall. Despite being a lifetime East Coast resident, artist Kathy Anderson is constantly drawn back to the beauty of the West. “The Western light provides contrast and colors that rarely occur in my eastern surroundings,” says Anderson. “Whether it is the beautiful blue greens that highlight the colors of the aspens or the colors of the water in the rivers and falls that I so love to paint, I find a painting around every turn.” The aspen grove painting titled Aspens in Telluride for the show was painted along the road to a friend’s cabin where Anderson was staying during the Telluride Plein Air show. Rio Grande at Taos, a 30-by-40-inch oil by Texas artist John Darby, was painted looking south from the second highest expansion bridge in the United States. “To the river 650 feet below will give a person a thrill and fear all at the same time … but what a view,” says Darby. For artist Dave Santillanes, when he is painting, especially outdoors, he aims for essence over details, looking for the simplistic among the chaotic. His outdoor study for Nómadas, titled Poudre River Study, was done along the Cache la Poudre River just west of his home in Fort Collins, Colorado. “The river winds through Poudre Canyon where, on this mild day in December, the sunlight filtering down its walls created some wonderful abstract patterns,” says Santillanes. “These patterns of light and shadow provided a spectacular backdrop to the river and were all the inspiration I needed to setup the easel.” Turn in the River, by Fran Dodd McConnell, is one of the many paintings of the Arkansas River she has done at the nature trail in Pueblo, Colorado, a source of endless inspiration for the artist. “This is my third exhibit with Nómadas and I’m excited to be once again included,” says McConnell. “Plein CONTINUED ON PAGE 83 Anita Mosher, Spring Thaw, oil, 20 x 16" 80 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX AMY EVANS Evening at Rocky Mountain NP, Oil, 16x12 inches “Sentinels” 10” x 12”, oil Signature member, Plein Air Artists of Colorado, Women Artists of the West www.amyevansart.com • 970.453.1536 Represented by: Ago Gallery, Ouray, CO Breckenridge Art Gallery, Breckenridge,CO Germanton Gallery, Germanton, NC CAROL SWINNEY AWA, OPA, RMPAP Current Representation: Susan Powell Fine Art, Madison, CT Chrysalis Gallery, Southampton, NY Wendt Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA www.kathyandersonstudio.com Stephanie Birdsall “Sunday” 9” x 12” “Morning Along the Wash” 18 x 14" Oil on Canvas www.CarolSwinney.com PO Box 50723 • Casper, WY 82605 Cell: (307) 262-2168 [email protected] Oil on board www.stephaniebirdsall.com 3131 N. Deer Track Rd. Tucson AZ 85749 (239) 571-8859 [email protected] Susan Volk Stanley Still Life, Landscape, Animals in oil “Nose to Tail” 16” x 20” Susan Volk Stanley.com [email protected] Studio (480) 227-4487 FRANCES DODD “Above the Sage” oil 50x60 719.547.0165 www.francesdoddart.com Oil and Pastel Paintings Master Circle - IAPS Contemporary Landscapes in Vibrant Color TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX Oil on linen Cecy Turner, Light Snow in Endo Valley, oil, 8 x 10" air painting is a special joy and allows me the freedom and spontaneity that is so important to me in my work.” Susan Volk Stanley has been painting plein air for over 15 years. Her work reflects her life: ranching, horses, cattle and the landscape. One of her paintings for Nómadas, Lone Saguaro, was done not far from home. “I was drawn to the dramatic lighting there at the end of the day,” says Stanley. “The cliffs and foothills seemed to draw the eye right to the single saguaro that, to me, felt like it stood there against all odds.” New for this year, the size restrictions for the two submitted paintings have increased to 8 by 10 inches and 30 by 40 inches. Wes Hyde, one of the founders of Nómadas del Arte, believes this change in the submissions will allow artists to present their best works for the show. “Diversity in the show is very important,” says Hyde. “We’ll have colorists, expressionists, impressionists, realists … the whole gamut.” Among this year’s judges is Western Art Collector editor Joshua Rose. Total awards will be a minimum of $5,000 and others will also be announced. Nómadas del Arte Paint Out and Show When: April 1 to April 30, 2009 Where: Southwest Gallery, 4500 Sigma Road, Dallas, TX 75244 For more information, visit www.nomadasdelarte.com or call (800) 272-9910 83 Exhibition Previews of New Our editors talk to the artists about the work in their latest shows SOLO SHOWS 86 102 RICHARD D. THOMAS ELMER “SKINNY” SCHOOLEY Breckenridge, CO Santa Fe, NM 90 106 SUSAN KLIEWER JEFF HAM Scottsdale, AZ Tucson, AZ 94 110 PHYLLIS SHAFER ROBERT SCHLEGEL Reno, NV Missoula, MT 98 ALFREDO RODRIGUEZ Scottsdale, AZ 84 GROUP SHOWS 114 PULSE OF THE DESERT 126 SPRING REFLECTIONS Tubac, AZ Santa Fe, NM 118 130 EAST MEETS WEST WILDLIFE & WESTERN VISIONS Scottsdale, AZ EXHIBITION PREVIEWS Art Available for Sale St. Petersburg, FL 122 SKETCHES OF LIFE Fredericksburg, TX COAST TO COAST 85 UPCOMING SHOW S H O W L O C AT I O N B R E C K E N R I D G E , C O Up to 15 works on show April 4-5, 2009 Breckenridge Gallery 124 S. Main Street Breckenridge, CO 80424 (970) 453-2592 RICHARD D. THOMAS Montana riders 86 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX The Gallery Says . . . “Richard D. Thomas paints what he lives and loves. His painting ability transcends his Western subject matter.” —Gary Freese, owner, Breckenridge Gallery R ichard D. Thomas didn’t become serious about art until his late 20s. Raised in a small town in California’s San Joaquin Valley, Thomas wasn’t exposed to the arts in his youth. Instead, he worked as an administrator for a high-tech defense equipment contractor. “As a kid I drew and sketched,” recalls Thomas, “I knew there was an artist down there somewhere but I didn’t pull it up until later.” Since discovering his niche as a painter, Thomas’ Western-themed works have been highly sought after. His paintings hang in private collections alongside those of Sharp, Couse, Farney, Terpning and Reynolds. Thomas also participates in the annual Masters of the American West Fine Art Exhibition and Sale and the C.M. Russell Auction and Exhibitor Show. This self-taught artist has been represented by Breckenridge Gallery in Colorado since 1977. The gallery will mount his latest oil paintings during a solo show April 4 and 5 with an artist’s reception set for Saturday, April 4, from 2 to 6 p.m. For 35 years Thomas has been painting what he lives and loves. Known for cowboy and Native American genre, landscapes, and the American frontier, Thomas’ ability to paint transcends his Western subject matter. “I paint for myself and so far it’s working. I try to be honest with myself as an artist and that comes through in my work,” he says. Much of Thomas’ paintings are based in Montana where he resides. Frequent subjects include Native Americans and Western contemporary working cowboys. “They’re still alive and well here in Montana,” he says. “There’s an endless resource of material around me ... we live in the middle of working ranches.” Inspired by these subjects, Thomas’ Drive to Three Forks, oil, 40 x 64” 87 Fresh off the easel is Gathering Up The Loose Ends, oil, 24 x 36” Equine Chat Room, oil, 20 x 30” 88 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX Sundown Rider, oil, 15 x 20” authentic depictions stem from hours of researching the Crow, Black Feet, Sioux and Northern Plains Indians, as well as working from memory, models, photographs and sketches. “I hope they [collectors] get a good feel and appreciation for the portrayal of the Indian and the rancher. I’ve always enjoyed the history and contributions of Native Americans and that interplay between whites and Indians and the Western movement,” says Thomas. “I work in a realistic but loose, painterly style.” Pulling Native American subjects from the 1800s, Thomas puts a lot of emphasis on mood and the feeling of a piece. As a result, collectors often comment on the lighting and how he portrays the softness and feeling of the moment. “One collector says I paint the air and atmosphere. It’s something you become absorbed in while you’re working. I’ve always been conscious of trying to do that,” says Thomas. “I can paint just as well and enjoy creating something in a foggy day or blue skies.” Thomas describes his latest paintings as “simplicity with a complicated subject.” Achieving this balance is foremost in his work. Thomas pays particular interest to sunsets in two of his lone rider pieces, Crow Warrior and Sundown Rider. In Crow Warrior, the artist shows a Native American on horseback sitting on the outer edge of his encampment with a visually stunning Northern Plains backdrop. “I like a nice contrast in light in my work,” says Thomas. A more complex scene can be found in the new piece titled Equine Chat Room, which shows about eight horses wandering around his loafing shed. “We have a number of horses pastured on our ranch and I happened to notice how they gathered around one of our loafing sheds. I watched them and took a bunch of photos every day. After a few days, I put them out and developed a composition,” says Thomas. “Observations are intentional. You go out and allow yourself to take in what you’re confronted with and what you see, and you stay open to what’s available.” Fo r a d i re c t l i n k to t he ex h i b it i n g g a l l e r y g o to w w w. we ste r n a r tco l le c to r. c o m Price Range Indicator Our at-a-glance Price Range Indicator shows what you can expect to pay for this artist’s work. 1999 2004 2009 Small $2,800 $3,000 $3,200 Medium $7,500 $10,000 $12,000 Large $28,000 $32,000 $38,500 89 UPCOMING SHOW SHOW LOCATION TUCSON, AZ Up to 4 works on show April 1-30, 2009 Medicine Man Gallery 7000 E. Tanque Verde Road Tucson, AZ 85715 (800) 422-9382 SUSAN KLIEWER Expressions of the heart A little piece of Susan Kliewer’s heart goes into each and every sculpture she molds. Based in Sedona, Arizona, this contemporary Southwest sculptor depicts the Navajo people she knew and loved when she managed the Marble Canyon Trading Post for five years on the Navajo reservation. “My subjects are taken from real life,” says Kliewer. “I lived on the reservation in the 1970s and got to know so many great people. I care for these people so much. Even my daughter-in-law is Navajo.” The artist often uses her grandchildren and Native American friends as models to capture the special intimacy that is the hallmark of her work. Her warm sentiments translate to the cowboys and Native Americans she captures in bronze. Kliewer strives to show the common thread that underlies all human experience, as evident in her recent piece titled Shima (Navajo for mother), which masterfully captures the universal unspoken bond between a mother and child. “This young shima gazes lovingly at her baby who is happy and secure in his traditional Navajo cradle board,” explains Kliewer. “I aim to capture and preserve the old ways of their society in a rapidly changing world.” Kliewer’s depiction of the ways of Native Americans in everyday life, from the past as well as the present, has attracted major collectors from all over the world. Her Dineh series includes Navajo Weaver, which alludes to months spent at the loom producing a Navajo blanket, and Gridlock at Window Rock, which shows a Navajo boy who has been herding his sheep all day and wants nothing more than to get home and have a bowl of mutton stew. Unfortunately the sheep aren’t cooperating. “This Navajo boy is trying to shoo them Navajo Powwow Dancer, bronze, 23 x 23 x 12” 90 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX Charlie & Monte, bronze, ed. of 35, 18½ x 21½ x 7” 91 Mischievous Ones, bronze, 17½ x 24 x 18” 92 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX The Gallery Says . . . “Susan Kliewer’s understanding of her Native American subject matter comes from a long intimate relationship with the people, their land and traditions.” —Dr. Mark Sublette, owner, Medicine Man Gallery but smiling because he finds it amusing,” says Kliewer. Gridlock at Window Rock, Shima and Navajo Weaver are among 13 two-thirds life-size bronzes that will be going to Na ‘Aina Kai (“Lands by the Sea” in Hawaiian), a non-profit botanical garden in Kauai, Hawaii. Kliewer has been asked to contribute work to its new Navajo family village that will teach children about the Southwest through interrelating sculptures. Medicine Man Gallery in Tucson boasts an extensive collection of bronzes by Kliewer. Her work has been featured in two of the gallery’s recent exhibitions, Historic Trading Posts of the West, which runs through March 28, and Geronimo Remembered: A Retrospective 100 Years after his Death, which continues through April 15. The gallery will spotlight Kliewer’s maquettes throughout April, including up to four never-before-seen pieces. Fresh from the foundry, the bronze titled Navajo Powwow Dancer represents a brighter future for the new generation, while in contrast, Navajo Weaver represents past tradition. “They are both so different. I enjoy the dancer’s sense of freedom and youth, while the traditional, older woman has lived her life with grace and humor. I think I was successful in capturing these moods,” says Kliewer. “I hope the connection I feel to the figures resonates with viewers.” Fo r a d i re c t l i n k to t he ex h i b it i n g g a l l e r y g o to w w w. we ste r n a r tco l le c to r. c o m Price Range Indicator Our at-a-glance Price Range Indicator shows what you can expect to pay for this artist’s work. Ama’ Sa’ni (Navajo for grandmother), bronze, ed. of 45, 20 x 13 x 8” Small 1999 $900-$1,100 2004 $1,200-$1,400 2009 $1,400 Medium $4,200-$14,000 $4,400-$18,000 $4,600 Large $24,000-$34,000 $55,000-$65,000 $65,000 93 SHOW LOCATION RENO, NV UPCOMING SHOW Up to 40 works on show March 12-April 4, 2009 Stremmel Gallery 1400 S. Virginia Street Reno, NV 89502 (775) 786-0558 PHYLLIS SHAFER Into the Landscape: Vistas and Visions F ew artists can say their paintings wrap around a luxury touring bus promoting conservancy of Lake Tahoe. Then again, South Lake Tahoe artist Phyllis Shafer isn’t an ordinary painter. Working outdoors, Shafer’s style has been described as “idiomatic magical realism.” In Shafer’s latest plein air paintings, she continues to push contrast in scale, distortion of perspective, and now, inclusion of peripheral vision. Exclusively represented by Stremmel Gallery in Reno, Nevada, the new work reflects yet another approach the artist has adapted to plein air painting. “There’s definitely distortion and stylizing in relationship to direct observation,” explains Shafer. Titled Into the Landscape: Vistas and Desert Picnic, gouache, 13 x 17" 94 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX Visions, this third solo exhibition reflects observations from Shafer’s personal explorations of her Sierra Nevada surroundings and the Sonoran Desert south of Tucson in both oils and gouaches. “Her works are very exciting. This is a great body of her newer experiences, and I love the fact it’s representing Arizona, Tahoe and Nevada,” says gallery owner Turkey Stremmel. “Every year Shafer The Collector Says . . . “Phyllis Shafer’s subject matter is attractive and she has a unique style I haven’t seen anywhere else. I like the idea that it’s from our area, so there’s an emotionally attachment for me. I seem to be attracted to the way she composes water, and her style with skies is one of the things she’s good at; it radiates a feeling of Sierra Nevada to me.” —Nello Gonfiantini, Reno, NV Desert Ravine, oil, 22 x 25" grows as an artist. She hones her style and her definition. Her palette is very exciting and she’s very solid with her structure and design. She’s an artist that pushes herself, and I think she’s a rising star.” Shafer juggles a hectic schedule between being an instructor and chair of the art department at Lake Tahoe Community College and her own artistic endeavors. She took a six-month sabbatical last year to pursue the latter, and her journey is documented in the new work. “Whether painting desert or mountains, I’m really using landscape as a metaphor,” says Shafer. “I’m interested in the rhythmic style of painting in order to bring out metaphoric possibilities of all natural forms and objects.” Shafer’s compelling, poetic images of the rugged landscapes she studies articulate her desire to “distill and crystallize the essence and the vital rhythms that animate it.” The use of slightly exaggerated 95 Clark Canyon, oil on canvas, 24 x 30" The Collector Says . . . “Phyllis Shafer is able to paint and capture the land in an organic and energetic way that instantly draws me to her work. Whether I am viewing a landscape I have personally visited or an unknown region, Phyllis’ genius in rendering the land, light, clouds and plants provides me with a new way of seeing and experiencing Mother Nature.” —Mackenzie Banta, Reno, NV Charlie’s Barrel, oil, 12 x 12" 96 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX Above Emerald Bay, oil, 12 x 16" perspective, expressive brushstrokes and repeated patterns help to reveal the inner spirit of her subject. The inspiration for her paintings begins with the location, the sense of place. “I let it speak to me,” she says. “I love transcribing that emotional and physiological experience of nature.” During her sabbatical, Shafer spent two months at her brother and sister-in-law’s house in Tubac, which acted as an artist’s residency. Her new piece titled Charlie’s Barrel is motivated in part by her brother. “He’s so enamored with the cactus plants in his yard,” she says. Charlie’s Barrel, a myopic rendition, illustrates the artist’s ability to zoom in on desert flora and its character. Created on wood panel, the piece reflects Shafer’s interest in narrative and the symbolism in her work. “I really like the inherent gesture of the cactus plant,” she adds. Shafer rarely paints well-known, recognizable vistas but Above Emerald Bay marks an exception. “This is a classic Tahoe view. It pays homage to all those painters that came before that painted Emerald Bay,” she says. The scene also has prompted the artist to consider doing a series of Above Emerald Bay spots. In addition, it’s this image that appears on the Protect Lake Tahoe touring motor coach that promotes preservation and restoration of the “Jewel of the Sierra Nevada.” The motor coach will be parked outside Stremmel Gallery during the artist’s reception on Thursday, March 12, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. “I love the idea of my paintings going down the road on a big bus,” she says. Preferring to study her subject in its rawest incarnation, Shafer’s artistic process begins outdoors where she paints directly from the natural environment. Only the finishing touches occur back in the studio. “I like the ability to go between the two; both afford a different aspect of the process,” says Shafer. Fo r a d i re c t l i n k to t he ex h i b it i n g g a l l e r y g o to w w w. we ste r n a r tco l le c to r. c o m 97 SHOW LOCATION UPCOMING SHOW SCOTTSDALE, AZ Up to 12 works on show March 30-April 12, 2009 Heritage Gallery 7190 Main Street Scottsdale, AZ 85251 (480) 941-9041 ALFREDO RODRIGUEZ A life in color A l fredo Rodriguez uses his talent as a painter to turn adversity into opportunities, both artistically and personally. Born and raised in Mexico with nine siblings, Rodriguez received little formal art instruction. Nevertheless, painting was as much a part of his childhood development as learning to speak and walk, and he used his talent to supplement his family’s income. Rodriguez’s family and teachers recognized his aptitude for drawing early on. At age 6, he received a set of watercolors from his mother that he used for illustrating classroom assignments and painting portraits of family members. At 10, he sold his first painting. Now living in California, Rodriguez exhibits at several important invitational art shows around the nation, including the Masters of the American West Fine Art Exhibition and Sale. His work has been included in Target Practice, oil on linen, 36 x 48” 98 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX several books, most recently his own, titled Alfredo Rodriguez: A Life in Color, which relates for the first time a detailed story of the artist from his humble beginnings to present day. A renowned master realist, Rodriguez paints the people of the American West with passion and remarkable beauty. His paintings depict the rich history and culture of Native Americans, trappers, and the gold miners that embody the Snow Bird, oil on linen, 24 x 36” The Collector Says . . . “Alfredo Rodriguez is one of the most talented, dedicated artists on the scene today and one of the most versatile. Most of his paintings are extremely complicated and well beyond the reach of many of his contemporaries. I think this versatility and dedication is what sets him apart.” — Don Crowley, CA Alfredo Rodriguez with his latest creation in his California studio. 99 Homeward Bound, oil on linen, 24 x 36” spirit of the West. Heritage Gallery in Scottsdale will mount his new works in a solo show that runs March 30 through April 12. These new highly sought after paintings will again be sold by set price drawing and sealed bid auction in order to accommodate the overwhelming demand for his work. Rodriguez’s new works include mostly large scale scenes with multiple figures. Subject matter will mainly focus on the “forty-niners” of the California Gold Rush (1848-1855), in addition to scenes of Navajo and Plains Indians as well as a few cowboys. “The history of the Mother Lode country is fascinating to me. The more I read about it the interested I become. Therefore, I get inspired to paint these miners who left their families behind to seek their fortune,” explains Rodriguez. “It’s sad that few struck it rich. During these times, many grew up without their daddy. Nevertheless, these stories inspire me and give me limitless ideas and opportunities to depict them on canvas. And, at the moment, not many artists are painting this particular subject matter.” Most noted for portraits of one or two people, Rodriguez’s new paintings include multiple figures to emphasize more storytelling. “I’m trying to tell a deeper story and one figure isn’t enough,” he says. 100 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX Rodriguez’s largest piece in the show, measuring 40 by 60 inches, is titled Gold and depicts 14 miners working in the diggings hoping to discover gold. “The interaction and expressions on their faces illustrate best what I’m trying to convey to the viewer,” the artist says. Rodriguez’s fascination with the West and its inhabitants continues in his vibrant depictions of Native Americans. His detailed, soulful brushwork and colorful palette pay homage to these peoples and their rich culture. Ideal examples can be seen in the new pieces titled Vision Seekers, Target Practice and Homeward Bound. “I can usually get better results and Vision Seekers, oil on linen, 48 x 36” expressions from my models when they are not posing. Such was the case of the painting Target Practice,” says Rodriguez. “During my last visit to the Sioux reservation in South Dakota, I found my friend, Jay Red Hawk, teaching some of his young relatives to throw arrows at a target. I thought the scene would make a good subject to paint. Of course, in order to do the painting, I had to rearrange the characters to create a better composition.” Rodriguez’s studio consists of a converted garage built on the side of his house. The 800-square-foot space includes several props such as knives, flintlock rifles, and a Sioux war shield that he uses in his paintings. Working on pure Belgian linen, Rodriguez begins most works with a full value block-in, using a transparent monochrome wash to cover the white space. Once dry, he draws directly on the canvas working from the inside out. He then begins to paint in earnest. As he progresses in layers, he uses thicker and thicker pigment and then fine-tunes the details, which have become his hallmark. “My greatest challenge is to be able to paint an interpretation of the subject, not just a rendition of a photo, or a literal copy of my model,” says Rodriguez. “I believe I have accomplished that goal in just a handful of paintings. In the meantime, I enjoy the entire process, the simple act of painting. After all, art is a journey, not a destination.” Fo r a d i re c t l i n k to t he ex h i b it i n g g a l l e r y g o to w w w. we ste r n a r tco l le c to r. c o m Price Range Indicator Our at-a-glance Price Range Indicator shows what you can expect to pay for this artist’s work. 1999 2004 2009 Small $2,000 $2,500 $4,900 Medium $8,000 $10,000 $15,000 Large $24,000 $28,000 $35,000 101 UPCOMING SHOW SHOW LOCATION SANTA FE, NM Up to 40 works on show April 24-May 8, 2009 Meyer East Gallery 225 Canyon Road Santa Fe, NM 87501 (505) 983-1657 ELMER “SKINNY” SCHOOLEY The early years O ne of the Southwest’s modern art pioneers, Elmer “Skinny” Schooley (1916-2007), was best known for his large landscape paintings but he also achieved distinction as a printmaker creating imagery of northern New Mexico in lithographs, woodcut, aquatints and pastels. On Friday, April 24, the Meyer East Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which has represented Schooley since the early 1980s and continues to represent his estate, will present an exhibition featuring the largest collection ever compiled of the artist’s works on paper. A reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Up to 40 works will be on exhibit and for sale with prices ranging from $500 to $10,000. These works offer a perspective of the artist as a draftsman, with the bulk of the pieces completed between the 1950s through the 1970s, even though Schooley began doing them in the 1930s and exhibited them in major shows throughout the country. “I’m excited because this is the largest representation of his works on paper ever put together, and many have not been seen since their creation,” says Kent Whipple, an expert on Schooley and gallery director of Meyer East Gallery. “It’s fun to see over time how he really found his voice, which resonated in his paintings. As a younger artist his work tended to be more representative.” The subjects in these pieces are stylistically diverse, reflecting influences by Regionalist aesthetic that was County Clerk's Office on Election Day , lithograph, 8 x 17" 102 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX popularized by artists and printmakers such as Grant Wood and Thomas Hart Benton to the later graphics, which point to a more abstract stylistic development that are reflected in the large format painting Schooley began creating at that time. The paper pieces in this exhibition were primarily done between the 1940s through the late 1960s while Schooley was teaching at New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas. Schooley retired in 1977, after teaching fine art and printmaking at the university. During his 30-year tenure at the school, he founded its lithography program and educated thousands of students in how to work in this art form. “The works he developed reflected the times of their creation, often focusing on Montezuma Bridge , lithograph, 16 x 11" 103 Working Man, 1938, lithograph, 14 x 8" 104 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX Gussie Standing Nude, lithograph, 19 x 12" the social issues that Schooley held close; fighting racism, voting rights and workers’ rights and social equality,” says Whipple. “The pieces have a wonderful WPA feel to them focusing on people and their struggles. He was socially progressive.” Examples of Schooley’s growth as an artist can be found in his early works titled County Clerk’s Office on Election Day, Garden Walk, and Montezuma Bridge. “I like all of those because you really see his evolution,” says Whipple. “Through the ‘60s and ‘70s they became more abstract and reflect more of what Schooley did in his large paintings … more pointillist detail than direct representation.” Montezuma Bridge in particular has a Grant Wood and Thomas Hart Benton feel to it. Garden Walk, lithograph A/P, 21 x 16" “It has the feeling of the region. Schooley created what he saw, interpreting his surroundings,” says Whipple. “Here he shows an old man walking across Montezuma Bridge on a moody day, there’s great light and shadow.” County Clerk’s Office on Election Day captures a scene of northern New Mexico in 1951 of a group of people waiting in line to vote. “He takes a small scene and tries to capture every ounce of it,” says Whipple. Schooley’s prints are in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum, Brooklyn Museum, Dallas Museum, Museum of New Mexico, the Philadelphia Print Club and the Library of Congress. Admirers and collectors of Schooley’s work are sure to be as enthralled with this retrospective exhibition as Whipple. “It might surprise people who only knew him as an oil painter. They can see what he created in his younger days and see how he transitioned. Because Skinny was known for giving his wisdom, I think a lot of his collectors will be reminded of who he was and how his surroundings were the complete birth of his work,” says Whipple, who is working on Schooley’s catalogue raisonné. “I believe he’ll be remembered as one of the most important American artists of the late 20th century. The fact that he is in so many of these museums speaks for itself.” Fo r a d i re c t l i n k to t he ex h i b it i n g g a l l e r y g o to w w w. we ste r n a r tco l le c to r. c o m 105 SHOW LOCATION SCOTTSDALE, AZ UPCOMING SHOW Up to 15 works on show April 2-15, 2009 Rive Gauche Contemporary Gallery 15507 N. Scottsdale Road Scottsdale, AZ 85254 (480) 368-3530 JEFF HAM Electrifying the West J eff Ham spent most of his career as a commercial illustrator whose works have been used by such companies as Keebler, Beck’s Beer, Disney®, Marlboro, Cheetos®, Hanes®, Kelloggs® and McDonald’s®. Six years ago, when the artist had the opportunity to become a professional musician, he gave up painting to pursue it. When he later was offered a national touring gig, while faced with a growing family, he opted out of the music business and returned to his artistic roots where he has remained and flourished. Approaching his craft from a fine art Red Cloud, acrylic on canvas, 57 x 66" 106 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX standpoint is new for this Utah artist. Enjoying gallery representation for the past three years motivates Ham to produce dozens of contemporary Southwest paintings each year. “I paint 50 new pieces a year to catch up on lost time,” says Ham. “I paint what I love; The Gallery Says . . . “It’s mesmerizing to observe and study the strokes and colors Jeff Ham uses to boldly portray animals and people. Many an artist has marveled at how Ham ‘gets away with’ using certain colors right next to each other, or in the quantities he uses. The result is work that gets reactions—striking, powerful, bold … electrifying." —J.J. Jakubisin, Rive Gauche Contemporary Gallery people, animals and sometimes landscapes. I’m still enamored with the same stuff I’ve been doing, so all the themes are still new and exciting.” Admittedly obsessed with people and faces, Ham’s latest body of work includes diverse images, from nudes and historical figures to Native American subjects. Rive Gauche Contemporary Gallery in Scottsdale will mount Ham’s new acrylic paintings in a solo show titled Electrifying the West, which runs April 2 through 15. “I’ve spent a lot of time with the Lakota so much of my work is inspired from their ceremonies,” says Ham. “People and animals, to me, are interchangeable. When I’m doing figurative work, faces and bodies tell a story. They’re a roadmap of who you are and your life. I can sit and stare at a person for hours. I’m a people watcher. I see something in somebody and I want to put it on canvas.” This show will contain more figurative scenes than animals, in addition to something Ham has always wanted to paint: bull riders. “I’ve always liked the rodeo,” he says, impressed with their athletic ability. Influenced by artists like Fritz Shoulder, Francis Bacon, Marshall Arisman and Peter Max, Ham has been concentrating on spontaneous brushwork and simple moves that are loose and immediate. “My work is evolving. I continue to work on allowing spontaneity to rule; lead with my heart as opposed to my head,” says Ham. “I hope viewers recognize that I’m growing artistically. The more uninhibited my work comes across, I hope people see that and it sparks something in them.” A storyteller, Ham uses raw, bright, explosive colors to evoke emotion and draw attention to the subjects he depicts. “In my paintings everything becomes an iconic image, no setting or backgrounds. The work is done quickly and in the moment to Jeff Ham in his studio in St. George, Utah. 107 Indian with Canunpa, acrylic on canvas, 66 x 56” 108 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX Coyote, acrylic on canvas, 50 x 64” capture spontaneity and avoid over thinking and over working,” says Ham. “I do my best to translate emotion and feelings into color and communicate my individual interpretation of each subject. I hope viewers see I find human beings fascinating and beautiful, period.” Fo r a d i re c t l i n k to t he ex h i b it i n g g a l l e r y g o to w w w. we ste r n a r tco l le c to r. c o m Price Range Indicator Our at-a-glance Price Range Indicator shows what you can expect to pay for this artist’s work. 1999 2004 2009 Small $1,000 $2,000 $6,000 Medium $2,000 $4,000 $8,500 Large n/a n/a $12,000 Bison, acrylic on canvas, 52 x 67" 109 UPCOMING SHOW SHOW LOCATION MISSOULA, MT Up to 30 works on show April 3-26, 2009 Dana Gallery 246 N. Higgins Avenue Missoula, MT 59802 (406) 721-3154 ROBERT SCHLEGEL Following the back roads A n avid traveler, artist Robert Schlegel enjoys wandering the back roads of the country. From his century-old farm house in Oregon, located about 25 miles west of Portland in the middle of the woods on top of a hill, he sets out by car and takes in the sights all the way to the East Coast and back again. “My son is up in Missoula and I have been traveling to southwest Montana for some 15 years,” explains Schlegel. “It takes awhile, taking the back roads, but it is really neat. I follow the railroad lines, the granaries.” Schlegel also frequents the rolling hills of San Francisco and has traveled to New England and observed the strong architecture of the Northeast region three or four times. “On Highway 2, from Montana to North Dakota to Wisconsin, it is a beautiful stretch of land, through Colorado and Kansas ... the center of America is stunning,” says Schlegel. These explorations through the back roads of America have been the inspiration for a new body of work. Ranging in size from 8 by 6 inches to 48 by 36 inches, Schlegel presents up to 30 new paintings in oils and acrylics on gesso prepared paper, panel and canvas. Dana Gallery in Missoula, Montana, will mount his new works in a solo show that opens April 3 and runs through April 26 with an opening reception April 3 from 5 to 8 p.m. “People like to see a variety of things in a show and this is definitely a variety,” says Schlegel. Schlegel primarily works with shape and structure, and his interpretation of these objects in the environment. “That is my primary focus,” says Schlegel. “I am looking for rhythms and patterns, manmade structures juxtaposed into the landscape, shadows that are created with intense light. Anything that stimulates my eyes.” The process for Schlegel’s paintings begins with his scenic tours. He drives Bird, mixed media, 8 x 6” 110 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX and sketches from the car, often filling sketchbooks to the brim. It begins with that notion, and then he takes a photograph, though how it ends up in the end does not usually mirror the photo. “The actual place is not that important The Collector Says . . . “Quite a few things stand out about Robert’s work. The geometry and set up of his paintings are beautiful. He is a thoughtful painter and unafraid of using color, greens and reds, which is a big part of his work. I love his works because of the color and order.” —David Wilson, Missoula, MT Cow Walking, acrylic, 36 x 48” Landscape, oil, 24 x 48” 111 Waiting, acrylic, 8 x 10” to me, but rather it creates an emotional draw,” says Schlegel. One of the locations Schlegel captures for this new body of work in many paintings, including Copper Hill, is in Butte, Montana. These paintings reflect a gritty, melancholy emotion. “The mine shut down there and the economy of that community is tough,” says Schlegel. Flattening the plain and stacking the little squares and rectangles on top of each other with pastel colors, an unusual choice for Schlegel, makes this piece stand out. “The streets and houses are cut into the vertical hill, and the way the cliff drops off on the side makes the composition mysterious,” says Schlegel. “This is a strong place painting for me, as strong as I get.” Another interesting piece for the show is Cow Walking, a 36-by-48-inch acrylic depicting Marin County bovines on the move. “I like the way the ground comes through, it is thin paint but the burnt sienna glows. I like the effect, the vibrancy,” says Schlegel. Copper Hill, oil, 14 x 11” 112 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX Pomory, oil, 20 x 16” Tualatin, 11-by-14-inch oil, was developed from one of Schlegel’s trips to Missoula. Also a devoted plein air painter, he was preparing for a plein air paint out when he was struck by the agricultural farm areas, older houses and rolling hills of wheat country. In addition to his oil and acrylic works, Schlegel presents several mixed media paintings featuring birds. These works are gouache on ledger book paper gessoed on the back. He uses collage pieces to bring design and harmony into the balance of the painting. “These works started last winter when we had snow on our deck. I began feeding the little birds and was struck by the stark contrast between the snow and their feathers. It really popped, so I started sketching them and then it morphed into these collage pieces,” he says. Schlegel says he is pleased with his new works, but is always striving to improve and grow as an artist. “I work hard at color and line and texture and shape relationship, and I am learning all the time,” says Schlegel. “I hope what I do resonates with people in their visual life.” Fo r a d i re c t l i n k to t he ex h i b it i n g g a l l e r y g o to w w w. we ste r n a r tco l le c to r. c o m Price Range Indicator Our at-a-glance Price Range Indicator shows what you can expect to pay for this artist’s work. 1999 2004 2009 Small $200 $400 $800 Medium $400 $1,300 $1,600 Large n/a $1,800 $2,400 Tualatin oil, 11 x 14 ” 113 UPCOMING GROUP SHOW SHOW LOCATION TUBAC, AZ Up to 60 works on show March 21-April 12, 2009 K. Newby Gallery 19 Tubac Road Tubac, AZ 85646 (888) 398-9662 Pulse of the desert K. N ewby Gallery in Tubac, Arizona, presents Together Rising: Painting Event, a group show opening March 21 and running through April 12 featuring six of the top Southwest painters of today. This innovative show features the work of several local Tubac artists, Barbara Hill, Tom Hill, David Simons and Nicholas Wilson, in addition to Santa Fe artists Louisa McElwain and David DeVary. “True to its name, the exhibition reflects a community of artists from diverse backgrounds working within their own points of view to become a stronger and more powerful voice together, capturing this exciting time in history,” says Kim Roseman, owner of K. Newby Gallery. A reception for the artists will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March Louisa McElwain , O Prima Vox, oil, 24 x 72” 114 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX 21. Artists will be available during the reception to talk with guests and discuss their latest works on canvas. David DeVary’s imagery transcends viewers into the splendor of today’s Western outlook. His relaxed yet strong figures expose the carefree attitude created when picturing the American West. Yet, he is the first to acknowledge that his paintings are not historically accurate depictions of cowboy life Tom Hill, Sun Bleached, watercolor, 21 x 29” Louisa McElwain, El Amanecer, oil, 54 x 84” 115 Nicholas Wilson, Safe House, gouache, 18 x 24” during this golden era of the West in the 1900s. “In actuality, cowboys led a rough, dangerous and anything-but-glamorous existence,” says DeVary. The frontier that this artist explores draws more on the Western movies of the ‘50s, starring matinée-idol cowboys like Roy Rogers and Gene Autry, as seen in his work for the show titled Golden Land. Artist Barbara Hill grew up in rural Kansas. Her passion for the outdoors and wildlife carries over into her paintings in feeling and subject matter. Hill brings a breath of fresh, country air to her canvas. “My goals in painting are to portray to the viewer those special moments in an animal’s life—the time, the color and light, the feeling I have for it—then express that feeling in a creative, painterly way,” says Hill. Watercolorist Tom Hill has traveled to over 60 countries, painting, teaching and gathering material for his works. In addition to penning six books on painting, color and travel, Hill also has taught over 300 painting workshops throughout the United States and overseas. He has participated in group and solo shows in leading museums and galleries across the David DeVary, Golden Land, oil, 58 x 48” 116 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX David DeVary, Corente Bull, oil, 40 x 50” country. For Together Rising, Hill presents several works including Sun Bleached, Sunshine Follows The Rain and Street in Granada Spain. Louisa McElwain has more than 20 years experience painting outdoors in New Mexico. Her paintings leave viewers with a unique understanding of what it’s like when sky, clouds, wind, arroyos and mountains fill up the senses. “It’s like dancing to the tempo of the evolving day,” says McElwain, describing the very physical experience of painting outdoors. “A painting is like frozen choreography, like a ballet that you can see all in one moment.” David Simons is a self-taught artist. Having started as a watercolorist, he now prefers painting in oil. He is primarily a landscape artist but also enjoys still life and portrait painting. A member of Oil Painters of America, Plein Air Painters’ Society of Southern AZ (PASSA), and the American Impressionist Society, he has lived and worked in Tubac since 1993. Rounding out the six artists is Nicholas Wilson, a visionary painter and sculptor. For Together Rising, he presents Safe House. His strong interest in nature at a young age led to Wilson’s development as an artist, in addition to his experience as Curator of Exhibits at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum in the early 1970s. Fo r a d i re c t l i n k to t he e x h i b it i n g g a l l e r y g o to w w w. we ste r n a r tco l le c to r. co m 117 UPCOMING GROUP SHOW SHOW LOCATION SCOTTSDALE, AZ Up to 12 works on show March 30-April 11, 2009 Trailside Galleries 7330 Scottsdale Mall Scottsdale, AZ 85251 (480) 945-7751 East meets West R enowned Chinese artists take center stage in Trailside Galleries’ fourth annual East Meets West group show that runs March 30 through April 11 in Scottsdale. The inaugural show was held in April 2006 and was so popular with collectors that the gallery continues to host it every spring. This year’s participating artists are Mian Situ, Jie Wei Zhou, Calvin Liang, Tong Luo, Huihan Liu and Tang Wei Min. “These Chinese painters have enjoyed great success in the American art market,” says Joan M. Griffith, director at Trailside Galleries. “Their superb academic training and dedication to their craft is readily apparent in their art.” East Meets West will feature a variety Huihan Liu, Riding Home, Tibet, oil, 24 x 30” 118 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX of subject matter, including landscape, seascape, still life and figurative oil paintings depicting Chinese, Tibetan and Native American cultures. Born in Guangdong, China, Mian Situ’s paintings reflect his rural upbringing in the countryside of his native China. He is well-known for his deep-toned impressionist paintings of the daily lives of Chinese Calvin Liang, Monument Valley, oil on canvas, 20 x 30” farmers and villagers, as well as recent works of Western historical themes and American landscape. The market scene in China is one of Situ’s favorite subjects to paint and will be among the images in this show. “It serves as a trading place as well as a socializing occasion. Friends and relatives who are separated by mountains, not having a chance to see each other frequently, can wait for the market day, which occurs twice in 10 days, to get together. A visitor from outside can expect to see the local people in their most colorful costumes carrying their farm products for trading,” says Situ. Jie Wei Zhou is a master realist who works in oil, watercolor and acrylic. Born in Shanghai, P.R. China, he studied Russian and French painting styles. He often uses his wife and daughter as models clad in traditional Chinese clothing. He also is known for his depictions of the tribal peoples of Tibet, Mongolia and China, as well as stately canal scenes from Suchow. In East Meets West, Zhou presents two new oil paintings, Grandpa’s Helper and Tibetan Girl. Set in the 1920s and 1930s, the sense of responsibility in Grandpa’s Helper is universal. “All around the world, as grandparents lavish trust on their grandchildren, security and confidence within the children grows as surely as the children themselves,” says Zhou. “Here, as grandpa concentrates on perfecting his vase, one can see not only that his trust has been in place for some time but that it is well-founded. Because grandpa’s helper does her all to continue earning his trust, she gingerly and responsibly exercises utmost care as she places his just-completed vase on the shelf.” Tong Luo was one of only 20 students selected from across China in 1999 to be allowed to pursue post-graduate studies in painting at the Central Academy of Fine Art in Beijing. He has received numerous awards for his rich paintings of the Tibetan and Mongolian people in traditional clothing, particularly children. Luo is not only inspired by the Tibetan culture, but by their spirit. The criminal and frequent destruction of their valuable traditions motivated the artist to paint three pieces for this show: Disappearing Village, Across Snow The Gallery Says . . . “These Chinese painters have enjoyed great success in the American art market. Their superb academic training and dedication to their craft is readily apparent in their art.” —Joan M. Griffith, director, Trailside Galleries 119 Calvin Liang, Sunset, oil on canvas, 15 x 30” Land, and Qing Sui River. Huihan Liu was born in Guangzhou, China, in 1952 and immigrated to America in 1987. He is a master signature member of the Oil Painters of America and graduated with a master’s degree from the Academy of Art College in San Francisco in 1989. Liu’s figurative paintings depict the Tibetan people and their lifestyles, as illustrated in his new works titled Shepherd, Tibet and Riding Home, Tibet. Liu recently visited Tibet, a region he has toured frequently during the past two decades. “What strikes me most is the image of people and nature’s beauty,” says Liu. “Some of the same patterns found in Tibetan life drew me to paint American Indian scenes.” Born in Yongzhou in the Hunan province of China in 1971, Tang Wei Min was accepted into a graduate study program in the Painting Department in Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts. In 2003, he was honored with his work being purchased and exhibited by the Beijing Museum of Fine Art. Calvin Liang was born in Canton, China, and completed his education at the Shanghai Academy of Fine Art. He immigrated to the U.S. in 1987 where he worked for the animation studios of Disney and Nickelodeon. A member of the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association and the California Huihan Liu, Shepherd, Tibet, oil, 30 x 24” 120 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX Calvin Liang, The Pilgrim in San Diego Bay, oil on canvas, 18 x 24” Art Club, he won the Award of Excellence at the 10th annual Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition in 2001. Liang’s impressionist seascapes are sought after around the country. In this show, Liang presents three new oil paintings: The Pilgrim in San Diego Bay, Sunset, and Monument Valley. The seascape The Pilgrim in San Diego Bay was motivated by a trip to San Diego to attend the “Festival of Sail” featuring over 20 majestic tall ships and other sailing vessels from around the world. “The beautiful sails caught my eye,” says Liang. “I’m not trying to tell the story in my paintings. I keep painting the way I look and the way I feel. I also want the viewer to feel the same passion and emotion that I feel while I am painting.” Fo r a d i re c t l i n k to t he ex h i b it i n g g a l l e r y g o to w w w. we ste r n a r tco l le c to r. c o m Jie Wei Zhou, Tibetan Girl, oil, 16 x 16” 121 UPCOMING GROUP SHOW SHOW LOCATION FREDERICKSBURG, TX Up to 20 works available March 28-April 11, 2009 Whistle Pik Galleries 425 E. Main Street Fredericksburg, TX 78624 (800) 999-0820 Sketches of life O p ening March 28 and running through April 11, Whistle Pik Galleries in Fredericksburg, Texas, presents Sketches of Life, a group show featuring the process of artwork from start to finish. “The concept of the show is new beginnings,” says Tim Taylor, owner of Whistle Pik Galleries. “Where does an artist begin from?” Gallery artists participating include Cyrus Afsary, Michael Albrechtsen, Joe Anna Arnett, Cheri Christensen, John Cook, Jeff Gottfried, Brian Grimm, Ann Hardy, G. Harvey, Chauncey Homer, Jeff Legg, Michael Malm, Robert Moore and Hodges Soileau, among others. “It is a great opportunity to see how an artist approaches a painting or sculpture,” says Taylor. There will be an artists’ reception held Friday, April 3, which coincides with the First Friday Art Walk Fredericksburg. Many of the artists will be in attendance and demonstrating during the day. The thriving art community holds First Friday Art Walk Fredericksburg on the first Friday of every month. There are nine participating galleries that present events throughout the day. “We are really excited about this event and how unique it is going to be. We feel like this Sketches of Life show will add a new dimension to the artist’s work in the client’s eyes,” says Sandy Nigh, gallery administrator. Artist Joe Anna Arnett enjoys working in plein air as well as in the studio. Her subjects vary greatly from intimate portraits of flowers to an entire harbor in Nova Scotia. Whether it’s painting along the River Seine, or huddled under a rain-soaked pier at low tide, Arnett is having a wonderful time and is always grateful for the privilege of living the artist’s life. “I interpret Sketches of Life as an opportunity to show the preparatory work that I do for my paintings,” says Arnett. “I often do drawings when I am Michael Malm, Pumpkins, oil, 16 x 12” 122 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX working in plein air to help determine the composition and the value structure of a painting before I begin. I draw the subject that interests me, then crop it several times until I have determined just what to include in the painting and Brian Grimm, Study for Texas Flavors, oil, 6 x 8” what to edit out.” For this show, Arnett is including two on-site drawings as well as the resulting paintings. Arnett says these sketches are among her treasures as they constitute a complete visual diary of the event. The sketches have notes about the location, time of day, and any information about the weather or other conditions that she finds relevant. “These drawings are really worked over and show so much about the experience. They may even have splashes of paint, or maybe that was coffee,” says Arnett. Although Arnett mostly uses sketches for her paintings, she says there are times when she does small color oil studies. She has included two of these in the show as well, like In the Pumpkins, which was Jeff Gottfried, Calf and Chickens, ceramic clay 123 G. Harvey, Washington Sketch, oil, 12 x 16” 124 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX Michael Malm, Candelabra, oil, 16 x 16” a study for a Prix de West painting several years ago. “The rooster and the hens were never actually in the pumpkins. It took several studies to determine the correct position and scale of the chickens as well as the pumpkins,” says Arnett. Arnett says the show is a wonderful opportunity for viewers to see into the mind of the artist and discover working methods that will bring a fuller understanding of the artist’s work. “It should be so interesting to see the many different and varied ways that artists approach their work,” says Arnett. “Because they only see the final product, most people never think of the amount of time and thought and hard work that goes into the creative process. This show could be an exciting revelation.” One of the sculptors in the show, Jeff Gottfried, creates Western bronzes with a domestic, introspective theme. For the show, he’ll have little “pinch clay” sculptures done in water-based ceramic clay and fired in the kiln. “They are my equivalent to 2-D artist’s sketches” says Gottfried. “Having these in the sketches show is a chance to share with others the sculpture studies I do for practice and working out design ideas.” The winner of the 2007 Cowboy Artists of America award for best emerging artist, Gottfried sculpts from live subjects, even when doing pinch clays. “A few days ago you would have found me running around our yard following our chickens with a lump of clay in my hand,” says Gottfried. Artist Mike Malm’s desire is to capture the beautiful effect of light and color as he sees it, and believes he is most successful at capturing these qualities when he paints subjects directly from life. “The themes are often based on family relationships and everyday life. I carefully consider light and color and use these as tools to create a desired mood in a piece,” says Malm. “I will often do a sketch of the subject to capture accurate color and values, and then combine these studies with photos in the studio to complete a finished painting.” Artist John Cook works spontaneously and always with a certain looseness, making his canvases fresh and straightforward. “The ‘firstness’ of any drawing carries an excitement that can only be salvaged if the work is stopped early,” says Cook. “Some folks say I know when to stop. Others prefer I go farther in the finishing process. My personal preference is ‘less is more.’” Cook paints a variety of subjects, including landscapes, figures, animals, and cityscapes with or without prominent figures, and his paintings tend to have great contrast in values, intense color highlights, and usually contain lots of lost edges. The 68-year-old artist describes his style as “impatient realism” and for the show will present charcoal sketches, Conté crayons and oil sketches, all which will be in a vignette form. Fo r a d i re c t l i n k to t he ex h i b it i n g g a l l e r y g o to w w w. we ste r n a r tco l le c to r. c o m 125 UPCOMING GROUP SHOW SHOW LOCATION SANTA FE, NM Up to 50 works on show April 3-17, 2009 Manitou Galleries 123 W. Palace Ave Santa Fe, NM 87501 (800) 283-0440 Spring reflections S pring is a time of renewal. The transformation from the bleak, rigid winter to the unsullied vitality of spring ushers a fresh perspective, especially on canvas. To celebrate this time of year, Manitou Galleries in Santa Fe, New Mexico, presents its annual spring group show. Featuring all gallery artists, like Jurgen Wilms, Robert Striffolino, Marlene Rose, Louisa McElwain, Liz Wolf and Grace Kim, among others, the show opens April 3 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. with many of the artists in attendance. The same evening is the West Palace Art District’s First Friday Art Walk. “Manitou Galleries is one of Santa Fe’s most innovative and visitor and collector friendly galleries in northern New Mexico,” says Patricia Gaughan of Manitou Galleries. “Currently exhibiting approximately 40 exceptional artists, mostly of the Southwestern region, Manitou has established a creditable reputation as a landmark in Santa Fe, known for exquisite fine art.” Jurgen Wilms, Espanola Valley, Winter, oil, 24 x 36” 126 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX In addition to works by all gallery artists, the show will include 15 new oils by featured painter Z.Z. Wei. Inspired by his experiences in the Pacific Northwest, where the artist calls Washington state his home, these new works showcase the unique architecture and landscape of the countryside. Rolling fields, farm silhouettes or an old truck traveling down a lonely road are all images covered by Wei. “I’ve been fascinated by the Southwest landscape since my first visit to Santa Fe Z.Z. Wei, Harvest, oil, 48 x 48” in 1990,” says Wei. “The shape, organic form and color of the adobe structures, the immense skyline, and the landscape under the desert sun provide me with a different focus to explore the relationship between man and nature.” Wei says that light, color, and structure are an inseparable entity of his work, as seen in two of his new pieces for the show, Harvest and Old Truck. “I am fascinated with simple, ordinary objects and common scenes that many people would pass right by without a second look, and artifacts that ultimately become a harmonious part of nature,” says Wei. Wei says he has always been interested in the relationship between man and nature. “When I am painting landscape, I am also painting people,” says Wei. “It is landscape where human activities unfold, revealing the interaction and relationship between man and nature.” His compelling yet calm and powerful paintings of the American rural countryside have set a strong tone for collectors throughout the art market for Wei’s works. “This exhibition, along with my previous artworks, is part of my artistic endeavor, a journey that I continue traveling and exploring,” says Wei. 127 Grace Kim, Pear Blossoms, oil, 9 x 12” Arriving in the art scene later in life, after leaving behind a successful career as an architect and raising a beautiful family, artist Grace Kim found that it is never too late to pursue a dream. Her works are based on traditional standards of composition with an emphasis on balance. Her subject matter reflects everyday beauty in natural objects, often from her own organic garden and orchard. For the spring group show, Kim presents Pear Blossoms, a colorful 9-by-12-inch oil, which shows a moment in spring when the blossoms have flowered. “There is a certain satisfaction I find in making permanent on canvas these often fleeting images of nature,” says Kim. The show is set to run for two weeks and will offer over 50 new artworks. Fo r a d i re c t l i n k to t he e x h i b it i n g g a l l e r y g o to w w w. we ste r n a r tc o l le c to r. c o m Louisa McElwain, Corona de los Angeles, oil, 44 x 40” 128 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX Z.Z. Wei, Old Truck, oil, 14 x 11” 129 SHOW LOCATION ST. PETERSBURG, FL UPCOMING GROUP SHOW Up to 175 works available April 25-26, 2009 Raymond James Financial Center 880 Carillon Parkway, Tower 4 St. Petersburg, FL 33716 (888) 779-2240 Wildlife & Western Visions C o-sponsored by Raymond James Financial, Inc. and The Plainsmen Gallery, the 10th annual Wildlife & Western Visions Art Show brings outstanding Western artists together for a weekend of Western art east of the Mississippi. Featuring 19 acclaimed wildlife and Western artists, including members of the Cowboy Artists of America, over 175 outstanding works of art will be available for sale at the show, including original paintings, sculpture, giclée prints and fine Native American jewelry. “Now in its 10th year, this nationally recognized show presents a rare opportunity to meet with a prestigious group of Western and wildlife artists in the state of Florida,” says Betty Brown, co-owner of The Plainsmen Gallery. Participating artists include Al Agnew, Greg Beecham, John Coleman, CA, Michael Coleman, Nicholas Coleman, Grant Hacking, Matthew Hillier, Oreland Joe, CA, Dustin Payne, Vic Payne, Julia Rogers, Charles Rowe, Tom Saubert, John Seerey-Lester, Suzie Seerey-Lester, Ernest C. Simmons, Geoffrey Smith, Trevor Swanson and David Yorke. This invitational art show has become nationally recognized and attracts collectors from not only Florida but across the country. All artists will be in attendance, making the show a great opportunity for guests to meet and speak with the artists directly about their work. Artist David Yorke has always had a fascination with the historic West, from the landscape to the culture. He has been a painter all of his life and his rich depictions of the West shine on canvas. Yorke’s home and studio are located in central Florida. He has been associated Nicholas Coleman, On the Plains, oil, 12 x 24” 130 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX with The Plainsmen Gallery since 2005 and this will be his fourth year participating in the Wildlife & Western Visions Art Show. Yorke presents two striking works for the show, Approaching Storm, featuring a candid portrait of a Sioux Indian, and Through These Eyes. “Through These Eyes represents a Comanche warrior,” says Yorke. “The title reflects his pose, taking in his surroundings, and being contemplative. Wildlife artist Trevor Swanson considers the Wildlife & Western Visions Art Show a highlight of his year because of the great group of artists and hosts. “This is one of those shows that feel more like a family reunion than work and it is a quick couple of days that ends all too soon,” says Swanson. As an artist, Swanson is always striving to convey a sense of life and grace that David Yorke, Through These Eyes, oil, 40 x 30” 131 Dustin Payne, The Messenger, bronze, ed. of 35, 21” is found in nature. His attention to detail grabs collectors and permeates the beauty found in the natural world. “My inspirations always come from travels and experiences in the wild. I hope to convey in my work that feeling of awe and privilege as we are allowed to be part of nature for a bit,” says Swanson. In thinking about the inspiration for the pieces that go in the WWV show, Swanson says that he thinks more about sharing the experience of the painting and the idea behind the work. “At the WWV there is a relaxed atmosphere where the artists and collectors are invited to really take a chance to get to know each other and spend time talking about the work, and I find that I will save certain ideas for this show because I am so excited about not only painting it but having the chance to talk about the piece as well,” says Swanson. “This is a group that enjoys the process and the stories behind the work as much as the painting itself.” A native Montanan, artist Tom Saubert graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Art with a BFA in painting and illustration and has been perfecting his craft for over 30 years. Saubert has been participating since the show began, and presents Red Lodge Dancer for the 2009 show. “I’ve always been fascinated by the Tom Saubert, Red Lodge Dancer, oil, 24 x 18” Julia Rogers, Misty Glade, oil, 24 x 36” 132 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX John Coleman, CA, Lives with Honor, bronze, ed. of 35, 27½ x 25 x 17” stories of our history, old Montana and the West, clear back even as a little boy. What a wonder it was to find a buffalo tooth, arrow head, or a rusted spur along Smith Creek, below Tiger Butte, and in the Missouri Breaks. I have always loved old things, old places and locations, and old folks,” says Saubert. Keeper of the Homeland, a sequel to sculptor Vic Payne’s popular bronze The Charge, is a continuation of Payne’s arduous studies of the West. Payne describes that as early as 1829, Andrew Jackson had urged the Indians to move west of the Mississippi, and by 1875, there was no more West, signifying the end of the Native American horse era. Keeper of the Homeland features an American Indian war hero in full charge, determined to protect his homeland. Payne captures with expertise the action in anatomy and motion, paying attention to fine detail such as the flowing buffalo skull headdress, the brass nails on the stock of the .62-caliber single-action black powder musket, and the fierce determination on this warrior’s face. Another sculptor, CA member John Coleman, presents Lives with Honor, a 27½-by-25-by-17-inch bronze. Although not a new piece, it hasn’t been cast in seven years. “We’re very excited that we’ll have it for the upcoming show,” adds Jill Berry of The Plainsmen Gallery. The show begins with an invitation-only preview and reception on Friday, April 24, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. and the show will be open to the public on Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, April 26, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Raymond James Financial Center. Fo r a d i re c t l i n k to t he ex h i b it i n g g a l l e r y g o to w w w. we ste r n a r tco l le c to r. c o m Vic Payne , Keeper of the Homeland, bronze, ed. of 35, 28 x 38 x 13” 133 PAST ISSUES NOVEMBER 2007 JANUARY 2008 DECEMBER 2007 3 5 4 WAC03 Cover.indd 1 10/1/07 5:51:59 PM WAC Covedr.indd 1 11/5/07 6:25:05 PM 7 WAC05 Cover.indd 1 12/3/07 5:44:35 PM WAC 06 Cover.indd 1 PREMIERE ISSUE 1 ISSUE 03 NOVEMBER APRIL 2008 12/28/07 7:51:59 PM WAC07 Cover.indd 1 ISSUE 06 FEBRUARY ISSUE 05 JANUARY ISSUE 04 DECEMBER MARCH 2008 FEBRUARY 2008 6 2/4/08 5:41:35 PM ISSUE 07 MARCH SEPTEMBER 2008 JUNE 2008 MAY 2008 JULY 2008 8 WAC 08 cover.indd 1 AUGUST 2008 10 9 11 3/3/08 10:09:39 PM ISSUE 08 APRIL ISSUE 10 JUNE ISSUE 09 MAY 13 12 ISSUE 11 JULY ISSUE 12 AUGUST ISSUE 17 JANUARY ISSUE 18 FEBRUARY ISSUE 13 SEPTEMBER DECEMBER 2008 16 ISSUE 14 OCTOBER ISSUE 15 NOVEMBER ISSUE 16 DECEMBER ISSUE 19 MARCH 3 WAYS TO ORDER Hotline 1-877-947-0792 • www.WesternArtCollector.com • By Mail RETURN THIS COUPON TO: Western Art Collector, PO Box 2320, Scottsdale AZ 85252-2320 If you do not want to cut your magazine please photocopy and mail the copy of the coupon in. YES, please send me the following issues of Western Art Collector for $8.95 each (including postage and packing) PREMIERE ISSUE 1 ISSUE 07 MARCH ISSUE 03 NOVEMBER ISSUE 08 APRIL ISSUE 14 OCTOBER ISSUE 09 MAY ISSUE 15 NOVEMBER ISSUE 04 DECEMBER ISSUE 10 JUNE ISSUE 16 DECEMBER ISSUE 05 JANUARY ISSUE 11 JULY ISSUE 17 JANUARY ISSUE 06 FEBRUARY ISSUE 12 AUGUST ISSUE 13 SEPTEMBER ISSUE 18 FEBRUARY ISSUE 19 MARCH Name Address PO Box 2320, Scottsdale, AZ 85252-2320 (480) 425-0806 City State Zip Email: [email protected] $8.95 each (including postage & packing) Telephone MasterCard Signature Visa Expiration Date AUCTION P R E V I E W S & R E S U LT S Each month we alert you to upcoming auctions and events nationwide and report on prices fetched so you can be informed about the market. 136 144 148 Scottsdale Scene Rare Charles Schreyvogel painting highlights the 5th annual Scottsdale Art Auction. Art and Artifacts Apache bow and quiver signed by Geronimo leads Cowan’s April American Indian Auction. Rendezvous 2009 The Gilcrease Museum’s annual Rendezvous promises to be another reunion of top Western art. 154 160 Art of the West Exhibition spotlights seldom-seen paintings by 18 deceased masters at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Western Force The Autry’s 12th annual Masters of the American West Fine Art Exhibition and Sale sees record attendance, $3.6 million in sales on opening night. 172 168 Western Brilliance The Western Artists of America Miniature Show and Silent Auction brought out artists and collectors for an exceptional fine art experience. Western Americana Thrives The 19th annual High Noon Western Americana Auction brought thousands of visitors and over $1.2 million in sales. 135 AUCTION PREVIEW Scottsdale Scene Rare Charles Schreyvogel painting highlights the 5th annual Scottsdale Art Auction. T he City of Scottsdale will definitely live up to its moniker of the West’s most Western town the weekend of April 3rd through 5th as the 5th annual Scottsdale Art Auction brings in top collectors of Western art eager to purchase offerings by artists like Oscar Berninghaus, Joseph Henry Sharp, Charles Russell, Maynard Dixon, Carl Oscar Borg, Martin Grelle and Gerald Cassidy. The highlight of the show is a rare painting titled Saving Their Lieutenant by Charles Schreyvogel. According to Michael Frost of J.N. Bartfield Galleries in New York, this is one of SCOTTSDALE ART AUCTION APRIL 3-4, 2009 7176 MAIN STREET SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85251 (480) 945-0225 John Clymer, Spotted Buffalo, oil on canvas, 24 x 40” ESTIMATE: $200,000-$300,000 136 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX the artist’s most famous paintings. “Schreyvogel was a counterpart to Frederick Remington, although they did hate each other, but that was more Remington than Schreyvogel,” says Frost. “Like Remington, he did work as an illustrator for various publications and was painted at the same time as Remington, and even died three years later as well. So, there are a lot of similarities between the lives of these two artists.” Additionally, Remington lived in New York while Schreyvogel lived in New Jersey, and both also died young and around the same time. Also, both have similar styles. According AUCTION PREVIEW Charles Schreyvogel, Saving Their Lieutenant, oil on canvas, 24 x 30” ESTIMATE: $1,500,000-$2,500,000 oil on canvas, 20 x 30” ESTIMATE: $300,000-$500,000 SCOTTSDALE Joseph Sharp, Camp on the Little Big Horn, 137 Frank McCarthy, Running Them Off, oil on canvas, 26 x 40” ESTIMATE: $60,000-$80,000 Mian Situ, With Grandmother, oil on canvas, 20 x 16” ESTIMATE: $8,000-$12,000 138 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX Prairie Mother, gouache on board, 29¾ x 20” ESTIMATE: $150,000-$250,000 Martin Grelle, Defiance, oil on canvas, 40 x 54” ESTIMATE: $150,000-$250,000 SCOTTSDALE to Frost, this painting, Saving Their Lieutenant, is extremely rare and has been in a private collection for the last 10 years. “It’s one of the icons of his work,” says Frost. “They did a platinum print of this painting, which is a beautiful process that gives the print almost a 3-D effect. It’s also famous because of the great subject, cavalry officers saving their lieutenant. It’s a very emotional piece and great Western artists loved to paint subjects like that.” Schreyvogel wasn’t as prolific as Remington, so his paintings are a little harder to come by as well. “He only did a few hundred paintings in his whole lifetime and there are very few still out there. Most are in museums,” says Frost. “Unlike Remington, since he didn’t produce a lot, every one of his paintings is fully developed. He was also very accurate when it came down to uniforms, tact, bridals, boots, guns, rifles. He studied them all because he had them all to study from.” Another highlight of the auction is Maynard Dixon’s painting, Prairie Mother, which carries a pre-auction estimate of $150,000 to $250,000. While this is clearly a great Dixon painting, there are also a couple of other Dixon landscapes available at the auction. “It’s just a great piece,” says Brad Richardson, owner of The Legacy Gallery and co-owner of the auction. “With him, you don’t get too many Indian pieces and this one is from 1909, a time when it is proven that he was in Montana on the various reservations. It’s a beautiful painting with the figure in the front overlooking the Indian encampment. It has beautiful depth, wonderful color, and is just a great piece.” AUCTION PREVIEW Maynard Dixon, 139 C.M. Russell, The Peace Talk, oil on panel mounted on board, 18⅜ x 19⅜” ESTIMATE: $400,000-$600,000 Bob Kuhn, Summer Gathering, acrylic on board, 16 x 24” ESTIMATE: $60,000-$90,000 140 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX AUCTION PREVIEW Robert Griffing, The Winter Trade, oil on canvas, 30 x 50” ESTIMATE: $100,000-$150,000 Birger Sandzén, Big Thompson Canyon-Estes Park, oil on board behind glass, 16 x 20” ESTIMATE: $50,000-$75,000 SCOTTSDALE The Scottsdale Art Auction also boasts several wonderful examples of work by artists like Cassidy, Delano, Sharp and Berninghaus. There are also two strong Frank Tenney Johnson nocturnal scenes. “The Cassidy has those great Arizona colors,” says Richardson. “You don’t see that sky anywhere else but Arizona. And, the Sharp painting is a little more involved than most with multiple figures and tepees. And the Delanos are both extremely high-end and good upper-echelon paintings.” As far as wildlife and sporting art goes, there is a beautiful Norman Rockwell painting in the auction titled Fishing Party that carries a pre-auction estimate of $40,000 to $60,000. “We have the original magazine that this piece was done as an illustration for,” says Frost. “And the magazine goes along with the painting. It’s a double-page spread in the magazine. With the painting, we did a lot of 141 Z.S. Liang, War Dance, oil on canvas, 44 x 64” ESTIMATE: $75,000-$125,000 Andy Thomas, Leaving Old Mexico, oil on canvas, 36 x 48” ESTIMATE: $45,000-$65,000 142 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX AUCTION PREVIEW Curt Walters, Ra’s Domain, oil on canvas, 60 x 90” ESTIMATE: $100,000-$150,000 Gerard Curtis Delano, In the Shadows of the Canyon, oil on board, 24 x 28” ESTIMATE: $75,000-$100,000 SCOTTSDALE research on this piece as well as the others. We really try to get as much information as we can to give to the collectors.” Other wildlife pieces include a new painting by Luke Frazier, a Bob Kuhn titled Summer Gathering, and Ken Carlson’s Tranquil Slopes. Richardson is also proud of some of the more emerging artists in the auction like Kyle Polzin and Andy Thomas. The auction also has many special paintings by members of the Cowboy Artists of America organization. “We have a lot of CA work, some great ones, including several Martin Grelle paintings, a major Ron Riddick, a major Frank McCarthy, and a John Moyers, so those who collect the CA work will find some really good representations of those artists,” says Richardson. “For Martin’s work, one is from the Autry, one from the Prix de West and one from the CA show. It’s a nice group of work.” 143 AUCTION PREVIEW Art and Artifacts Apache bow and quiver signed by Geronimo leads Cowan’s April American Indian Auction. C owan’s auction house in Cincinnati, Ohio, has been making a bit of history of its own, establishing record prices paid for American Indian artifacts, Midwestern furniture and other collectible decorative art pieces. Its upcoming American Indian Art Auction set for Saturday, April 4, promises to keep this trend going with items spanning from the early to mid-19th century to contemporary. The sale consists of art from throughout North America, including Inuit carvings, Southwestern weavings, pottery and basketry, beadwork from the Great Plains, late 19th to early 20th century photography, and a selection of Western art. “Because we are offering a range of materials, both in timeframe and in region, I think the auction will appeal to collectors with varying interests and price points,” says Danica M. Farnand, director of American Indian Art at Cowan’s. “This is the first time we are offering a larger collection of contemporary American Indian art—mostly Southwest. The artistry is wonderful and hopefully will be appreciated by our clients.” Among the approximately 500 lots on the auction block will be a rare Apache bow and quiver signed by Geronimo estimated between $4,000 and $6,000. Geronimo was a Native American leader of the Chiricahua Apache tribe who fought against the Apache’s removal from their land by the government in the late 19th century. When the U.S. government attempted to move the Chiricahua from their home to the San Carlos Reservation in 1876, a barren wasteland in Arizona nicknamed “Hell’s Forty Acres,” Geronimo encouraged hundreds of Apaches to leave the reservation and flee to Mexico, where they COWAN’S AMERICAN INDIAN ART AUCTION APRIL 4, 2009 6270 ESTE AVENUE CINCINNATI, OH 45232 (513) 871-1670 Creek or Seminole Fingerwoven Shoulder Sash, c.1840-50s, woven of lac-dyed raveled wool ESTIMATE: $15,000-$20,000 144 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX AUCTION PREVIEW Acoma Polychrome Olla ESTIMATE: $8,000-$10,000 ESTIMATE: $4,000-$6,000 Cincinnati Apache Bow and Quiver signed by Geronimo and collected at the St. Louis World’s Fair, c.1904 Collected by Herbert A. Stark and passed through the family. 145 Navajo Germantown Six Panel Weaving, c. 1885 ESTIMATE: $30,000-$40,000 continued their war on white settlers. After many years of fighting for land rights and tales of his warrior ferocity, Geronimo became a feared and infamous Apache who fascinated all cultures. It is believed Herbert A. Stark acquired the bow and quiver from Geronimo in 1904 in exchange for a gold ring with a turquoise setting. Another auction highlight is a Navajo Germantown six panel weaving estimated to fetch between $30,000 and $40,000. The weaving, circa 1885, consists of six panels of varying complex designs in brilliant shades of red, gold, green, blue and cream. Similar examples of six and nine panel Germantown weavings can be found in the collections of Anthony Berlant and the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology. The Navajo Germantown weaving is made with yarn from Germantown, Pennsylvania, which the Navajos are believed to have acquired when they were moved off their land by the government. Also of interest is a Creek or Seminole fingerwoven shoulder sash estimated between $15,000 and $20,000. The sash, circa 1840-50s, is woven of lac-dyed raveled wool and is adorned with white glass beads and tassels. These woven sashes were worn by men and often featured realistic portrayals of stars, moons and animals, especially turtles. Cowan’s holds two American Indian and Western Art auctions a year, in the fall and spring. The second part of the April auction comprises 146 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX an additional 250 lots that will be featured in the online portion of the sale. The American Indian Art Auction typically draws 150 or so telephone bidders, another 200 absentee bidders, and nearly 500 registered buyers online. Farnand foresees little effect on the American Indian and Western Art auctions despite the dismal economy. “Collecting is a passion and this is something that does not change with the market. I believe people will seek out pieces they either find aesthetically pleasing or pieces to enhance their collection,” says Farnand. “With the current fluctuation in the market, those highly sought after items are now within range for the more moderate collector.” AUCTION PREVIEW Roland Reed, Meditation - Blackfeet, photograph ESTIMATE: $1,500-$2,000 ESTIMATE: $2,000-$3,000 Cincinnati Sioux Beaded and Quilled Hide Moccasins Collected by Daniel C. Beard (1850-1941) Ray Swanson, Eskimo Girl, oil on board, 20 x 16” ESTIMATE: $3,500-$4,500 147 EVENT PREVIEW Rendezvous 2009 With nearly 30 of today’s top contemporary artists, the Gilcrease Museum’s annual Rendezvous promises to be another reunion of top Western art. T he Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma, continues its tradition of promoting exceptional Western art and artists with its annual Rendezvous show. For 28 years, Gilcrease has hosted this event as a way to recognize the noted Western artists of the day. Festivities begin with the traditional Evening with the Artists and Art Sale Friday, April 17. The exhibition will be open to the RENDEZVOUS 2009 APRIL 18-JUNE 21, 2009 GILCREASE MUSEUM 1400 N. GILCREASE MUSEUM ROAD TULSA, OK 74127 (888) 655-2278 Tim Cherry, Squirrel Scratch, bronze, 10 x 12 x 4” 148 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX EVENT PREVIEW Jim Wilcox, Serenity, oil on canvas, 18 x 24” Tulsa Cyrus Afsary, Happy, oil on linen, 11 x 14” 149 Gerald Balciar, Mountain Boomer, bronze, 15½ x 25½ x 7” public April 18 through June 21, 2009. “Gilcrease Museum continues the prestigious history of Rendezvous with this year’s selection of artists,” says Duane King, vice president for museum affairs for The University of Tulsa and Gilcrease Museum executive director. “These artists represent the best in their field today, and they continue Gilcrease’s legacy for showcasing artists’ talent.” Rendezvous 2009 participating artists include Cyrus Afsary, Joe Anna Arnett, James Asher, Gerald Balciar, Joseph Bohler, Tim Cherry, Fred Fellows, Daniel F. Gerhartz, Walt Gonske, Glenna Goodacre, Tony Hochstetler, Harold T. Holden, Doug Hyde, Oreland C. Joe Sr., T.D. Kelsey, Steve Kestrel, David A. Leffel, Sherry Salari Sander, Sandy Scott, Tim Shinabarger, Matt Smith, Joe Anna Arnett, Autumn, oil on linen, 22 x 26” 150 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX EVENT PREVIEW Tulsa Harold T. Holden, Boomer, bronze, 45 x 53 x 17” 151 Sonya Terpening, The Whistle Maker, oil on linen, 24 x 18” 152 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX EVENT PREVIEW Kent Ullberg, Calling My Name, bronze, 10½ x 6 x 12” Rendezvous a must-see for collectors. New to the event schedule, the Gilcrease Museum is offering a Master Class opportunity with two of Rendezvous 2009’s participating artists, Joe Anna Arnett and James Asher, on Wednesday, April 15, and Thursday, April 16, held at the museum from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This adult class is constructed for amateur and professional artists interested in studying the techniques and styles of this artist couple. Participants can choose between oil and watercolors, or both, deciding to paint one day with Arnett in oils and the next with Asher in watercolors. Informal Art Talks featuring noted sculptor and past Rendezvous featured artist Gerald Balciar and painter Sonya Terpening will be held Friday, April 17. Balciar will discuss his working style during a 10:30 a.m. presentation. Following at 1:30 p.m., Terpening will talk about her signature style, painting everyday events and ordinary people in both watercolor and oil. The Gilcrease Museum is home to the world’s largest, most comprehensive collection of art and artifacts of the American West. Rendezvous 2009 provides financial support for the museum’s exhibitions and educational programming. Tulsa Gordon Snidow, Sonya Terpening, Shirley Thomson-Smith, Kent Ullberg, Fritz White, Jim Wilcox and Wayne Wolfe, among others. “These artists’ work is sought after by collectors both nationally and abroad, and Gilcrease is thrilled at the opportunity to host these acclaimed artists and their work,” says Deacon Turner, Rendezvous 2009 event co-chair. “For 28 years this event has drawn the most talented artists of the day to showcase the best in Western art.” Each artist will have one to four pieces in the show. Artists present in a variety of mediums, from bronze and stone, to oils, watercolors and graphite, making 153 EVENT PREVIEW Art of the West New exhibition spotlights seldom-seen paintings by 18 deceased masters now open at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. T he National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum presents the inaugural exhibition of paintings of the West from the Bank of America Collection through May 10, 2009. Titled Art of the West, this temporary exhibit represents only a small portion of the bank’s extensive collection of paintings, prints, sculpture, photographs and art objects. “We’re proud to bring this important collection of Western art to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Sharing these works with the public not only benefits local residents culturally, it also helps strengthen the community financially, by supporting an institution that serves as an economic anchor,” says Tony Shinn, Bank of America Oklahoma City market president. “As our nation looks toward its future during this historic time, it’s now more timely than ever to look back on its history and be reminded of our country’s beginnings in the days of Western expansion.” Guest curator Elizabeth Cunningham and museum staff selected 39 works by 18 deceased masters, including paintings, prints, photographs and art objects. The featured painters offer a diverse approach to portraying the American West. Visitors will find selections ranging from Alfred Jacob Miller’s representational art to an abstract by Raymond Jonson. Other artists include Frank Tenney Johnson, Ernest Blumenschein and Maynard Dixon. “Some of the works have never been seen in public, or at least not on public view in recent time,” says Cunningham. The exhibition offers a mini lesson in art history as applied to painting in the American West. It also provides an opportunity to see the various artistic developments that occurred in each painter’s work.” The artworks are divided into sections: Discovery Through Time, Iconic West, Regional West, and Moving Toward Modernism. The exhibition starts with Caravan en Route, a period piece by Alfred Jacob Miller that records his 1837 journey to the annual Rocky Mountain ART OF THE WEST: SELECTIONS FROM THE BANK OF AMERICA COLLECTION NATIONAL COWBOY & WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM FEB. 20-MAY 10, 2009 1700 NE 63RD STREET OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (405) 478-2250 E. Irving Couse (1866-1936), Mending the War Bonnet, 1910, oil on canvas, 30 x 36” 154 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX EVENT PREVIEW Edgar Alwin Payne (1883-1947), Over the Hump, undated, oil on board, 28 x 34” Oklahoma City Ernest Blumenschein (1874-1960), Autumn Landscape, NM, c.1925, oil on canvas, 10½ x 25½” 155 Oscar E. Berninghaus (1874-1952), Church at Ranchos de Taos, 1920, oil on canvas, 28 x 28” fur trappers’ rendezvous into what is now Wyoming. On the opposite end of the art historical timeline, the show closes with Raymond Jonson’s progressive vision; his Colorado landscape, Autumn Snow at Boulder Creek (c.1917), illustrates his early work before he moved into non-representational painting. To create a lively, “user-friendly” exhibition, the interpretative text written for Art of the West combined painting analysis and art historical discussion with episodes in Western history, notes on architectural and natural landmarks, and the artists’ words regarding the painting process or the Western landscape and its inhabitants. “It became clear this is an eclectic collection that invited a ‘moment in time’ approach on how the land and people of the American West affected the artist, and also what effect the artist had on the landscape and culture he portrayed. When a painter memorializes a particular time and place, in turn, the resulting painting commemorates both the artist and his subject. It’s a kind of reciprocity, interesting to look at,” explains Cunningham. “Interpreting the show gave us an opportunity to introduce art historical terms and movements in a way that’s easy to understand. We used examples 156 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX from the painters’ lives to show that artists are people too.” Like many of these deceased masters, Frank Tenney Johnson began his career as an illustrator before becoming a painter. An ideal example of Johnson’s illustration work can be seen in Journey by Canoe. “What’s interesting in that painting, if you squint your eyes while looking at it, you’ll see light, dark and middle tones. It was that balance between contrasting lights and darks that really helped to produce high quality magazine or book illustrations,” says Cunningham. EVENT PREVIEW Joseph Henry Sharp (1859-1953), Blue Teepee, undated, oil on canvas, 12¼ x 18¼” Oklahoma City Maynard Dixon (1875-1946), The Pool, undated, oil on canvas, 9 x 14” 157 Frank Tenney Johnson (1874-1939), Journey by Canoe, c.1930, oil on canvas, 25 x 19” 158 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX EVENT PREVIEW Ransom Gillette Holdredge (1836-1899), Indian Council in Yosemite Valley, c.1880, oil on canvas, 20¼ x 36¼” E. Martin Hennings (1886-1956), His Dance Bonnet, 1930s, oil on canvas, 40 x 36” Oklahoma City One of five Edgar Alwin Payne pieces in the exhibit is titled Over the Hump. “This is one of Payne’s typical motifs—a rider leading a packhorse through a mountain landscape. He painted so much in the Sierras that a lake was named for him,” notes Cunningham. “Payne uses loose, free brushstrokes that are almost modernistic and then he really outlines the carefully rendered figures and makes them stand out against the landscape. The way he captures the light and ruggedness of the high mountains, it’s just an exquisite piece.” Additional highlights of Art of West include between three and five small works each by Edgar Alwin Payne, Joseph H. Sharp and Oscar E. Berninghaus. “This allows viewers to see the different ways individual artists handled their subject matter,” says Cunningham. Art of the West provides collectors and admirers of Western art with insight into the progression both in the artists’ work and the art historical timeline. “It’s an opportunity to develop a discerning eye because you can compare small paintings and studies with larger, finished paintings that the artist painted for competition purposes,” says Cunningham. “Ultimately, I’d love the viewers to take away a joyful understanding of the paintings in Art of the West—and of art in general—in a framework they can sort of hang a cowboy hat on.” 159 EVENT REPORT Western Force The Autry’s 12th annual Masters of the American West Fine Art Exhibition and Sale sees record attendance, $3.6 million in sales on opening night. E conomic news took a back seat to jubilation at the Autry National Center of the American West’s 12th annual Masters of the American West Fine Art Exhibition and Sale, which saw over $3.6 million in sales on opening night, including $1.1 million for Howard Terpning’s Journey to the Medicine Wheel, which was first unveiled on the cover of Western Art Collector’s December 2008 issue. “What this shows is that while the market isn’t as strong right now, quality work will always sell,” MASTERS OF THE AMERICAN WEST FINE ART EXHIBITION AND SALE FEB. 7-MARCH 8, 2009 AUTRY NATIONAL CENTER 4700 WESTERN HERITAGE WAY LOS ANGELES, CA 90027 (323) 667-2000 Howard Terpning, Journey to the Medicine Wheel, oil on canvas, 43 x 65” Thomas Moran Memorial Award for Painting Silent Bid Reserve Price: $820,000 SOLD: $1,105,000 160 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX EVENT REPORT Z.S. Liang, Trading with the Blackfeet, Montana Territory, 1860, oil on canvas, 46 x 76” David P. Usher Patrons’ Choice Award Silent Bid Reserve Price: $75,000 SOLD: $228,000 Artists and patrons enjoy opening night of the Autry’s Masters of the American West Fine Art Exhibition and Sale. Los Angeles says John Geraghty, Trustee and Special Advisor to the Autry National Center’s Masters of the American West Fine Art Exhibition and Sale. “We’re still getting calls from national galleries and auction houses who are complimenting us and telling us that we’ve stabilized the market. So, that’s been quite impressive.” Of the $3.6 million sold on opening night, nearly $2 million of it came from the six silent bid paintings. Terpning’s Journey to the Medicine Wheel went for $1,105,000, Mian Situ’s Street Merchants of Chinatown, San Francisco, 1904 sold for $318,000; Z.S. Liang’s Trading with the Blackfeet, Montana Territory, 1860 sold for $228,000, Martin Grelle’s Parasols and Black Powder for $125,000, Morgan Weistling’s Oregon Trail Family, 1848, for $115,000, and Robert Griffing’s The Fragile Trust for $92,000. “I think the Terpning sale really made a statement,” says Geraghty. “And what is exciting is that there were three bids in that for over a million dollars and one for just under a million. So, when people get the opportunity to get something that is real 161 Robert Griffing, The Fragile Trust, oil on canvas, 40 x 60” Silent Bid Reserve Price: $85,000 SOLD: $92,000 Martin Grelle, Parasols and Black Powder, oil on linen, 48 x 66” Silent Bid Reserve Price: $98,000 SOLD: $125,000 162 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX EVENT REPORT Mian Situ, Street Merchants of Chinatown, San Francisco, 1904, oil on canvas, 48 x 72” Silent Bid Reserve Price: $150,000 SOLD: $318,000 Morgan Weistling, Strawberry Girl, oil on canvas, 30 x 32” SOLD: $ 32,000 Los Angeles quality, they will buy it.” Many other artists, including George Hallmark, Jim Morgan, Kyle Sims and Bill Anton, also sold all their pieces in the show on opening night, proving that the sales were more than just the high ticket paintings. “It was across the board,” says Geraghty. “I brought Dan Gerhartz in at the last minute because I felt we needed more figure painters and he brought a real winner and, of course, they ripped it off the walls. People will spend money for something they feel is of value but they won’t just blow their money.” Another element of this latest show that Geraghty found interesting was the amount of bronzes that were sold this year. Part of this, according to Geraghty, was due to the fact at the luncheon on the day of the show, the Autry announced that they had acquired Richard Greeve’s new monument, Crazy Horse. The sculpture, which was unveiled at the Autry’s award 163 Tucker Smith, Wyoming Sky, oil on linen, 40 x 50” Bob Kuhn Wildlife Award and James R. Parks Trustee Purchase Award Mian Situ, Convergence of Cultures, oil on canvas, 60 x 50” Masters of the American West Purchase Award 164 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX EVENT REPORT Bill Anton, New Mexico Morning, oil on canvas, 20 x 30” Pat and Bill Burford / Texas Art Gallery Spirit of the West Award SOLD: $12,000 George Carlson, Autumn Rhythm, oil on linen, 42 x 47” Booth Western Art Museum Artists’ Choice Award SOLD: $50,000 Los Angeles banquet and chuck wagon luncheon, was purchased thanks to acquisition funds raised by the Autry Trustees and patrons. “I was very pleased by that,” says Geraghty. “We sold more bronzes than we ever had. Greeves, of course, set the world on fire and I think when we unveiled Crazy Horse, people just recognized what a great sculptor he really is. And when he spoke about it and we dropped the curtain, people went silent. So, later that night, they just went in and bought a lot of his work as well as work by other sculptors in the show like Bill Nebeker, Tim Shinabarger and Kenn Bunn.” As always, Geraghty says that the event attracted many of the longtime Western collectors along with many new buyers as well. “A high percentage of the sales went to first-time buyers,” says Geraghty. “And, that is just what I was after when I started the Masters, to generate new interest in Western art. So, that was very exciting.” 165 1 4 2 3 5 6 7 8 9 1. Award-winning artist Howard Terpning with his painting, Journey to the Medicine Wheel, on display at opening night of the Autry’s Masters of the American West Fine Art Exhibition and Sale. 2. From left, Masters event organizers Janet Reilly and Cathy Crowser with Autry development directors Anna Norville and Amy Whitman. 3. Dr. James and Jean Crabtree, Masters committee members and sponsors from San Marino opening night. 4. Artist Kent Ullberg next to his bronze Moose Study. 5. Artist Tim Solliday pictured with his painting Horse Trading. 6. Artist Kevin Red Star stands by his artworks Buffalo Dreamer and Starman Warrior. 7. Autry Trustees and Masters sponsors Betsy and Frank Ulf (left) with Molly Campbell and Autry Trustee and Masters sponsor Ed Carson at the Masters Artists’ Dinner. 8. Artist David Mann next to his painting, Signal Ridge, on display opening night. 9. Autry Trustees Jim Parks; John Geraghty, Special Advisor to the Masters; and Jay H. Grodin, Masters committee chair, present artist Mian Situ with the Gene Autry Memorial Award, sponsored by Jay H. Grodin, during the Masters Awards Presentation and Chuck Wagon Luncheon. 10. Sculptor Richard Greeves and wife Stephanie stand next to his new monument, Crazy Horse, an 8½-foot bronze that was unveiled at the Masters Awards Presentation and Chuck Wagon Luncheon.The sculpture is now part of the Autry’s permanent collection. 10 166 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX 13 14 15 EVENT REPORT 11 12 2009 Award Winners Masters of the American West Purchase Award Mian Situ, Convergence of Cultures Thomas Moran Memorial Award for Painting Howard Terpning, Journey to the Medicine Wheel 16 The Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation Award for Sculpture Oreland C. Joe Sr., Morning Blessings James R. Parks Trustee Purchase Award Tucker Smith, Wyoming Sky Booth Western Art Museum Artists’ Choice Award George Carlson, Autumn Rhythm 17 David P. Usher Patrons’ Choice Award Z.S. Liang, Trading with the Blackfeet, Montana Territory, 1860 Autry National Center Award for Watercolor Dean L. Mitchell, Grey Thunder Pat and Bill Burford / Texas Art Gallery Spirit of the West Award (Given in recognition of the most outstanding work in cowboy subject matter) Bill Anton, New Mexico Morning Gene Autry Memorial Award, Sponsored by Jay H. Grodin (Given in recognition of the most outstanding presentation of three or more works) Mian Situ 18 John J. Geraghty Award Harlyne Norris 11. Artist Mian Situ next to his painting Convergence of Cultures, which received the Masters of the American West Purchase Award. 12. Artist Sandy Scott next to her bronze Red-Tailed Hawk at Sappa Creek. 13. Autry president and CEO John Gray (left) with Autry Trustees and Masters sponsors Betsy and Frank Ulf (right) and son opening night. 14. From left: artist Tim Shinabarger and his wife Roxanne, artist Tim Cherry and his wife Linda, and sculptor Kent Ullberg and his wife Verlee at opening night of the Masters show. 15. From left: artist Gayle Roski; Mrs. Joanne Hale, former director of the Autry National Center; and John Gray, current president and CEO, at opening night of the Masters show. 16. Artist Peter Adams stands before his painting Pools Above Sturtevant Falls–San Gabriel Mountains. 17. Artist John Coleman next to his bronze Lives With Honor. 18. Autry Trustee and Special Advisor to the Masters John Geraghty with artist Tim Cherry. Los Angeles PHOTOS BY VENTURA IMAGERY Bob Kuhn Wildlife Award, Sponsored by Carl and Rosella Thorne Tucker Smith, Wyoming Sky 167 EVENT REPORT Western Americana Thrives The 19th annual High Noon Western Americana Auction brought thousands of visitors and over $1.2 million in sales. T he 19th annual High Noon Western Americana Show and Auction weekend spectacular was a solid success. Celebrating the richness of the great American West, over the course of two days thousands of passionate Western art collectors converged on the Phoenix Convention Center to select works from over 150 exhibitors whose offerings spanned 300 years of history. Attendees perused the finest leatherworks, fine art, jewelry, clothing, and cowboy and Western accoutrement, all under one roof. On Saturday night, over 700 bidders were paddle-ready in the salesroom, in addition to over 1,000 more registered online, by phone and absentee, to bid on the 350-plus lots offered in the High Noon Western Americana Auction. At the end of the evening, over $1.2 million was earned. In these trying economic times, the auction revealed that “people are still spending money,” says Linda Kohn, co-owner of High Noon. HIGH NOON WESTERN AMERICANA SHOW AND AUCTION FEBRUARY 5-8, 2009 PHOENIX CONVENTION CENTER 33 S. 3RD STREET PHOENIX, AZ 85004 (310) 202-9010 Thousands of attendees converged on the Phoenix Convention Center to select works from over 150 exhibitors. 168 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX “I had no expectations for this year’s show and auction. Our economic world is so new that it was impossible to predict. What I found was that our attendance was fairly strong. People were extremely happy to be … together. My spirits were uplifted to see people laughing, enjoying each other and spending some money. Not a lot of money, not high prices, but there was activity. People are looking for a deal. The positive part of that is they are willing to spend money—on good pieces—for a good price.” The highlight of the sale was Lot 171, a highly sought after Edward H. Bohlin diamond cluster supreme saddle. Auctioneer Troy Black opened the bidding at $50,000. Interest led to paddles soaring and phone lines buzzing as the bidder war waged until the saddle sold for $89,125. Another highlight, Lot 179, an important Marcus Stern, San Jose, three-quarter seat California saddle, sold strong at $34,500. This year spurs did particularly well at The finest leatherworks, fine art, jewelry, clothing, and cowboy and Western accoutrement are all under one roof at High Noon. EVENT REPORT Edward H. Bohlin, Diamond Cluster Supreme Saddle ESTIMATE: $70,000-$90,000 SOLD: $89,135 ESTIMATE: $10,000-$20,000 SOLD: $31,625 PHOENIX Jack Mitchell’s Personal Edward H Bohlin RV Parade Spurs 169 Jack Mitchell’s Personal RV Tool Belt ESTIMATE: $5,000-$10,000 SOLD: $10,925 American Indian art, including weavings, is a staple at the event. the auction. Highlights included Lot 253, Jack Mitchell’s personal Edward H. Bohlin RV Parade spurs, selling far over estimate of $20,000 at $31,625 as did Lot 302, a pair of John Cox Canon City Colorado penitentiary spurs. These spurs were estimated at $16,000 and fetched $19,550. Other strong sales in the Cowboy, Western and Charro category were a set of Luis B. Ortega rawhide Santa Ynez reins that brought $21,850, the Tom Qualey ring bit on Ray Holes’ bridle, which sold over estimate at $20,125, Jack Mitchell’s RV belt and Visalia buckle, which sold for $10,925, and John Cox Canon City spurs sold for $19,550. Fine Western art also sold well at the auction. Cattle Drive, a signed watercolor by Edward Borein, was the top seller in the Western art category with the bidding opening Marcus Stern, San Jose, three-quarter seat California Saddle ESTIMATE: $25,000-$40,000 SOLD: $34,500 170 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX EVENT REPORT Edward Borein, Cattle Drive, watercolor on paper, 9¾ x 14¾” ESTIMATE: $21,000-$25,000 SOLD: $25,300 Montie Montana, Bohlin Gun Rig ESTIMATE: $10,000-$15,000 SOLD: $22,425 PHOENIX at $15,000 and ultimately selling for $25,300. Other paintings that sold well included His White Horse by Olaf Weighorst selling for $19,500 and Northern Plains Warriors by O.C. Seltzer, which fetched $16,675. High Noon is also distinguished for its great selection of Hollywood cowboy memorabilia. Montie Montana took center stage this year with his Bohlin gun rig leaving its high estimate in the dust, starting at $7,500 and selling for $22,425. The Montie Montana Am Flag Shirt also sold high at $3,450. Rounding out this category was John Wayne’s Western costume suede coat that brought $4,600. Lots in the American Indian category also rang a bell with collectors. Topping this category was an early Navajo Hubbell that sold for $11,500. 171 EVENT REPORT Western Brilliance The J. Willott Gallery’s Western Artists of America Miniature Show and Silent Auction brought out artists and collectors for an exceptional fine art experience. A rt connoisseurs, artists and avid collectors were on hand at J. Willott Gallery in Palm Desert, California, for the Western Artists of America Miniature Show and Silent Auction. The well-attended event saw more than 100 guests, including 13 of the participating artists, for a night of high sales, with 15 paintings and two sculptures selling, totaling $57,000 during the silent auction. “We chose to host the WAA through both our relationships with the founding members, Ed Holmes and Ed Copley, as well as for our interest in bringing a strong collection of Western work to southern California,” says Joshua Paquette, co-owner of J. Willott Gallery. The 3,500 square feet of display area at the gallery featured over 80 miniature pieces by WAA artists Arturo Chavez, Roger Archibald, William George, Susan Kliewer, Ed Copley, Ed Holmes, Gerry Metz, Bill Mittag, Dustin Payne, Ken Rowe, Brent Flory and Sherry Blanchard Stuart, among others. WAA’s newest members for 2008, Jay Moore, Lee Herring, Michael Romney, Ed Kucera, WESTERN ARTISTS OF AMERICA MINIATURE SHOW JANUARY 17, 2009 J. WILLOTT GALLERY 73190 EL PASEO, SUITE 1 PALM DESERT, CA 92260 (760) 568-3180 Karen Cooper and Karen Shaw Honaker, also presented works at the show with many selling. WAA is an organization formed for the purpose of promoting the talents of professional fine artists specializing in the genre of cowboy, Indian, pioneer, cattle and horse subjects with backgrounds appropriate to the subject matter. Sales from the evening included three pieces by founding member Ed Copley, including two oil-on-copper-plates totaling $25,000, Karen Cooper’s pastel Arch Rivals sold for $2,250, Gerry Metz’s 11-by-14-inch oil on canvas titled Waitin’ For the Shot sold in the silent auction for $2,600 in addition to his A Tough Life, which sold for $1,950, Ed 2 1 172 TABLE OF CONTENTS Kucera’s oil on canvas titled Painted Face sold for $2,600, Brent Flory’s oil on panel titled Beauty and Her Beast sold for $2,600, and Lee Herring’s 12-by-16-inch oil on canvas titled Above The Falls fetched $2,000. Other highlights included Michael Romney’s sale of two paintings, Springtime Buffalo and A Pair of Goats, totaling $4,100, Roger Archibald’s pencil drawing titled Cat & Mouse that sold for $2,250, and wildlife sculptor Ken Rowe’s bronze Desert Treasures that sold for $650. “The WAA show was an overall success for the gallery, the WAA as a group, and for its individual artists,” says Paquette. PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX 4 5 6 EVENT REPORT 3 7 Palm Desert 1. Western Artists of America member Lee Herring’s work sold well at the show. 2. Ed Holmes, Night Hawk, oil on canvas, 20 x 16,” sold for $4,000 in the silent auction. 3. Ed Copley, Two Feathers, oil on copper, 12 x 9,” sold for $16,500 at silent auction. 4. Over 100 attendees packed the house at J. Willott Gallery, making the Western Artists of America Miniature Show and Silent Auction a great success. 5. Western Art Collector Senior Account Executive Allison Peters with one of the founders of Western Artists of America, Ed Holmes. 6. Western Artists of America members Karen Shaw Honaker and Roger Archibald. 7. William George, Savage Pursuit, gouache, 12 x 9,” sold for $3,500. 173 SOLD! Who’s buying whose art they first saw in this magazine. The Story so far. . . Western Art Collector magazine has changed the way artists, galleries and collectors connect. It has closed the gap that previously existed in the Western art market. Spectacular and instant SOLD! stories keep rolling in. On these pages, you can read just some of the feedback pouring into our office from coast to coast on sales and connections achieved. And now that the Virtual Version of the magazine launches up to 10 days before the Printed version arrives, collectors can find new art even faster. Hurricane doesn’t stop Western art buyer Just as the October issue of Western Art Collector hit the general public, a collector from Houston, Texas, was riding out Hurricane Ike when he saw the piece With a Free Spirit by J. Hester. Immediately following, he contacted Highland House Gallery in Boerne, Texas, spoke to the artist, and purchased the painting. “He did not hesitate to make it part of his collection,” says artist J. Hester and owner of Highland House Gallery. Hester says that the single advertisement also brought several additional inquiries. “This event renewed my faith in reaching the market and targeting those people that appreciate quality work. I am thankful to read about the successes that others have had that are similar to mine,” says Hester. SOLD! While riding out Hurricane Ike, a Houston collector spotted J. Hester’s 8-by-10-inch painting titled With a Free Spirit and immediately called the gallery and added the work to his collection. Season of sales for advertising artist SOLD! Running With the Girls was commissioned by an eager collector in Georgia after seeing Laurie Pace’s Full Page advertisement in Western Art Collector. Advertising in both the October and December issues of Western Art Collector, Texas artist Laurie Pace reports sales and commissions from appearing in the magazine. “The month of December was so packed with commission pieces resulting from my ads in Western Art Collector I didn’t know if I could ship it all before Christmas,” says Pace. “Two are going late but the rest made it. Commissions averaged $3,000 to $4,000 per painting.” The first one was Running With the Girls, commissioned by Nicki Williams in Douglasville, Georgia. Pleased with the work, Williams’ savvy husband contacted Pace and commissioned two more pieces. Another collector from Long Island, New York, was searching the Internet when she came upon Pace’s work. After seeing her advertisements from Western Art Collector, the collector phoned some of the galleries from the ad carrying her work. She purchased Young Flight by Pace from Patina of Marble Falls, Texas, and also decided to commission a painting. “Advertising with the best simply brings in the best,” says Pace. “Advertising with the best simply brings in the best,” says Pace. 174 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW CONTENTS P IN INDEX SOLD! SOLD! The Virtual Version of the March issue of Western Art Collector prompted Missouri collectors to purchase Lynch Butte View, Winter, oil, 32 x 48”, by plein air painter Shaun Horne. SOLD! A Florida couple purchased Red Buildings Stream, oil, 24 x 30”, by Shaun Horne after seeing his work appear in a Preview article in the March issue of Western Art Collector. Double exposure, double sales As soon as the Virtual Version of the March issue of Western Art Collector became available, Oh-Be-Joyful Gallery manager Cricket Farrington forwarded a Preview article on artist Shaun Horne’s upcoming show to collectors in St. Louis, Missouri. Seeing Horne’s newest plein air paintings in a national magazine spurred the collectors to purchase the piece titled Lynch Butte View, Winter. “They expressed interest in the painting but it wasn’t a firm deal,” says Farrington. “After I sent them the online edition, they emailed me back that they definitely wanted it. They said they’re going to frame the article and keep it with the painting for provenance. ” Many who visit the gallery in Crested Butte, Colorado, own second homes here. Recently such a couple from St. Petersburg, Florida, visited the gallery to show friends Horne’s latest creations. Teetering on a purchase, Farrington showed the collectors the March article and the couple was immediately sold on the oil titled Red Buildings Stream. “They were tickled to see it was covered in the magazine and received this attention,” says Farrington. “People respond very well to seeing that we are getting out there nationally. Having a copy of Western Art Collector featuring Shaun’s paintings … can galvanize the interest of a potential buyer.” Advertisement spawns multiple sales J. Willott Gallery in Palm Desert, California, is pleased to report multiple sales from a Full Page advertisement in the January issue of Western Art Collector. Above the Falls, a 16-by-12-inch oil on panel, by Texas artist Lee Herring sold for $2,000 and a 12-by-8-inch oil on copper plate titled Two Feathers by Ed Copley sold for $14,500. The gallery was promoting the Western Artists of America Miniature Show and Silent Auction, which was well-attended and produced a night of high sales. “The Gerry Metz painting titled A Tough Life also sold for $1, 950,” adds J. Willott Gallery co-owner Josh Otten. SOLD! Above the Falls, a 16-by-12-inch oil on panel, by Texas artist Lee Herring sold after appearing in an advertisement placed in the January issue of Western Art Collector. SOLD! Western Artists of America co-founder Ed Copley’s 12-by-8-inch oil on copper plate titled Two Feathers sold for $14,500 after appearing in the January issue. 175 I N D E X Artists in this issue Coleman, John 133 McElwain, Louisa Coleman, Nicholas 130 Payne, Dustin 132 Thomas, Richard D. DeVary, David 116 Payne, Vic 133 Wei, Z.Z. 127 Ham, Jeff 106 Peters, Robert 34 Wilms, Jurgen 126 Hill, Tom 115 Rodriguez, Alfredo 98 Wilson, Nicholas 116 Kim, Grace 128 Rogers, Julia 132 Yorke, David 131 90 Saubert, Tom 132 Zhou, Jie Wei 121 Kliewer, Susan 114, 128 Liang, Calvin 119 Schafer, Phyllis 94 Liu, Huihan 118 Schlegel, Robert 110 Schooley, Elmer 102 86 Advertisers in this issue American Masters at Salmagundi Club (New York, NY) 17 Grelle, Martin (Clifton, TX) 55 Hallmark, George (Meridian, TX) 55 Anderson, Kathy (Redding, CT) 81 Heritage Gallery (Scottsdale, AZ) 9 Birdsall, Stephanie (Tucson, AZ) 81 Hermsen, Jack (Dallas, TX) 68 InSight Gallery (Fredericksburg, TX) Joe Wade Fine Art (Santa Fe, NM) Booth Western Art Museum (Cartersville, GA) Breckenridge Gallery (Breckenridge, CO) 18 Buchholz, Mary Ross (Eldorado, TX ) 63 Carrillo, Cindy (Tempe, AZ) 77 Cherry, Mary Ann (Idaho Falls, ID) 10 Curt Mattson Sculpture (Peoria, AZ) 8 Dana Gallery (Missoula, MT) 12 Darby, John (Amarillo, TX) 79 Journeys West Gallery (Solana Beach, CA) 10 Pitzer’s Fine Arts (Wimberley, TX) 57 Porter, Walter (Tucson, AZ) 82 53 Powell, Bo (Fort Worth, TX) 67 23 Rive Gauche Art Galleries (Scottsdale, AZ) 11 Sahli, Don (Evergreen, CO) 77 Santillanes, Dave A. (Fort Collins, CO) 82 Cover 3 Justus, Wayne (Pagosa Springs, CO) 12 Keegan, Suzette (Santa Fe, NM) 79 Larsen, Ann (Edinburg, NY) 77 Legacy Gallery (Scottsdale, AZ) Lincoln, Debbie Grayson (Bluff Dale, TX) Manitou Galleries (Santa Fe, NM) Desert Caballeros Western Museum (Wickenburg, AZ) 18 Dodd, Frances (Pueblo West, CO) Mary Garrish Fine Art (Merritt Island, FL) 82 Eiteljorg Museum (Indianapolis, IN) Medicine Man Galleries (Tucson, AZ) 2 Scottsdale Art Auction (Scottsdale, AZ) Cover 2 15 Settlers West Galleries (Tucson, AZ) 1 61 Stanley, Susan Volk (Scottsdale, AZ) 82 Swinney, Carol (Tucson, AZ) 81 Templeton, Ann (Driftwood, TX) 79 Texas Art Gallery (Dallas, TX) 49 Plainsmen Gallery, The (Clearwater, FL) 19 7 75 Cover 4 Museum of Western Art, The (Kerrville, TX) 67 Trailside Galleries (Scottsdale, AZ) 13 Turner, Cecy (Dallas, TX) 79 Whistle Pik Galleries (Fredericksburg, TX) 59 Woosley, Brigitte (New Braunfels, TX) 68 Eubanks, Tony (Clifton, TX) 55 Evans, Amy (Breckenridge, CO) 81 Nancy Cawdrey Studios & Gallery (Bigfork, MT) Greene, Bruce (Clifton, TX) 55 Nómadas del Arte (Arvada, CO) 73 Pace, Laurie Justus (Dallas, TX) 61 Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art (San Antonio, TX) 176 3 Phippen Art Museum (Prescott, AZ) 51 5 Proudly Representing Amery Bohling Descending into the Canyon 30 x40 oil