It’s time to celebrate the arts once again at the annual Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival, put on by the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce in Jackson, Wyoming. This is definitely a year for change, as the chamber has introduced a virtual solution for those who prefer not to join the in-person festivities involving art shows, design, food, wine and history. In addition, the featured artwork this year by Thomas Blackshear II, offers a fresh, new direction with his contemporary, Western nouveau style.
Thomas Blackshear II, Hunter’s Watch, oil on canvas with gold leaf, 38 x 30”
Local galleries and businesses will also be hosting shows and events, while the infamous QuickDraw is the highlight of the festival. “The main event is always the QuickDraw,” explains Britney Magleby, the director of special events for Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce. “Artists will gather around the downtown square to paint or sculpt in plein air, and they will get started earlier this year, since we’ve asked each artist to live-stream their process for our virtual platform.”
Festival entrance near the Jackson Town Square.
The artists will be set to work for 90 minutes, starting at 8 a.m. on September 19. Upon completion, all work immediately goes to auction. With the advent of the livestream, collectors worldwide will be able to witness the process. “People can now have an even deeper connection to a piece, since they’re seeing it done step by step,” adds Magleby.
Artist Amy Ringholz during the 2019 QuickDraw.
The featured piece Hunter’s Watch by Blackshear, represented by Trailside Galleries in Jackson, is to be auctioned in the middle of the QuickDraw. This colorful, engaging work depicting a Native American man with bow and arrow among foliage, is the most contemporary piece chosen by the festival. In past years, the festival has always featured work that has a representation of the Tetons.
“While Blackshear’s work beautifully represents the Western art that we’ve become known for selecting for our much-anticipated annual posters, it also appeals to a new type of buyer and collector,” says Magleby. “We expect both young buyers just starting their collections, and traditional collectors who have been purchasing art in Jackson for decades, to take interest in this piece.”
Artist Renso Tamse during the 2019 QuickDraw.
Blackshear, a graduate of American Academy of Art in Chicago, started his career has an illustrator for the Hallmark Card Company, became a freelance illustrator and has recently been inducted into the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame. Blackshear now paints full time and creates with a dramatic flare that has quickly received the attention of many collectors. His work most recently appeared at the Masters of the American West exhibition in Los Angeles. “We weren’t necessarily looking for something different,” says Magleby of the committee that voted on Blackshear’s work, “but it was pretty unanimous with his use of color and his unique style.”
Bidders during the 2019 auction.
Join the celebration that also includes music, culinary treats, gallery walks and much more, from September 9 through September 20. Find the livestream QuickDraw and additional information on the festival website, and bid for your favorite piece through Bidsquare.
“We’d love for people to participate in-person, but if they’re not comfortable being in public, then they have the option to still be involved,” Magleby says.
Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival
Main Dates
September 9-20, 2020
Downtown Jackson, WY
www.jacksonholechamber.com/events-calendar/fall-arts-festival/
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