This summer there was a mad dash to get canceled events rescheduled, moved or otherwise back on track after a wild season of ups and downs. The Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis didn’t want to hedge its bets, so it went all in on one plan: a virtual format for its 15th annual Quest for the West.
Glenn Dean, As the Dust Settles, oil, 24 x 24”
“Since its inception in 2006, Quest for the West has built support for the genre of Western art; and collectors and artists look forward to it at the Eiteljorg each year,” says Eiteljorg president and CEO John Vanausdall. “The museum follows all state and local public health guidelines during the pandemic, and since it is impossible to know now exactly what the circumstances will be in September, we concluded we would marshal our efforts to creating this exciting virtual version of Quest.”
And marshal they have with a newly redeveloped website, quest.eiteljorg.org, and a slate of online events associated with its popular exhibition. Because of the online format—there is no need for catering, receptions, additional staffing or decorations—tickets to participate in the virtual sale are only $25, opening up the exhibition to an even larger base of potential bidders, from seasoned veterans to first-time Western art collectors.
Howard Post, Canyon Trail, oil, 30 x 24”
The Quest for the West kicks off on September 11 with its popular miniature sale, followed by the full fixed-price, by-draw sale on September 12. Although several events originally expected for this year’s show, including a talk with actor Wes Studi and an exhibition of Quest works awarded the museum purchase award, have been moved to 2021, the museum still has several surprises for its virtual exhibition. “We at the Eiteljorg take pride in bringing together top artists and enthusiastic collectors of Western art and are committed to making this year’s Quest very engaging and successful,” Vanausdall says.
Josh Elliott, Scarred Beauty, oil, 18 x 46”
This year’s show will feature more than 200 works from 50 top Western artists, including John Buxton, G. Russell Case, Brent Cotton, Glenn Dean, C. Michael Dudash, Josh Elliott, Robert Griffing, George Hallmark, Donna Howell-Sickles, Jay Moore, John Moyers, Terri Kelly Moyers, P.A. Nisbet, Howard Post, Gladys Roldan-de-Moras, Roseta Santiago and many others. New artists to this year’s show are Bruce Lawes, Dean Mitchell, Paul Moore and Michael Ome Untiedt.
John Fawcett, Roundabout, watercolor, 15 x 20”
One of the returning artists is John Fawcett, who will be showing a classic cowboy scene with his watercolor Roundabout. “This piece was inspired by a visit to a large working ranch that raises quarter horses and has been in the same family for many generations,” he says. “This cowboy was bringing in a remuda of horses, and I was interested in the action of the scene, along with the details of all the horses’ reactions. From the placement of the ears to the movement of the legs, this was a well-choreographed endeavor!”
Roseta Santiago, Girl from Tesuque Pueblo, oil on panel, 24 x 18”
Jay Moore, Blackie and Friends, oil on linen, 24 x 24”
Another returning artist is Krystii Melaine, who will be presenting several works that show Native Americans, including Tsemehot-o - The One I love, Cheyenne. “This young Cheyenne couple stand strong together, ready to face whatever life throws at them. He wears a war bonnet and holds his lance while she carries his shield,” Melaine says. “They are both in their best clothing featuring intricate beadwork panels, cowrie shells, pigment, horsehair drops and buckskin fringing. My Native American models for this painting are a real couple who recently welcomed their son into the world. In this time of uncertainty, I wanted to paint what is most important to all people everywhere—to have the one you love standing strong by your side.”
Dean Mitchell, Trail Town, acrylic, 10 x 15”
In Heide Presse’s Tall Tales, she shows two riders and their horses, and also rippling reflections underneath them. “Tall Tales depicts two free trappers of the 1830 period reminiscing about old times and their adventures exploring new country,” Presse says. “Their faces wear the wrinkles of wisdom that come from being ‘Hiveranos,’ men who have wintered many a season gathering the plews of beaver. I had a great couple of days with these fellows on a beautiful remote ranch in Montana, and really enjoyed spending time with people who have such a passion for living history, do a meticulous interpretation, and are so generous in sharing their knowledge of the era.”
Heide Presse, Tall Tales, oil on linen, 40 x 30”
Mikel Donahue will show the cowboy way of life from an interesting perspective in his work Shadow Ropers. “The image comes from the Babbitt Ranch in Arizona, a ranch I visit annually. As they often do, the boys will gather in the evenings for a little friendly roping fun,” the painter says. “This particular evening as I watched them do some tricks and rope a calf dummy, I noticed the shadows dancing across the side of the building we were next to. The art director side of me kicked in—I was an art director in the advertising business for over 30 years—I was taken with the graphic impressions, color, texture and the movement of the shadows as they roped. The result was Shadow Ropers, a very graphic yet realistic image.”
For detailed information about the sale, how to register and a complete schedule, visit the exhibition’s online hub at quest.eiteljorg.org.
Quest for the West
September 11-12, 2020
Eiteljorg Museum
(317) 636-9378, quest.eiteljorg.org
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