The annual Small Works, Great Wonders art sale at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is one of the institution’s mainstay events for the holiday season. The show, which happens November 13 from 5 to 9 p.m., is a one-night-only event that allows collectors to purchase small-scale art by acclaimed Western artists at more affordable price points. Included in this year’s show will be paintings and sculpture by more than 100 artists from 23 states, as well as Canada and France, allowing for a wide array of styles, mediums and subjects.
Daniel Smith, Autumn Excursion, acrylic, 10 x 20”
The show will include 19 brand-new exhibitors, while more than 20 of the museum’s Prix de West artists will also have work available. Among those participating are Mick Doellinger, Ann Hanson, Chauncey Homer, Jerry Markham, Brad Price, Billy Schenck, Daniel Smith, Don Weller and Dennis Ziemienski.
“Small Works, Great Wonders is such a fantastic art event for so many reasons, especially for those who are new to collecting or are purchasing their first work of fine art,” says Natalie Shirley, the museum’s president and CEO. “With such a wide array of styles, all available at a more affordable price, Small Works, Great Wonders truly has something for everyone.”
Don Weller, Whitie’s Revolt, watercolor, 14½ x 16½”
In his painting Whitie’s Revolt, Weller skillfully captures in watercolor “that moment when a saddle horse seems to explode suddenly for no apparent reason,” he says. “When it happens, you seldom get a good look. First is sound and a sense of commotion followed by the need to get out of the way. That is what I am attempting to portray—the action and spirit of that moment.”
Billy Schenck, Winds Above Pojoaque, oil on canvas, 14 x 18”
Schenck finds that it is often difficult to squeeze his flat-style painting into a smaller format, but is never afraid to test the waters with new ideas. “I consider it a challenge and only certain subject matter will work. So, portraits it is,” he says. “The challenge is, can I make a successful portrait? [Winds Above Pojoaque] became a part of a series of smaller scale works that I began as a direct result of the Covid-19 crisis starting in late February. Inspiration in general, for me, is to try to push the boundaries beyond what I know I can do.”
Route 66 Motel, by Ziemienski, is a nostalgic image of a roadside motel paired with a classic car. “I’ve gone on photo reference expeditions for decades, gathering disappearing iconic roadside imagery from motels to gas stations to restaurants,” he shares. “Many of these places are gone now and I want to record their unique place in American history.”
Dennis Ziemienski, Route 66 Motel, oil, 20 x 16”
Brad Price, Taos Cottonwoods, oil on canvas, 16 x 20”
Price was inspired by a weeklong trip to Northern New Mexico last fall for his painting Taos Cottonwoods. “The fall colors were remarkable last October there. I travel to New Mexico four times a year to search out subjects for my work,” he says. “My studio is in Norman, Oklahoma, where I make my home. I am grateful that this is my third year to participate in Small Works, Great Wonders.”
Keep your eyes on the museum’s website for complete updates on the exhibition and sale, as well as for the arrival of the show catalog in early November. —
Small Works, Great Wonders
November 13, 2020, 5-9 p.m.
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
1700 NE 63rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73111
(405) 478-2250, www.nationalcowboymuseum.org/small-works-great-wonders
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