As the Arizona summers are set to begin, Settlers West Galleries in Tucson pauses its art season each May after its annual Summer Show. This year’s edition, running May 8 through 15, will include artwork from more than 50 of America’s top painters and sculptors who specialize in the Western art genre. Many artists participating are from the regular gallery roster, such as William Acheff, Mark Boedges, Mikel Donahue, Ann Hanson, Scott Tallman Powers and Dustin Van Wechel. Other artists will be making their debut in the show, including Jill Banks, Sarah Kennedy, Carol Lundeen and Val Paul Taylor.
Denis Milhomme, Autumn Overlook, oil, 16 x 20”
Ross Buckland has been fascinated by the appearance of water for decades, and he enjoys trying to re-create those scenes in his paintings, such as Humber River Walk. Explaining the work, he says, “This new effort depicts a spot along the Humber River, just across the street where I still spend time staring and fishing. The rocks invite you to an unsteady obstacle course, where each footstep is carefully planned. And as you look up from your boots to pick out your route, there’s a flash of white as the egret, which saw you long before, moves on to quieter water.”
Autumn Overlook, Denis Milhomme’s painting in the exhibition, depicts a place near his home that he has been fortunate enough to be able to visit. “This painting has special meaning,” says the artist. “It has been a hard year for all of us, but this recreational area close to home along the Kaweah River, which flows out of Sequoia National Park in Central California, was a place we could hike, feel free and gaze at nature’s wonders.”
Antonio Di Donato, Horse Mask Medicine, oil, 30 x 40”
A spot within Saguaro National Park West, outside of Tucson, is shown in Darcie Peet’s work Painted in Storm Glow. “Golden Gate Road winds and meanders up and down, bisecting a huge corner of the park between Picture Rocks and Sandario Roads. I’ve spent many pre-dawn, late afternoon and dusk hours driving or hiking this desert terrain rich with Southwest flora and fauna. Winter in the desert means lower sun, longer shadows and rich color creating bold cloud formations especially when a storm rolls through,” she says. “In Painted in Storm Glow one can almost hear the rumble from the ominous clouds while the welcome relief of light and warmth from the west filters in as the squall recedes across distinct Safford Peak and the Picacho Mountains disappearing in the distance. Recent rain has left rivulets of water spiderwebbing and threading the dirt road and reflecting the brilliant sky. There’s nothing quite like the smell of the desert right after a rain!”
Ross Buckland, Humber River Walk, oil, 24 x 18”
Antonio Di Donato will exhibit Horse Mask Medicine in the exhibition. “I was inspired to paint Horse Mask Medicine as a tribute to the protective masks we have been asked to wear because of Covid-19. I am sure that many in the world have been praying in their own particular and unique ways, and because we’re adopting protective measures, including wearing masks, we hope to be blessed, spared and saved from the virus,” he says. “The brave in the painting has taken his favored pony to a higher place; he has dressed up for a sacred ceremonial function and under the stars in the moonlight he is presenting the horse mask to the Great Father and calling upon it the power of great medicine with all the necessary blessings; including protection, speed, health, clear vision even in the dark of night and more. The shooting star as a good Omen; perhaps the sign of the approval from Heaven.”
Darcie Peet, Painted in Storm Glow, oil, 20 x 24”
The Summer Show opens Saturday, May 8, with previews beginning at 9 a.m. At 5:30 p.m. the reception opens and concludes with a purchase draw at 7 p.m. All works in the Summer Show will be available to view on the gallery website. Buyers do not need to attend the reception to participate in the draw.
Upcoming Show
Up to 90 works
May 8, 2021
Settlers West Galleries
6420 N. Campbell Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85718
(520) 299-2607
www.settlerswest.com
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