An exhibition at Turner Fine Art in Jackson, Wyoming, sends collectors on a wild path, journeying through the animal art of such creators as Walter Matia, Gunnar Tryggmo and Ray Brown, as well as owner and artist Kathryn Mapes Turner. From pronghorns to herons to that elusive night hunter, the owl, The Wild Path gently nudges collectors into the fray.
Ray Brown, The King of the North, charcoal and watercolor on rag, 17 x 34"
“For each of these three artists, the natural world is not only the subject of their artwork but serves as a deep source of inspiration. Like naturalists, they are all devoted students of nature and wildlife, committed to careful observation of wild species,” Turner says of Matia, Tryggmo and Brown. “This exhibition showcases the stunning artistic renderings that result from this life-long study. I met Gunnar, Ray and Walter at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Museum when we were all exhibiting work in the esteemed Birds in Art Exhibition.”
Kathryn Mapes Turner, Reverence (detail), oil on rag, 18 x 18"
Matia’s No Country for Old Frogs spells disaster for the amphibian, but celebrates the spunk of the green heron, a bird the artist calls “the little tough guys of the marsh.” The bronze depicts two herons perched nimbly on marsh reeds, scoping out their next snack. “Green herons are also one of those birds that just make you smile,” says Matia. “They are secretive but not too so. Seeing them is not all that hard—unlike setting out to find a bittern. Good luck with that! They strike stunning poses but retain an elegance. You don’t need to know what they are to appreciate the grace of their form. They scale up well with the vegetation so...you can set a moment in sculpture without creating a [massive piece].”
Walter Matia, No Country for Old Frogs, bronze, ed. 8 of 10, 41 x 18 x 14"
The King of the North, a charcoal and watercolor by Brown, features the majesty of a northern hawk owl. He explains how the piece came to be: “While walking the wild path in Alaska last year I happened upon a northern hawk owl. The brief encounter certainly left a strong impression. It was a gray, cold and snowy late afternoon when I spied some movement along the tree tops. Always alert for the opportunity to see and photograph birds and especially birds of prey, I quickly realized from the size and shape of the bird that it was an owl. Owls for me have always been elusive, so to see one at all is especially thrilling…
I was struck, in the quiet solitude of the snowy afternoon, by the confidence and command of this animal and his mastery of the wintery domain over which it reigned,” says the artist. “The King of the North was born in that moment, the drawing imparting the sovereignty of this hawk owl as he perches on his wintery throne.”
Gunnar Tryggmo, Pronghorn, watercolor on rag, 18½ x 26"
“All of us at Turner Fine Art are thrilled to share this carefully curated collection of artwork by top international artists,” says Turner. The Wild Path will be on view through May 21.
Upcoming Show
Up to 35 works
Through May 21, 2021
Turner Fine Art
545 North Cache Street
Jackson, WY 83001
(307) 734-4444
www.turnerfineart.com
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