Excitement builds for the 52nd annual Contemporary Western Art Show and Sale hosted by the Mountain Oyster Club. While last year’s event was rather small due to Covid restrictions, the organization is preparing for a normal year, where many artists are expected to show up, giving buyers the opportunity to meet and connect with some of their favorite creatives.
Myron Sahlberg, Two Feathers, oil, 15 x 9”
The juried show and sale will feature 250 emerging artists and about 350 works of Western art. “We use ‘Western’ a bit loosely,” explains Laura Davis, art committee chair for the Mountain Oyster Club. “Some define Western artwork as cowboys and Indians, but we also define it as artists that work and live in the West or Southwest landscape.” While the event welcomes traditional work, they include a lot of contemporary pieces in a variety of styles and mediums, by both emerging and established artists.
Howard Post, Gate by the Barn, oil, 24 x 36”
One such show artist, Howard Post, seems to have been able to mix both contemporary and traditional elements into pieces such as Gate by the Barn, a gorgeous, minimal scene that backs up to colorful mountains. “He uses a fence in the scene, which can be seen as traditional,” says Davis, “but it has a contemporary look to it. He’s been able to blend the two styles.”
This year will also highlight the work of portrait painter Myron Sahlberg, as their chosen Honorary Artist Member. His history as an illustrator instilled the desire to incorporate a story in each piece, developed through collecting suggestions from words and pictures. “As an illustrator I interpreted text provided by the editor,” Sahlberg says. “In the Western market, I have to come up with my own stories. My stories are now inspired by lyrics from old cowboy songs, movies, historical books I read, images I see and my imagination.”
Mark Dziewior, Otterly Loveable, bronze, 6½ x 9 x 4½
Of Sahlberg’s three paintings that will be included in the show, with one donated to Mountain Oyster Club, is the standout piece Two Feathers, showing a young girl in profile. “The Two Feathers feminine image was intended to support my larger donation painting—a masculine piece (birch bark canoe and young Sioux Indian man),” says Sahlberg. “Originally, I had planned a simple profile portrait of a young Native American girl, but it didn’t have enough of a story line. The addition of the right hand with bow and arrows added just the right amount of suggested story to the piece and an important compositional element. My story for this piece suggests that though the subject is very young, she has equipped herself with the bow and arrow to assist her people in protecting and hunting as the need arises.”
Ross Buckland, Follow the Leader, oil, 24 x 30”
The show and sale will occur on November 21 as a drawing, and tickets must be purchased in advance. “If someone is interested in a piece, they put their name on a list,” explains Davis. “If there’s two names, for instance, we do a drawing. On that Sunday evening is when we have the drawing. The website will be updated the following day with everything that’s been sold, and anything not sold is available for purchase till the end of the year.” Everything will be made available for purchase online and arrangements can be made to see a piece in-person. —
Mountain Oyster Club Contemporary Western Art Show and Sale
November 21, 2021-January 2022
In-Person Sale, November 21, 3-5:30 p.m.
Remaining pieces available online through he second week of January 2022
Pond Mansion, 6400 E. El Dorado Circle, Tucson, AZ 85715
(520) 623-3417, www.mountainoysterclub.com
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