The Stars at Night

The Briscoe Western Art Museum returns with the hit Night of Artists exhibition in Texas.

More than 80 top Western artists will converge on the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio, Texas, for the opening of the Night of Artists show, one of the country’s premier museum exhibitions and sales. Collectors will have a shot at more than 270 new works amid a lavish party and exhibition kickoff on March 24 and 25. Glenn Dean, Navajo Riders of Monument Valley, oil, 20 x 25”“The work is looking great, and it’s just a really diverse grouping of artists,” says Michael Duchemin, the president and CEO of the museum. “As the art comes in, we really start to feel the momentum building to the opening. It’s exciting.”

The show kicks off with a huge weekend of events and activities taking place at or near the museum, which is located on the San Antonio River Walk. The setting, with college students and tourists filling the sidewalks and boats passing by, provides a festive atmosphere with nearby restaurants, clubs and historical destinations, such as the Alamo. Abigail Gutting, Dark Horse, oil on linen, 16 x 20”

Don Oelze, Where Earth And Sky Meet, oil, 40 x 46”

In addition to various receptions and previews, the signature event is the gala on Friday, March 24, during which a festive atmosphere will greet guests as they browse the art, enjoy a seated dinner and bid on 30 works in the spirited live auction. The following day, Saturday, March 25, there will be an award luncheon sponsored by Western Art Collector. Following the lunch, guests will attend the Grand Exhibition Opening, which will include a fixed-price, luck-of-the-draw sale. The sale will include Texas cuisine, dancing and live music from rising country star Will Banister.

Artists participating in this year’s exhibition include Teal Blake, Shawn Cameron, Bruce Cheever, Brent Cotton, Mick Doellinger, Mikel Donahue, C. Michael Dudash, Teresa Elliott, Luke Frazier, William Haskell, Donna Howell-Sickles, Joshua LaRock, Z.S. Liang, Bonnie Marris, Howard Post, Gladys Roldán-de-Moras, Billy Schenck, Kim Wiggins and many others. New artists to this year’s roster are Eric Bowman, Glenn Dean, Robert Guelich, Jeremy Lipking, Tony Pro, Kevin Red Star and Dustin Van Wechel. Mary Ross Buchholz, Herman Lehmann, clay for bronze, 13 x 11 x 22½”

William Haskell, Monolith, acrylic on panel, 22 x 30”

The opening weekend will also feature the fifth annual Collector’s Summit, which is a two-part set of discussions with leading Western collectors, gallery owners, artists and collectors. The moderator for both panels is Michael Clawson, executive editor of Western Art Collector. The theme of the panels is “Headin’ in or Headin’ Out?” Panelists will talk about their experiences in the market and discuss ways in which people can thrive in the Western art community. The panels will take place on March 24 at 1 p.m. and March 25 at 9:30 a.m. Both panels will take place at the Westin Riverwalk hotel next to the museum. Panelists on March 24 are painter Don Oelze, collector Abigail Kampmann and Jackson Hole Art Auction managing director Kevin Doyle. Panelists on March 25 are collector Robert Oliver, artist Mary Ross Buchholz and Maxwell Alexander Gallery owner Beau Alexander. Howard Post, Between Trucks, oil, 24 x 48”

Of the artwork that will appear at the exhibition, Buchholz will be showing both graphite works and bronze sculpture. Some of the work will relate directly to her family. “The sculpture in clay is of a historical figure, Herman Lehmann, who is my husband’s great great uncle,” Buchholz says. “He and his brother, Willie, were captured as young boys by the Apaches in 1870. Willie was recovered a couple of weeks later, but Herman spent nine years among the Indians and was later adopted by the Comanches and Quanah Parker.”Eric Bowman, Far Rider, oil, 28 x 28”

Krystii Melaine, Sentinel, oil on linen panel, 30 x 16”

Other bronze works in the show include Jason Scull’s thrilling cowboy pieces, a horse and bas relief pairing by Curt Mattson, Stefan Savides’ chicken bronze and Gerald Balciar’s animal subjects. Wildlife paintings will be coming from Van Wechel, Ezra Tucker, Krystii Melaine, William Alther, Kent Ullberg and many others. And it being Texas, there will be no shortage of cowboys or cattle, both of which feature prominently in dozens of works. George Hallmark, who lives in Texas, will be showing The Queen’s Court, a painting showing a scene that could have taken place nearly 140 years ago. “From the 1860s to the late 1930s, food vendors frequented San Antonio’s plazas. Stands were set up in the late afternoon, after hay, produce and wood vendors closed down for the day. Most operated all night serving breakfast in early morning hours when merchants returned,” Hallmark says of he painting. “This was primarily a family affair with mother and father preparing most of the food at home, although many items were cooked on site.Jason Scull, Out Where the Wild Ones Run, bronze

Dustin Van Wechel, A Violation of Personal Space, oil on linen, 40 x 30

Usually a young daughter, niece or wife served as hostess. The food consisted of many items including chili, tamales, beans and tortillas. Every condiment and combination was available, with coffee, chocolate atole and sometimes lemonade as beverages. The young girls soon learned to be excellent servers, which included current conversation and sometimes a hand-rolled cigarette. Because of what they served and their beauty, they were given the name Chili Queens. The view in the painting is of the east side of Military Plaza showing the rear of San Fernando Church. It is early fall with a full moon rising. A local rancher is taking an early supper while being attended to by a Queen.” George Hallmark, The Queen’s Court, oil on linen, 36 x 48”The opening weekend closes March 25, but the whole Night of Artists exhibition continues through May 7. Any unsold works can be purchased from the museum throughout the run of the exhibition. —