Interpretations of the West

Art in the West returns at the High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon.

More than 90 works of art by dozens of artists will be on view at Art in the West,the annual exhibition and sale at the High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon. Festivities kick off July 8 as artists from around the country arrive in Bend to celebrate the high desert, a region that stretches from the eastern slope of the Cascades and Sierras to the Wyoming Basin and Colorado Plateau.

James Moore, Vespers, bronze, 12 x 22”

Sarah B. Hansen, Messenger, acrylic, 20 x 30”

Artists in this year’s show include Montana-based photographer Barbara Van Cleve; Indigenous artist and storyteller Monte Yellow Bird Sr. (Arikara and Hidatsa of the Three Affiliated Tribes), who is also known as Black Pinto Horse; Russian sculptor Anton Yakushev; painters Taylor Manoles and Sarah B. Hansen; and sculptors James Moore and Chip Jones. The work will include a diverse grouping of artists, mediums, themes, cultures and backgrounds.

Chip Jones, Rising Rainbow, bronze, 23 x 20 x 2”

“The diversity of artwork, from subject matter to medium, continues to grow and impress visitors,” says museum executive director Dana Whitelaw. “These artistic interpretations of the West reveal something new and expand our appreciation of this special region.”

The artwork for the sale and exhibition will be viewable online starting July 8 at highdesertmuseum.org/aiw. The auction is exclusively online, and bidders can choose to have their works shipped to them. Bidding will close on September 22 during a closing party at the museum that will feature art demonstrations, food and live music. Opening bidding for the artwork will cover many price points—from $225 to $8,500.

Taylor Manoles, Painted Hills, oil, 38 x 38”

Proceeds from Art in the West help support the museum’s exhibitions and programs, “bringing science, art and history education to lifelong learners throughout the region,” the museum notes.