The 13th edition of SLOPOKE Art of the West Exhibition and Sale returns to Flag Is Up Farms in Solvang, California, from September 22 through 24. Nestled in the rolling hills and vineyards of Santa Ynez Valley, the event is the brainchild of art lovers Tom and Sherie Burgher, who wanted to bring a Western art show to California’s North Coast that could rival anything in a big city. Originally staged in Pismo Beach, in 2016, Pat and Monty Roberts offered their thoroughbred horse ranch as a venue and they have been holding the juried art show in Solvang ever since.
Kasia Kaznocha, Midnight Sun, acrylic and gold leaves on canvas, 36 x 48”
On the advice of their collectors, SLOPOKE limits the exhibition to roughly 30 artists, each showing an average of 10 pieces, so attendees can expect to find 300-plus paintings, sculptures and photographs to explore. “Big urban art shows have a ‘Walmart effect,’ in that the collector is bedazzled by so much visual stimulation that they forget what they like and where it was,” says Burgher. “Therefore, they are likely to leave without purchasing anything. The consequence for the artists is that we have a higher percentage of artists selling something than occurs in shows with 1,500 or more artists.”
Hundreds of artists, at all stages of their career, are invited to apply for the show but those chosen to exhibit are curated based on SLOPOKE’s perception of the importance of their art. Peter Adams, former president of the California Art Club, will serve as juror of awards, choosing the winners of the coveted SLOPOKEBelt Buckle in five different categories.
Dong Yang, Whisky, bronze, 28 x 21 x 74/5”
One of the contenders is Pat Roberts, owner of Flag Is Up Farms, who will show her equine sculptures. Years of experience as an accomplished horsewoman have given Roberts the experience to create sculptures of the animals she loves, particularly the horse. She has exhibited around the world and is part of the permanent collections of the Kentucky Horse Park, the European Museum of Art and Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth; and her bronzes have won many awards in national and international competitions. “Horses and sculpture are all about movement,” she says. “As an artist, I strive to capture a moment in time using my knowledge of anatomy to turn bronze into a living, moving study.”
Pat Roberts, Territorial Dispute, bronze, ed. of 36, 24 x 20 x 31”
Dong Yang’s show piece is Whisky, a bronze sculpture of an Irish setter. “Although the German shepherd is my favorite breed of dog, the Irish setter is still so beautiful that I have to include it in my canine sculpture series,” says Yang. “The long reddish-brown hair is as strong and intoxicating as the golden light of whisky shaking in a glass. The pleasant gait is as stretched and silent as the breeze passing through the wilderness. The high-spirited expression is as sharp and uninhibited as a whistle. The sculpture’s reddish-brown and golden color perfectly captures the charm of Ireland and is why I named it Whisky.”
Kasia Kaznochahas always had two passions. “One is horse-riding which gives me a great pleasure and satisfaction, and the second is all kinds of artistic activities,” she shares. “Horses are a constant source of inspiration. Therefore, they naturally became the main subject of my work.” Always pictured without bridles or saddles, Kaznocha wants her paintings to be more than simply representations of the animal. “They are an excuse to show emotions,” she says. “Each horse is different, just as every human being carries a different story and emotions. I try to capture their emotions and their beauty in the hopes that one can recognize a piece of story, a piece of soul, a piece of heart through my paintings.”
Kasia Kaznocha, Traveler, acrylic and gold leaves on canvas, 36 x 48”
A ticketed opening reception and awards presentation takes place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, September 22, with music performed by the Silver Mountain String Band from Los Angeles. The SLOPOKE opens to the public on Saturday and Sunday beginning at 10 a.m. —
SLOPOKE Art of the West Exhibitions and Sale
September 22-24, 2023
Flag is up Farms,
901 E. Highway 246, Solvang, CA 93463
(805) 773-8057, www.the-slopoke.com
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