In celebration of and inspired by the High Desert—a region that stretches from the eastern slope of the Cascades and Sierras to the Wyoming Basin and Colorado Plateau—is the annual Art in the West exhibition and virtual silent auction. The 2024 showcase boasts more than 100 contemporary artworks in a variety of mediums. “The High Desert region…is such a diverse and dynamic place. It’s fast-growing, fast-changing and home to landscapes and people who inspire,” says museum executive director Dana Whitelaw. “The art represented in the exhibition shares this contemporary High Desert region, which appreciates and acknowledges its history while looking toward the future.”
Jake Trujillo, Jemez Series 7, No. 2, oil and acrylic on panel, 16 x 20 in.
While the museum expands its list of artists every year—“to bring great depth to the exhibition,” says Whitelaw—attendees will witness returning artists like Rudi Broschofsky. “I’ve been fortunate to be a part of the High Desert Museum’s annual Art in the West every year since 2018, and I was honored to be chosen as the Curator’s Choice Award in 2021,” the artist explains. “I always look forward to viewing other artists’ work and seeing the differing perspectives, styles, subjects and the mediums that they use. I also love touring the museum and seeing the ever-changing exhibitions and wildlife that the museum inhabits.”
Connor Liljestrom, Thousand 159, oil, oil stick and oil pastel on paper, 30 x 22½ in.
Broschofsky’s show piece Where the Wild Things Are, is a smaller 14-by-23-inch painting—a change in size for the artist. “My process of creating a painting through the use of hand-cut stencil and spray paint makes smaller-scale works much more detailed and challenging. Each line is cut out of a piece of paper and this painting is made up of six lines per inch and incorporates three separate layers,” he says.
Rudi Broschofsky, Where the Wild Things Are, spray paint on panel, 14 x 23 in.
As for the inspiration of the piece, depicting a herd of bison against a mountainous backdrop, Broschofksy shares, “The bison roamed the world millions of years before man. When fully grown, these beasts can grow over 61/2 feet tall and weigh as much as 2,800 pounds. Named the national mammal of the United States in 2016, the bison joins the ranks of the bald eagle as the official symbol of our country. It’s hard to imagine a more appropriate backdrop for the largest and arguably most iconic mammal in North America than the majestic Teton Range which towers above at a height of 13,775 feet. These two quintessential forces coexisting together creates a powerful subject matter with a long and powerful narrative.”
An attendee at the 2023 event browses the impressive selection of contemporary Western works.
The museum opens the online exhibition and silent auction on the website starting July 15, with the entire collection on museum walls starting July 20. Bidding concludes on Friday, September 20, during the closing party hosted at the museum. Attendees will have the opportunity to mingle with artists, watch live demonstrations and enjoy food and libations. Awards will also be announced. The event begins at 6 p.m. and the auction closes at 7 p.m., with registration available on the museum website. The silent auction is available at www.highdesertmuseum.org/aiw. —
Art in the West
July 15-September 20, 2024
High Desert Museum
59800 US-97, Bend, OR, 97702
(541) 382-4754
www.highdesertmuseum.org/aiw
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