Beginning September 6 to 7, the Western art world will converge once again at the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis for the 19th annual Quest for the West Art Show and Sale.Running for nearly two decades now, the event is undoubtedly a Western art staple, bringing together 50 of the most prominent artists in the genre today.
John Fawcett, Halcyon Days, oil, 24 x 30 in.“I think one of the things that is so exciting to me about Quest is the potential within the artist roster,” says Johanna M. Blume, curator of Western art, history and culture at the Eiteljorg Museum. “We have artists that have been with us from the beginning and a bunch of up-and-coming artists. It’s such a great opportunity to show the breadth of artwork being created today, and that the West can mean [a lot ] of different things…That’s a thing we’re interested in doing broadly here at the Eiteljorg—to demonstrate that the American West is a present, current, ever-evolving place. And also a concept.”
Eric Bowman, Land Management, oil on canvas, 30 x 30 in.Brand new to the show this year are talented artists like Brandon Bailey, Eric Bowman, Sean Michael Chavez, David Griffin, Terry Cooke Hall, Stephanie Revennaugh and Pati Stajcar, as well as Brett Allen Johnson, who has participated in a previous Quest but didn’t attend last year. Among the returning artists for 2024 are Robert Griffing, Mark Kelso, Krystii Melaine, Dean Mitchell, P.A. Nisbet, Heide Presse and Dave Santillanes.
Attendees can explore a wondrous array of artwork, including landscapes, still lifes and portraits, sculpted bronzes and other works. During the weekend, collectors will have two opportunities to purchase art, while they spend time with the artists and meet fellow fans of the genre.
G. Russell Case, Hogan Mesa, oil, 18 x 24 in.
Krystii Melaine, Tornado, oil on linen, 30 x 30 in.
The miniature art sale takes place Friday night, September 6, while on Saturday, September 7, is the main art sale in which pre-registered Quest attendees can participate in a fixed-price, luck-of-the-draw sale. In this sale format, the “bidder whose name is drawn first gets the right to purchase a particular piece,” writes Bert Beiswanger, director of marketing and communications at the Eiteljorg Museum. “If the bidder passes, the next person drawn is offered the chance to buy it. This process continues until a lucky bidder accepts and becomes the happy new owner of the artwork.” The sale consists of a total of three bidding periods.
Brad Teare, Autumn Serenity, oil, 48 x 48 in.
Quest artist John Fawcett’s Halcyon Days depicts a slow, serene scene of two cowboys on horseback. “Horse packing into camp in the Colorado high country is one of the most enjoyable endeavors for the fall season,” he says of the piece. “The crisp, cool, mountain air and stillness, except for the sage and grass crunching under the horses’ hooves, truly make these ‘Halcyon Days.’”
A figurative piece by Fawcett, The Medicine Bundle features a Native American man in traditional garb. “A medicine bundle was a sacred pouch worn by Plains Indians that contained items of importance for that individual. Vision quests would indicate certain symbols that empowered, protected and guided braves throughout their lives and often were passed down through generations. Common contents were cedar, sage, sweetgrass and tobacco, as well as special feathers, stones, animal bones and shells that held special significance,” Fawcett explains.
Josh Elliott, Vapors Above and Below, Yellowstone, oil, 24 x 30 in.
Jay Moore, Soaring San Juans, oil, 40 x 50 in.
“In the four paintings I am presenting for the Quest for the West show, I strive to capture the stunning diversity of the American West,” says impasto painter Brad Teare. “One piece brings to life the vibrant energy of an alpine spring, while another showcases the majestic beauty of an autumnal aspen glen. A summer alpine meadow bursts with lush greenery, and the serene stillness of a desert canyon invites quiet reflection. Through thick, textured strokes of broken color, I aim to engage the viewer’s senses and evoke the essence of these breathtaking landscapes.”
William Haskell, Searching for Warmth, acrylic on panel, 16 x 20 in.
An expansive Southwestern scene of chiseled red rocks by G. Russell Case, titled Hogan Mesa, will also be a part of the upcoming Indiana exhibition. “[This was] a painting I did from a reference trip on the Navajo Nation,” Case says. “The mesas were hidden from view while on the black top. It wasn’t until I received a tip from a local, and then about 20 miles on a two-track, that I found them. Seems timeless out there.
Brett Allen Johnson, Desert Transom, oil, 12 x 12 in.
Jay Moore’s stunning (and gigantic) Soaring San Juans captures a scene of the golden foliage and snow-draped peaks of the San Juan Mountains in Colorado. “Although I have lived in Colorado for 60 years, I am just starting to explore the back roads of the southern part of the state,” says the artist. “Wow, is there some beautiful scenery to be found. In this area near Dallas Creek, the surrounding peaks literally soar above you. The horses help add scale, but they were really there down in the meadow.”
A series of oil paintings by Bowman depict scenes of cowboys, farmers and Native American horseback riders at various stages of their work day.
Mikel Donahue, Where Angels Are Near, acrylic on board, 8 x 12 in.
Sean Michael Chavez, One in the Bush, oil on canvas, 36 x 30 in.
All of these works and many others will be available to explore and enjoy during the 2024 Quest for the West. Multiple art awards will also be presented the evening of Saturday, September 7, during the banquet and awards ceremony. Visit the museum’s website for a full schedule of all the events going on that weekend. After the two-day celebration, the Quest for the West exhibition opens to the public on September 8 and remains on view through October 6.
The show is included with regular museum admission. —
Quest for the West
September 8-October 6, 2024
Miniature sale, Sept. 6
Reception, sale and banquet, Sept. 8
Eiteljorg Museum
500 W. Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 636-9378, www.eiteljorg.org
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