Conjuring stories past of the Great American West, while simultaneously spotlighting its future, comes the InSight Gallery show Trailblazers & Traditions.“Dusty cattle drives of days gone by, modern-day horsemen and those who carry on the traditions of ranching, cattle raising or rodeo, inspire artists with a heritage that runs deep,” says gallery sales manager Adele Wells. “Each artist’s work is steeped with its own story and perspective as varied as the frontier itself.”
Abigail Gutting, The Last Draw, oil, 30 x 40 in.
Featured are 25 new pieces by prominent Western artists like Rachel Brownlee, Mary Ross Buchholz, Mikel Donahue, Tom Dorr, Bruce Greene, Abigail Gutting, John Fawcett, Tony Pro, Robert Pummill and Michael Ome Untiedt.
For Gutting, known for her depictions of Western wildlife and culture, she paints what she sees firsthand. “The tradition of the American West is something I get to experience up close and personal,” she shares. “The horses I paint have pounded the ground inches away from my camera and thrown dirt in my face. The bulls give me a formidable stink eye from the other side of the fence. The cowboys work, ride and wrangle the rough stock and demonstrate a solid work ethic that embodies the iconic American cowboy. This all works together and contributes to an artistic vision that celebrates a culture very much alive and well in the 21st century.”
Bruce Greene, Old Ways, New Days, gouache, 12 x 12 in.
Gutting adds that the “continued pursuit of artistic accuracy is one way to honor a storied history and way of life unique to our part of the world.” We see this accuracy take place in pieces like The Last Draw, which is a simple painting at first glance, but “focuses almost exclusively on the horse’s anatomy, movement and will—the story of the piece,” says the artist.
Mary Ross Buchholz, Pretty as a Cactus Flower, charcoal, 36 x 36 in.
Another show artist, Fawcett, has been enthralled with Western traditions since he was a kid and spent time at a dude ranch vacationing with his family. “Now living in Colorado with many friends working on or running ranches in the area, I have gained even more of an understanding of how and why the longstanding traditions passed down within families are so important to their lifestyles,” he says. “Hopefully my work portrays this in a way that makes them proud!”
Rachel Brownlee, Trail of Silver Dreams, charcoal, 36 x 24 in.
Fawcett showcases his detailed watercolor and oil paintings like Autumn Glory. “This oil is of my friend Travis B., who is riding his horse, Holy, along Willow Creek on our ranch in northwest Colorado, leading his pack horse. Being part of a long-time family in our valley, he has shared with me many stories of cowboy and Native American culture of our area. We have ridden together along this creek many times and there is always something new I visually discover, while taking in the serenity and beauty of the ride, which I never grow tired of.”
John Fawcett, Autumn Glory, oil, 20 x 24 in.
We also hear from Brownlee, whose connection to the American West runs deep as a fifth-generation rancher, and currently lives on a family homestead ranch in Western Nebraska. “I started working cattle and running hay equipment when I was 9 years old, she explains. “I rode my horse for ranch work every day until I left for college at 17, and now I live on my husband’s family ranch. My whole life has been about the cattle, the grass and the people who work here.”
Michael Ome Untiedt, Zopolete Springs, oil, 24 x 18 in.
Her charcoal show piece Trail of Silver Dreams depicts the “beautiful evening moment of returning to the headquarters after moving cattle all day,” she says of the work showing a rider on his horse moving toward a wall of billowing clouds. “The background hill and clouds are my actual view from my front door. I have only [depicted] clouds in one other piece, so this was kind of a breakthrough in that area for me.” The artist adds, “My neighbor, Cohen, has been a gracious model for me for several of my pieces and his blue roan horse is a favorite of mine. So much of ranch life is difficult, and it’s a blessing to be able to appreciate the beautiful moments.”
Mikel Donahue, Hook’em Horns, oil, 15 x 30 in.
Trailblazers & Traditions is set to open at InSight Gallery on Friday, October 4, with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. The show will close on October 25. —
InSight Gallery 217 W. Main Street » Fredericksburg, TX 78624 » (830) 997-9920 » www.insightgallery.com
Powered by Froala Editor
