Art doesn’t always have to tell a story, but it often does. Music can tell tales through sound and word, dance through movement, and visual art through the brushstrokes the artist puts to canvas. In an exhibition opening at the Briscoe Western Art Museum, the rich stories, history and cultures of the West are explored through a comprehensive survey of artwork produced in the Southwest from the early 20th century to today.
Logan Maxwell Hagege, Yesterday the Sky Was Blue, oil on linen, 40 x 60 in. Purchased with funds provided by The Plum Foundation, Briscoe Western Art Museum.
Storytellers: Narrative Art and the West originated at the New Mexico Museum of Art back in 2021 and 2022. The exhibition, which will debut at the Briscoe at the beginning of October, presents more than 70 works of art from the collections of the New Mexico Museum of Art, the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture and the Briscoe’s own holdings, as well as private lenders.
“I had the opportunity to see the exhibition at the New Mexico Museum of Art and was immediately drawn to the quality of the works represented,” says Jason T. Kirkland, the Briscoe’s director of exhibitions, collections and education. “Central to the exhibition is the theme of storytelling through art, encompassing a diverse range of narratives from fiesta celebrations to moments of human struggle, offering visitors a visually immersive experience that delves into the multifaceted tapestry of the Western culture, both historic and contemporary.” Kirkland curated the show alongside NMMA curator Christian Waguespack, bringing together some of the very best in the Western art.
Mark Maggiori, Once Upon a Time, 2020, oil on canvas, 36⅛ x 34¼ in. Gift of the artist.
Visitors will be able to dive into the works of historic greats like Fritz Scholder, Allan Houser and Frederic Remington, as well as present-day powerhouses like Mark Maggiori, Logan Maxwell Hagege and Martin Grelle.
Once Upon a Time, by Maggiori, features two Black cowboys on horseback, surrounded by canyons, sagebrush and the artist’s distinct cumulus clouds. “During the height of the Black Lives Matter movement, Maggiori’s painting Once Upon a Timeemerges as a powerful narrative, shedding light on the often-overlooked stories of African American cowboys in the West,” Kirkland notes. “Observing the lack of representation in popular Western narratives, Maggiori passionately decided to showcase the underrepresented community of Black working cowboys through his art. With a touch of realism and his distinctive portrayal of clouds, Maggiori’s artwork not only captivates but also educates, offering a visual homage to the one in four cowboys who were Black. By choosing to generously donate Once Upon a Time to the Briscoe in honor of [its] seventh-year anniversary, Maggiori solidified his commitment to amplifying marginalized voices and ensuring these vital stories are visible, celebrated and remembered.”
Eanger Irving Couse (1866-1936), A Pueblo Indian Weaver, 1911, oil on canvas, 30 x 36 in. Briscoe Western Art Museum Permanent Collection. Gift of the Jack and Valerie Guenther Foundation.
Of course, an exhibition centered on stories of the Southwest wouldn’t be complete without the Taos painters. Works by Joseph Henry Sharp, Eanger Irving Couse, Bert Geer Phillips, Oscar E. Berninghaus and William Herbert “Buck” Dunton will all be included as well.
“Their influence has attracted artists of diverse backgrounds to this artistic hub, drawn by the captivating landscapes and rich subject matter that defines the area,” says Kirkland. “Even today, contemporary artists continue to find inspiration in the same themes, resulting in a captivating display of varying styles and mediums that collectively offer a visual feast for all.”
Fritz Scholder (Luiseño, 1937-2005), Native with Blue Blanket, acrylic on canvas, 18 x 12 in. Gift of the Jack and Valerie Guenther Foundation.
Storytellers: Narrative Art and the West will hang from October 4, 2024, to January 19, 2025. —
Storytellers: Narrative Art and the West
October 4, 2024-January 19, 2025
Briscoe Western Art Museum
210 W. Market Street, San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 299-4499 www.briscoemuseum.org
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