This July, Mockingbird Gallery presents Looking West, an exhibit of artworks capturing the American West. With its staggering mountains, grassy plains, cowboys and sacred lands, the American West begs to be captured by an artist’s eye. Its landscapes are vast, the stories timeless and its pull on the imagination never fades.
John C. Traynor, Burnin’ Daylight, oil, 30 x 40 in.
Looking West, on view at Mockingbird Gallery in Bend, Oregon, from July 3 through the end of the month, will feature iconic Western imagery by Tom Browning, Charles Cashwell, Lisa Danielle, John DeMott, Grant Redden and John C. Traynor. An artist reception will be held at the gallery on Friday, July 3, from 5 to 8 p.m. in conjunction with Bend’s First Friday Art Walk.
Browning’s work is a natural fit for Looking West, as he paints the West with captivating realism and constructs narratives through his subjects’ expressions. In A Vision To Lead, he depicts a Native American chief in a moment of quiet contemplation. Compositionally, Browning places the figure close and large within the picture plane—almost making the horse, headdress and bold slash of red dissolve into an abstract arrangement of shapes and color.
Tom Browning, A Vision to Lead, oil on linen, 22 x 30 in.
“A Vision to Lead reflects my continuing fascination with Native American subjects and the enduring spirit they represent in the American West,” says Browning. “In this piece, I intentionally moved away from the action-filled scenes and swirling dust often associated with my work, choosing instead a quieter, more contemplative moment. I wanted the painting to invite viewers into the subject’s thoughts—to pause and wonder what he may be seeing, feeling, or envisioning beyond the horizon.”
Cashwell’s work brings a sense of urgency to the exhibition with his impressionistic depictions of the West. “Making Up Time shows a horse and rider that is in a big hurry to get somewhere. The act of being in a hurry suits my style nicely. Even when working with a rather static piece of reference, I will find a way to show a sense of motion through line and abstraction,” says Cashwell.
Grant Redden, Southern Utah Cowpile, oil, 16 x 24 in.
Redden’s Southern Utah Cowpile conveys the sound of whooping cowboys and bawling calves, and the dust and frustration that comes with herding livestock. The painting process started with a reference photo—Redden’s jump-off point as he adds color, movement and elements that spring from memory and imagination.
“Cowpileis a painting that developed from a scene I witnessed while traveling through the desert country of Southern Utah,” says Redden. “I came across a group of cowboys trying unsuccessfully to get a little bunch of cows to go under the highway, through an underpass made for just such a purpose.”
Charles Cashwell, Making Up Time, acrylic, 48 x 48 in.
Looking West includes several new works from all six artists. While they vary stylistically, they each draw from their shared creative interest in the West—representing both its historic past and its relevance today. —
Mockingbird Gallery 869 NW Wall Street, Suite 100 » Bend, OR 97701 » (541) 388-2107 » www.mockingbird-gallery.com
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