Now in its fifth year, Legacy Gallery’s annual Forever West returns to Canyon Road, in the heart of Santa Fe, New Mexico. The show celebrates the “enduring imagery, history and cultural identity of the American West.”
Eleven artists will participate in the show: Kyle Polzin, John Moyers, Terri Kelly Moyers, Jason Rich, Chad Poppleton, Don Oelze, G. Russell Case, Rachel Brownlee, Bill Anton, Tom Browning and Martin Grelle.
Jason Rich, The Working Bond, oil, 32 x 24 in.
Oelze, whose recent works have been quickly scooped up by discerning collectors, will be showing After the Horse Raid, which includes a breathtaking landscape behind Native American subjects. “This painting grew out of something I had read about a Native American horse raid. The author mentioned that after capturing horses, the raiders had to stop along the way to rest and water them before continuing their journey. For some reason that small detail stayed with me,” the artist says. “I could picture the scene clearly in my mind, although I imagined it beside a quiet mountain lake rather than a creek. For many Plains tribes, taking horses from an enemy was not viewed as stealing, but as capturing valuable animals through skill, courage and careful planning. This painting represents that brief pause in the journey—a moment of rest for both the riders and the horses before moving on.”
Rachel Brownlee, Iron Sky, charcoal, 40 x 30 in.
Rich will be showing his cowboy painting The Working Bond, completed in a limited palette, which the artist has been exploring in recent years. “[This is] perhaps my favorite subject to paint. Using the iconic cowboy motif to portray the nuanced relationship between horse and rider working together as a polished team. As is often the case in my paintings, the main character or focal point is the horse itself,” Rich says. “No preliminary drawing was used for this piece. I dove straight into the paint laying down big shapes with a thin wash and wide brushes. I then refined the drawing by carving out negative shapes around the figures wiping out the wash and later adding thicker layers of paint with the palette knife. I painted the majority of this piece with the knife in an effort to capture a more painterly, spontaneous feeling while eliminating unnecessary detail. Hoping to connect with the viewer on a more emotional level, I attempted to create a moodiness about this piece using a limited color palette and muted tones. I also enjoyed the process of simplifying and abstracting the areas around the figures helping to create a stronger focal point.”
G. Russell Case, New Mexico Sage, oil, 18 x 24 in.
Brownlee, whose drawings have been a hit at recent shows, will be presenting Iron Sky. “Few people have occupations and lifestyles so dependent on hope in the weather as cattle ranchers,” she says. “There are seasons of the year, and then are weather seasons consisting of many years. The American West is experiencing a severe drought this year. In a drought season, the sky and the ground become a glimmering silver, dust on the ground and dust in the sky, an unrelenting silver sky that I call an Iron Sky.”
Don Oelze, After the Horse Raid, oil, 40 x 40 in.
The show hangs through August 16, but collectors are urged to attend the opening sale and reception, which will take place August 7, from 5 to 7 p.m. —Legacy Gallery 225 Canyon Road » Santa Fe, NM 87501 » (505) 986-9833 » www.legacygallery.com
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