Spanning a variety of subject matter and mediums, comes vibrant and unique interpretations of the High Desert region in the annual Art in the West exhibition and silent auction. Hosted by the High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon, with a silent auction component on the museum’s website, the event showcases 100-plus artworks—“the most ever featured since it began more than a decade ago,” says museum executive director Dana Whitelaw, Ph.D.
Adell Shetterly, Timeworn, monotype, 22 x 30"
“Art in the West is such a great joy every year—to see such unique beauty, color and perspective on the gallery walls is transporting and transformative,” Whitelaw continues. “Whether it’s in person or online, I hope the people who drink in this artwork will come away with the same wonder and awe for the High Desert region—the stretch of the West that spans from the Rocky Mountains to the Cascades.”
Printmaker Adell Shetterly, shares the inspiration for her show piece Timeworn—a monotype landscape scene with three moons in a big, blue sky. “Hiking through the High Desert region, the land formations become storytellers,” she says. “The vastness of the Badlands, the ancient mysteries of Fork Rock and the stark beauty of the Playa murmur tales of time past. As I hike, I wonder of the journeys of those who walked before me—the slow, steady transformations wrought by time and what future tales will be told. These whispers of history and geological narratives are the seeds for Timeworn.”
Arturo Garcia, Indigo, oil on canvas, 16 x 20"
As for the artist’s technique, she attributes her brand-new brayer (roller)—allowing for full-plate coverage—as the key to the “rainbow roll” in Timeworn. I laid down four colors on a surface and rolled the brayer repeatedly, charging the brayer, blending colors for a richly textured base. Next, I angled the brayer to run the colors over and through, each other creating color variation, texture and interest on the plate. Wanting to add depth and intrigue, I then drew lines into the wet ink, creating pathways for the next layer which translated as trails through the desert. A smaller brayer, loaded with a single color, emphasized these lines and enhanced the visual complexity.
Judy Hoiness, Mountains: Keeper of Secrets #3, acrylic, 24 x 34"
The sky received similar treatment, ensuring a cohesive feel throughout the print. Finally, three initially stark white circles, destined to become moons, were transformed with a thick gray ink. This final press run imbued them with a sense of age and celestial mystery.”
Additional artists in the show, with numbers growing every year, include honoring longtime participants like Rudi Broschofsky and Robert Martinez, while welcoming new artists like Connor Liljestrom and Jake Trujillo. "We expand our invitation list of artists every year to bring greater depth to the exhibition,” says Whitelaw.
Attendees at the 2023 Art of the West browse significant artworks. Photo by Bill Jorgens.
The online exhibition and silent auction opens on the museum's website on July 15, with the entire collection on view on in the Collins Gallery, Desertarium and Spirit of the West hallways of the High Desert Museum, on July 20. Bidding concludes on Friday, September 20 during the Art in the West Closing Party at the museum. Attendees will have the opportunity to mingle with participating artists, watch live demonstrations and enjoy food and libations. Awards, including the Jury’s Choice Award, will also be announced. The event begins at 6 p.m. and the auction closes at 7 p.m., with registration available on the museum website. The silent auction is available at www.highdesertmuseum.org/aiw/. —
Art in the West
July 15-September 20, 2024
Virtual/High Desert Museum
59800 US-97, Bend, OR, 97702
(541) 382-4754, www.highdesertmuseum.org/aiw/
Powered by Froala Editor
