Autry Show Tops $3 Million
The annual Masters of the American West Fine Art Exhibition and Sale, held at the Autry National Center in Los Angeles, tallied up more than $3 million in sales during its opening weekend in February. Over 200 artworks sold for $3,076,438, a 39 percent increase over last year. According to museum officials, Howard Terpning’s painting sunset for the comanche sold for $831,000, setting a new record price for the artist. Terpning was honored with the Thomas Moran Memorial Award for Painting for the piece.
Bob Kuhn received two honors, the Masters of the American West Award and the Autry National Center Award for Wildlife for his painting baying the stock killer. Clyde Aspevig won both the Autry National Center John Geraghty Award and the Autry National Center Trustees’ Award for his landscape cannon beach sunset. The Artists’ Choice Award went to Mian Situ for his painting the calico dress, family laundry, san francisco, 1905, and he garnered the Patrons’ Choice Award for overseer, san francisco, 1906. Other top awards were given to sculptor Oreland Joe and painter John Fawcett.
Best & Brightest
Nevada artist Diane Eugster won the Best of Show award at the Scottsdale Artists’ School’s Best & Brightest show in February for her painting green apple. The following artists received first-place awards in their respective categories: Christine Griffin-Woods, oil; Denise Mahlke, pastel; Vincent Russo, bronze; Bonnie Woods, watercolor; and Elizabeth Pollie, professional. Carole Hillsbery was honored with the Scottsdale Artists’ School Purchase Award.
In Memoriam
Neil Boyle died in February in British Columbia, Canada, following a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 74. A master signature member of the Oil Painters of America, Boyle was known for colorful and impressionistic figurative works depicting a range of subjects, from New Orleans jazz musicians to ballet dancers to women walking along the ocean’s edge. He will be missed, says California painter Joyce Pike, who knew Boyle for 35 years. “Neil gave so much to the art community,” she says. “He could put 40 or 50 figures in a painting and was a master of figurative works.” Boyle lived for many years in California before returning to his native Canada several years ago. He studied at the Chouinard Art Institute and the Art Center College of Design in the Los Angeles area. He later taught at both schools as well as at the California Art Institute in Westlake Village and the University of California, Long Beach.
Out & About
Jane Maclean was commissioned to create artwork for the new Sandoval County Judicial Complex in Bernalillo, NM. Her historical still-life paintings now hang in the rotunda of the complex…. Trio Fine Art recently opened in Jackson, WY, and features work by painters Molly Martin, Kathryn Mapes Turner, and September Zhay. The three artists also own and run the gallery…. Arizona-based artist Hank Richter won the Best of Show award for his watercolor foggy morn at the Celebration of Artists show in Peoria, AZ, in January. At the Empire Ranch Roundup Western Art Show & Sale in Sonoita, AZ, in October, Richter’s bye, bye mama was voted People’s Choice.
Record Sales
Boasting a total of $753,779 in sales, the Coors Western Art Show in Denver, CO, topped last year’s earnings by $184,755, a 32 percent increase. The annual event, which unfolded in January at the National Western Stock Show, featured more than 50 painters and sculptors from across the West and Canada. Best of Show honors went to Coloradan Len Chmiel for his oil painting barrel with chuparosa, a depiction of a cactus plant.
Painted Ponies
Finalists were recently announced in the Native Art of Horse Painting National Art Competition, sponsored by the Arizona-based Trail of Painted Ponies. Among the 20 artists who completed their entries last month are Lynn Bean, Bob Coonts, Barbara Duzan, Ross Lampshire, Priscilla Patey, Kay Payne, Bill and Traci Rabbit, Mark Silversmith, and Ben Wright. Visit www.trailofpaintedponies.com during the month of April to vote for the People’s Choice award winner.
Clarification
In addition to the galleries listed at the end of her article in the March issue, Carol Anthony is also represented by Maxwell Davidson Gallery, New York, NY. Southwest Art regrets the omission.
Featured in April 2006