Prix de West Earns $2.6 Million
Opening-night sales at the Prix de West Invitational rang up to an impressive $2.6 million. The 32nd annual show, held in June at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, OK, included more than 300 works by 101 leading western artists. Top honors went to Martin Grelle, who took home the Prix de West Purchase Award for his painting two coups. The Frederic Remington Painting Award went to Curt Walters for rio grande reflections, and Tim Shinabarger received the James Earle Fraser Sculpture Award for mother’s watch. Robert “Shoofly” Shufelt’s crew of six won the Express Ranches Great American Cowboy Award, while bear river sandhill cranes by Dave Wade fetched the Major General and Mrs. Don D. Pittman Wildlife Art Award. Christopher Blossom was honored with the Robert Lougheed Memorial Award, chosen by his fellow artists for the best entire body of work, and Ron Riddick won the Nona Jean Hulsey Rumsey Buyers’ Choice Award for lakota warrior’s farewell.
In Memoriam
California gallery owner Terrence Rogers died suddenly in June due to complications after suffering a stroke. He was 52. Rogers opened Tatistcheff/Rogers in 1987 in Santa Monica in conjunction with Tatistcheff Gallery in New York, where he had worked since 1980. In 1999, he opened Terrence Rogers Fine Art. Rogers played a key role in launching the first Los Angeles International, a biennial show that features artists and galleries from around the world. Martha Meier, owner of Jack Meier Gallery in Houston, TX, died of cancer in July at age 71. Meier and her husband, Jack, who passed away in August 2004, presented works by local and nationally known painters and sculptors such as Quang Ho, Lindy Schillaci, and Nancy Bush for more than 30 years.
Zunino Wins Top Award
Sales for the Salon d’Arts show, held in June at the Colorado History Museum in Denver, totaled more than $400,000. The invitational show attracted 46 top artists from across the country. Mark Zunino, a still-life artist based in Connecticut, won the Emerging Artist award, and the Artists’ Choice award went to Colorado painter Kevin Weckbach for his expressionistic paintings.
Out & About
Renowned portrait artist Everett Raymond Kinstler’s life and career is the subject of a film that airs on PBS stations nationwide through the end of the year…. Los Angeles-based George Stern Fine Arts has opened a second location in Carmel, CA…. The Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, CA, unveils a new sculpture garden dedicated to contemporary Latin American sculpture this month…. The annual Ranches & Rolling Hills show and sale, held in Nicasio, CA, in May, raised more than $70,000 for the Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT), which helps preserve family farms and ranches.
Landslide Reveals Treasure
When a June landslide destroyed their home in Laguna Beach, CA, Alberto and Delores Trevino discovered an unexpected windfall. As they sifted through the remains of their residence with Pam Hagen, an artist and family friend, the Trevinos came across a painting they had bought 20 years ago—a work depicting Mission San Juan Capistrano. Hagen immediately recognized the signature of artist Joseph Kleitsch, an early California Impressionist, and local gallery owner Ray Redfern confirmed that the painting was authentic and valued at $500,000. Redfern agreed to donate his services to sell the painting, and the Trevinos plan to use the money from the sale to rebuild their home.
OPA in the West
The Oil Painters of America held its Western Regional Juried Exhibition in June at Waterhouse Gallery in Santa Barbara, CA. Pang-Yen Chou won Best of Show for his impressionistic painting boat house. Other top awards went to Jean Chambers, Huihan Liu, Deanne Lemley, Elizabeth Tolley, Dale Landrum, Michael Mao, C.M. Cooper, Brian Blood, and Simon Lok.
Featured in September 2005