News from the art world
By Kristin Hoerth
Snow Angels by Mark Kelso.
September has traditionally been an exciting month in the world of western art, with many important shows and auctions packed into just a few weekends. Last year, of course, things weren’t the same, so it’s been gratifying to see a bit more normalcy return this year, even if we’re not entirely back to the status quo. Here are highlights from some of the major events that happened just before this issue went to press.
More than $1.1 million worth of art was sold at the 16th annual Quest for the West show and sale at the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis in mid-September. For the first time ever, three top awards went to the same artist: Mark Kelso’s oil painting titled SNOW ANGELS won the Henry Farny Award for Best Painting, the Patrons’ Choice Award selected by show attendees, and the Artists’ Choice Award selected by fellow participating artists. TRADING AT PIERRE’S HOLE by John Fawcett won the Harrison Eiteljorg Purchase Award and joins the museum’s permanent collection. Denis Milhomme won the Artist of Distinction Award; he will have a solo show at the museum next year. Brett Allen Johnson won the Victor Higgins Work of Distinction Award for the best body of work presented. Finally, the Cyrus Dallin Award for Best Sculpture went to Gerald Balciar.
At the 22nd annual American Impressionist Society National Juried Exhibition, held at Gallery 1516 in Omaha, NE, artist Jove Wang won both Best of Show and Artists’ Choice for his painting THE MAN WHO HERDED THE HAIRY COW. Second place went to Mary Qian for her painting JAMES, and third place went to Brad Teare for SUMMER LIGHT. Well-known painter C.W. Mundy was the awards judge for the show.
In Wyoming, the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale celebrated its 40th anniversary with nearly $1.18 million in sales. The top lot in the live auction was GLACIER CARVED by Tucker Smith at $65,000. The Spirit of the Buffalo Bill Art Show Award, which recognizes the artwork that is most representative of the spirit of the West, went to Mark Kelso for a painting called SOUTH FORK WANDERERS. Judges selected THE FENCE INSPECTOR by T. Allen Lawson as the top two-dimensional artwork, and STEPPING STONE by Joshua Tobey as the top three-dimensional artwork. Four Awards of Excellence went to Campbell Dosch, Dolan Geiman, Paul Rhymer, and Kyle Sims; the People’s Choice Award went to Heide Presse.
This Editor’s Letter appeared in the October/November 2021 issue of Southwest Art magazine.