Show Preview | Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale

Cody, WY
Buffalo Bill Center of the West, September 18-19

Phil Starke, First Water Crossing, oil, 30 x 36.

Phil Starke, First Water Crossing, oil, 30 x 36.

This story was featured in the September 2020 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Get the Southwest Art September 2020 print issue or digital download now–then subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss another story.

ANYONE WHO has had the pleasure of attending the annual Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale in Cody, WY, knows that this small western town enjoys putting on a big party, as show director Kathy Thompson likes to say. When the event comes to town this month, the gathering will be smaller than usual amid public health concerns, but this widely loved show and sale still promises to be a lively and inspiring one for devoted patrons of western art. “There are some absolutely stunning pieces this year,” says Thompson, who describes the sale’s offerings—a diverse collection of 105 paintings and sculptures—as “a tried-and-true look at the West, whether very contemporary or traditional.”

One need only peruse the show’s roster of established and up-and-coming artists to appreciate the caliber of works on view. Among this year’s group are Nelson Boren, Scott Christensen, Rox Corbett, Mark Eberhard, Stephanie Hartshorn, David Kammerzell, Dean Mitchell, Howard Post, Oreland C. Joe Sr., Donna Howell-Sickles, Tim Shinabarger, Matt Smith, Joshua Tobey, and Ezra Tucker. In order to fully appreciate the mastery in the artists’ creations, however, one must take time to view each piece, whether in person at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West—the gallery is open for public viewing until the works go up for sale in the live auction on Friday, September 18—or online at www.rendezvousroyale.org, where visitors can also view and purchase available works in the Scout’s Miniature Sale and Silent Auction.

Auctioneer Troy Black returns this year to lead the ticketed Friday-night auction, which is limited to 250 registrants and takes place in an outdoor tent. For patrons wishing to participate from home, live streaming of the event and online bidding are also available. But the festivities don’t end there. On Saturday morning at 9 a.m., nearly 40 artists gather for a ticketed Quick Draw & Brunch in the tent, where they create a finished piece in less than 90 minutes. A champagne brunch and live auction of these fresh creations follow the Quick Draw.

The weekend wouldn’t be complete without the annual Patrons Ball, a ticketed western formal hosted at the Center of the West on Saturday evening featuring live music, a silent auction, and catered cuisine. Patrons also have the option of registering as virtual guests and attending the event through live, online streaming.

Reflecting upon the challenges the world has faced this year, Thompson notes that now is an especially vital time to seek respite in art, and the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale, now in its 39th year, provides countless opportunities to do so. “There’s great hope in these artworks—there’s beauty,” Thompson says. “Appreciation for the grandeur of the West can bring us a sense of peace, and that’s the goal of this show: for everybody to get to see that grandeur, even if it’s just in a painting or a sculpture.” —Kim Agricola

contact information
www.rendezvousroyale.org

This story was featured in the September 2020 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Get the Southwest Art September 2020 print issue or digital download now–then subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss another story.

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