Scottsdale, AZ
The Legacy Gallery, December 10-31
John Moyers, At the Edge of the Black Hills, oil, 12 x 16.
As we bid farewell to a challenging year, an extra dose of cheer could do us all some good this holiday season. For western art collectors and enthusiasts, The Legacy Gallery’s festive Holiday Small Works Show in Scottsdale, AZ, is a surefire pick-me-up. The 20th annual exhibition and sale opens on Thursday, December 10, with an artists’ reception at 6 p.m. The opening coincides with a reception for artist Tom Browning, whose solo show featuring his classic Santa paintings is also on view. Special guests are expected to bring additional good tidings and cheer: “We are having carolers, and Santa will be here for photo ops,” says marketing manager Janell Grady. “I’m really hoping people come out.”
The caliber of artists in this year’s show is an especially compelling reason to stop by. Around 60 painters and sculptors showcase their works, which range between 8 by 8 inches and 12 by 16 inches, on average. The creators behind these small gems include top-billed names from Legacy’s own respected stable, such as Glenn Dean, Bill Anton, Kyle Polzin, and Martin Grelle. Joining the group for the first time are such noteworthy participants as Cyrus Afsary, Morgan Weistling, Daniel Smith, Mark Maggiori, and Jeremy Winborg. Nearly all of the 120 artworks are sold in a drawing starting at 7:30 p.m. Pieces by Grelle, Maggiori, and Polzin are sold in a silent auction.
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- Martin Grelle, A Warrior Still, acrylic, 16 x 16.
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- Glenn Dean, Adjusting Her Saddle, oil, 8 x 8.
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- Bill Anton, Morning at Canyon Springs, oil, 12 x 16.
The modest dimensions of the artworks might lead some observers to believe they required less effort to create. Not so, say the artists. For one thing, “smaller works always lack the elbow room of larger pieces and present challenges to a more impressionistic approach,” explains Arizona artist Bill Anton, whose MORNING AT CANYON SPRINGS reveals his loose, painterly style. “I do enjoy simple statements, and a smaller work usually means a tighter focus on the figure,” he adds. “It’s always instructive to boil down detail to its essence. Small paintings demand that.”
Montana sculptor Rick Terry also aims for an impressionistic approach in his work. Having created both monumental and tabletop bronze pieces over the years, the former rancher agrees that smaller works require simplification. His process always begins with sketches on paper followed by three-dimensional sketches in wax, no matter the scale of the piece. Measuring just 20 inches long, the sculptor’s WATER RIGHT displays an engaging cast of characters, including a cowboy napping in a water tank while his horse patiently waits at a windmill towering above the scene. With every new piece, says Terry, “I try to experiment and find new ways of expression.”
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- Morgan Weistling, End of the Ride, oil, 16 x 9.
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- Rick Terry, Water Right, bronze, 10 x 20.
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- Kyle Polzin, Beaded Scabbard, oil, 14 x 14.
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- Don Oelze, Captured Ponies, oil, 13 x 14.
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- Mark Maggiori, Taos Monsoon, oil, 12 x 16.
Expression was on Texas artist Martin Grelle’s mind when he created his moving portrait A WARRIOR STILL. The artist’s model, Casey Bird In Ground, is dressed in garments Native Americans would have worn as scouts in the U.S. Cavalry—though not at the expense of relinquishing their native identities. “They may have worn the Cavalry-issued garments given to them,” notes Grelle, “but they retained and integrated pieces of their own traditions and beliefs into what they wore, and more importantly, they were still the warriors they had always been.” Packing a big message like that into a small painting is no easy feat, but for artists, notes Grelle, “I think it’s a fun challenge to accomplish an important goal on a smaller scale.” —Kim Agricola
contact information
480.945.1113
www.legacygallery.com
This story appeared in the December 2020/January 2021 issue of Southwest Art magazine.