Show Preview | Western Art Show & Sale

Tucson, AZ
Mountain Oyster Club, November 4-January 15

Alfredo Rodriguez, Ready to Retire, oil, 18 x 24.

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

FANS OF THE MOUNTAIN Oyster Club’s long-running Western Art Show will be pleased to know that the 51st annual exhibition and sale opens at the club’s Pond Mansion in Tucson, AZ, this month. There, art lovers can find as many as 350 juried paintings and sculptures by some of today’s finest western artists—all available to view by appointment starting on Wednesday, November 4. A calendar is posted on the club’s website with two-hour appointment windows that each accommodate 20 to 25 visitors, says art committee chairperson Laura Davis.

: Barry Sapp, Mixed Kachina Dancers, watercolor, 28 x 22.

: Jeremy Bradshaw, Red’s Reach, bronze, 9 x 45 x 14.

: Jessica Garrett-Lawrence, Glistening Thunder, oil, 20 x 30.

Once the show opens, collectors have a few weeks to visit the exhibition and submit their intent-to-purchase cards for pieces they’d like to take home. For works that receive more than one card, a drawing to determine buyers is planned for Sunday, November 22. After that date, visitors are still welcome to schedule a viewing and purchase any unsold pieces in the exhibition, which remains on view until January 15. Those who prefer a virtual experience are invited to peruse the show’s offerings at www.mountainoysterclub.com.

As in years past, this year’s roster of artists boasts a number of veteran participants, including honorary club members like Shawn Cameron, John Fawcett, Darcie Peet, and Barry Sapp. “We have a lot of longtimers—artists who have been with the show for 10, 15, or 20 years,” says Davis. Other artists, such as Donna Howell-Sickles, have participated in the exhibition for a few years now but have been showcasing their talents on the western art scene for years, and that’s also true for first-time exhibitors Dave Santillanes, Wei Tai, and Larry Winborg.

: Mejo Okon, Hazel and Cha Cha, oil, 12 x 12.

: Krystii Melaine, Moving as One, oil, 20 x 20.

: Donna Howell-Sickles, Jack and Jill, mixed media, 30 x 22.

As for the type of experience visitors to this year’s show can expect to have, “It’s definitely going to be different than in years past,” notes Davis. That’s not to suggest, however, that the show will be any less appealing, especially given the standout artworks on view and the time and attention the club always devotes to planning its signature exhibition. As Davis puts it, “We are doing whatever we can do to adapt and make it a quality show.” —Kim Agricola

contact information
520.792.0319
www.mountainoysterclub.com