Prescott, AZ
Courthouse Plaza, May 23-25
Tamara Magdalina, Majestic Temple Crag, oil, 9 x 12.
This story was featured in the May 2020 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Get the Southwest Art May 2020 print issue or digital download now–then subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss another story.
EACH YEAR VISITORS from near and far travel to Prescott, AZ, for the Western Art Show & Sale, a Memorial Day weekend tradition hosted by the Phippen Museum that brings together a variety of top western artists and emerging talents to display their works on the town’s historic Ya-va-pai Courthouse Plaza. This year’s show is set to open on Saturday, May 23, provided it’s deemed safe to proceed as scheduled. Amid concerns about the coronavirus, executive director Edd Kellerman urges people to visit the museum’s website for the most up-to-date programming details before traveling to Prescott. “This would be our 46th show, and we’ll do everything we can do to put it on,” he says.
For art lovers, there’s certainly a lot to look forward to this year. More than 90 juried fine artists are scheduled to showcase their paintings, sculptures, drawings, and scratchboard works on the plaza from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Memorial Day. Among the group are longtime participants like Bill Nebeker, Bill Cramer, Joseph Robertson, and V…. Vaughan, as well as new talents who are “branching out” and broadening the scope of the western art genre, says Kellerman. “It reminds people that western art is not a static display,” he adds.
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- Dale Martin, No Neighbors, pastel, 9 x 12.
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- Cecilia McGuire, Saved From the Storm, bronze, 11 x 11 x 7.
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- Valeriy Kagounkin, Supply to Hunting Cabin, acrylic, 12 x 9.
On both Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m., more than 20 invited artists take part in a 60-minute Quick Draw competition, and their fresh creations immediately go up for auction on the north courthouse steps. Another popular event is the Artist Meet ’n Greet Dinner, held this year on Saturday evening. Described by Kellerman as “an old-fashioned, ranch-style barbecue dinner with western entertainment,” the ticketed event sells out fast, he says. Sunday morning brings a special ceremony on the courthouse steps to announce this year’s award-winning pieces, including the Phippen Family Award and Best of Show honors.
Meanwhile, in a separate exhibition inside the museum entitled PAWs to Celebrate, collectors can peruse and purchase small artworks that are ready to take home immediately. Small-scale gems are also on display in the museum’s Miniature Masterpieces Show and are available for purchase in a sale-by-draw on Monday at 11 a.m. If Phippen’s outdoor show happens to get cancelled, adds Kellerman, people can still view and purchase artworks in both exhibitions via virtual galleries on the museum’s website. —Kim Agricola
contact information
928.778.1385
www.phippenartmuseum.org
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- Kim Seyesnem Obrzut, Sunflower, bronze, 12 x 8 x 7.
This story was featured in the May 2020 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Get the Southwest Art May 2020 print issue or digital download now–then subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss another story.
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