Show Preview | Tubac Center of the Arts: Best of the West

Tubac, AZ
November 22-December 22

John Solie, The Assiniboine, oil, 30 x 24.

This story was featured in the December 2013 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Get the Southwest Art December 2013 print issue or digital download now–then subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss another story!

On Friday, November 22, the Tubac Center of the Arts unveils a collection of western artworks from the Mountain Oyster Club’s private collection in a show entitled Best of the West. Approximately 50 pieces, including oil, acrylic, and watercolor paintings and wood and bronze sculptures never before seen outside of the club, are on view through December 22.

The brainchild of Kim Krueger and Mike Jacoby, Best of the West brings to public view works of art collected by the club since the 1940s—works that capture the historic and contemporary West. Friends since childhood, Krueger and Jacoby both are members of the Mountain Oyster Club, and both have served as president of the Tubac Center of the Arts. Jacoby says that he’s not sure who first brought up the idea of the show, but that both know the club takes down its permanent collection during its annual invitational art sale. “Rather than putting [the works] in the basement,” Jacoby says, “we said, ‘Let’s put them in a pickup truck and take them down to Tubac.’” Jacoby is quick to note that no, they didn’t actually throw the artwork in the bed of a pickup. But once the idea formed, he says, “things came together with very little effort.”

Lawrence Lee, Black Vest, acrylic, 48 x 36.

“This is a major part of their collection,” says Karon Leigh, the art center’s exhibitions manager. Along with the center’s executive director, Karin Toppings, Leigh and Jacoby handpicked the works for the show. “If it were up to Mike, he would take all the pieces, but we have limited gallery space,” Leigh says with a chuckle. The show includes a broad selection of media and subject matter from an impressive list of artists that includes Buckeye Blake, John Farnsworth, Ned Jacob, Howard Post, R.S. Riddick, John Solie, and Robert “Shoofly” Shufelt, among many others.

“It’s a marvelous opportunity,” Jacoby says of the show. “The Mountain Oyster Club was very accommodating. It is a great partnership of people who love art. I think [the collection] represents a broad segment of western life, and it represents that way of life from a number of different, very talented artists and art styles.” —Laura Rintala

contact information
520.398.2371
www.tubacarts.org

Featured in the December 2013 issue of Southwest Art magazine–click below to purchase:
Southwest Art December 2013 print issue or digital download Or subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss a story!