Jackson Hole Art Blog

The message at Lyndsay McCandless Contemporary is CHANGE.  Somehow, in a sour economy for most Jackson Hole Galleries, LMC keeps on happening.  The large, loft-like space sitting at Jackson Street level has transformed itself into a place for happenings, 60’s style.  2009’s version of a record player is a d.j. named Mr. Whipple ( a 1960’s and 70’s lab-coated, bespectacled advertising character hawking toilet tissue–nice, soft toilet tissue ), wall art is the new tie dye, and a  communal creativity prevails.   Getting any attention in today’s art market is real tough;  galleries are asking their artists to go small, in order to bring down price points.  Three Jackson Hole galleries I know of have closed in as many months.   Galleries with strong client stables are calling upon those clients more often.

LMC is the Madonna of Jackson Hole art galleries, working feverishly to stay fresh. Author readings, AIVO, children’s art, musicians in white vans rocking the night away, fire throwing, collaborations with non-profits, joining 1% for the Tetons (says you feel confident you have enough net income capital to donate, going forward, and you’re comfortable providing full access to your income ledger, and you are going with green marketing, and you get your picture taken by the very cool David Swift),  openly political art projects.   With the exception of regularly scheduled art openings around town, there’s no other action of the sort LMC provides monthly.

So what’s going on over there?

McCandless has a marketing background and she’s pumping it up.  Her next happening, pARTicipate for Change,  gets hopping this coming First Friday, Februrary 6, 5:30-7:30 pm.  The project keeps Obamamania going–I’m all over that.

Here’s the skinny: This First Friday, you can’t just show up to eat  organic pizza (Where was that yummy pizza January 20, at Pub Place?  We ate bad cafeteria food! Even kids pushed that stuff around on the plate.  The dancing, however, was FAB! )  This coming Friday, all comers are asked to actively participate in the creation of a work that will come to life on a wall-sized piece of canvas. Create to the theme of participating for change, and the finished product will be photographed and sent to the President.  We audaciously hope!  We hope with audacity?  I’m still stuck on the “hopefully” grammar thing.

“I also want people to experience that excitement and joy of acquiring a
piece of art…so we will be giving away small pieces of art all night
to everyone who walks in the door. Maybe it will create a mini-trading
sensation,” says McCandless.

Here’s some ways to participate:

1. Hang/install your artwork, up to three pieces, framing optional.    Explore “Change.”

2. Contribute to the free-art collection. ( LM: “I am taking old photos/paintings/sketches and cutting them up into mini-art pieces (@ 2″ x 3″). I have one that Alissa Davies gave me in September as her ‘card’. I carry it around in my wallet as a little transportable piece of art that makes me smile. I will write on the back of all of them “www.lmcontemporary.com Art It Forward”)

Lyndsay!  I love you!  You used single quotations around a word! ( ‘card’ ) I get in trouble from Swift when I do that on Tammy & David Fight About Movies!  You go girl!  You mean, by single quotes, that the card isn’t a real business card, but you use it as such, it has that spirit, that function, is some way related to the entity “business card.”   Did we go to the same high school? Did you have Miss Cole for English class?

3. Bring art supplies/inspiration to use for the art wall-markers, sharpies, charcoal, adhesive stuff, photos, scraps of paper, crayons, safety pins, post-its,—paint requires lots of extra’s, brushes, water, containers—”but we
could make it work!”

Artists need to get their work to LMC by Wednesday, February 4.

Artists who have signed up (I’ve corrected spelling as far as I can; apologies for any remaining misspelled names!)

Anthony Birkholz…video installation
Nicole Burdick and Micah Richardson…ice installation
Bland Hoke…Center of Wonder Public Art ambassador
Amy Larkin
Bronwyn Minton
Alissa Davies
Babs Case
Rachel Kunkle
Ben Carlson
Susan Thulin
Emma Adkisson
Bryce Billings
Ashely Hogge
Jeremy Kusmin
Rich Goodwin
Steven Glass

Gone Missing Teton Art Lab will make an appearance, with its own installation.

Visit www.lmcontemporary.com, or call 307-734-0649/cell: 307-413-4331.

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First the Gain:  Designer, childrens’ book illustrator, New Yorker cover artist, and writer Maira Kalman’s beautiful booklet/story, The Inauguration At Last, is a sweet vision of art and prayer ( Hallelujah! ) offered up to the Heavens, a story of Kalman’s own trip to Washington.    Appears online in today’s New York Times.

Our loss: Jackson Hole’s  CRAFT Gallery has closed; the gallery was located on King Street.   The exact date of CRAFT’s closing is not known to me, but I am sad to see it go. Although I’m posting this information, the closing happened quietly, and I hope that anyone reacting to this posting will handle any contact with CRAFT delicately.  If you don’t, I will come after you.

CRAFT provided a very bright light in Jackson’s gallery scene.   From the day it opened its doors, CRAFT’s windows and walls were filled with transluscent contemporary glass by artists near and far;  the gallery carried handcrafted items–jewelry, textiles, photographs.  It was a happy space.   I wish the owners good luck, God Speed.  We will miss you.

End.

A great Jackson Hole winter tradition, Winter Carnival, kicks off tomorrow, January 29, at the National Museum of Wildlife Art. Each year, the Museum puts on its famous “Quick Draw,” a group “art-in” of talented artists creating art before attendees’ eyes.   The event includes student artists, so there’s something exciting to see for every age group.

Tomorrow’s event showcases the talents of Tom Bradshaw, Eliot Goss, Fred Kingwill, Greg McHuron, Matt Montagne, Cathy Munson, Bill Sawczuk, Kay Stratman, Kathryn Mapes Turner, Kathy Wipfler, and Jackson Hole High School art students Jesse Cole, Emily Clare Gimpel, Nina Palomba and Kiki Zaist. This roster includes artists whose works are part of the Museum’s collection and who contribute annually to NMWA’s “Western Visions: Miniatures and More” Show and Sale.

The evening includes musical entertainment, and that famous “Gourmet Chilly” Bar.   So throw off January’s chill, watch art being created before your very eyes, and enjoy the company of fellow art and chili lovers, all in one night.  Doors open at 5:30 pm.  Admission is $10 for members, $15 for non-members, and students get in FREE.   307-733-5771.

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It’s Wyoming native Jackson Pollock’s birthday today!  He’s an Aquarian.  Of course!   Have fun scribbling!

Dear Galleries and Artists:

Please consider donating to  2009’s Jackson Hole “V-Day,” a benefit to support women whose lives are in jeopardy because of domestic violence.   The event will be festive and fun, but the cause is serious. Here in Teton County we have one of the highest per-capita percentages of domestic violence in the nation.

I realize we are short on time, and I apologize—our donation deadline is FEB. 4.  YIKES!   Less time to think, better to act!  :-)

I am soliciting for three kinds of donations:

#1.
February 19th’s Opening Gala wants to include a womens’ artist QuickDraw, with the resulting works to be auctioned via silent auction.  Our goal is to have six artists participate in creating a work around the theme of “Woman.”   You may use any medium.  The event takes place in the lobby of the Performing Arts Theater at the Center for the Arts, and the gala will be going on as you work, so you’ll have a big audience.   The QuickDraw will begin at 6:00, and will be 60 minutes long.  QuickDraw artists will work on the upstairs landing overlooking the main lobby.

As a participating artist you will receive:

* A 1/8th page program advertisement; the ad is business-card sized.
* A ticket to the opening night Gala for a guest and two tickets to the Opening Night’s Performance.
* Your works will remain on display all three days of the benefit.
* You will be recognized as a donor in all advertising materials.

#2:
I am soliciting all galleries to donate an item of at least $50 in value, as a Silent Auction item.  Lots of you have great jewelry!  Arts, crafts, jewelry…all are welcome; we are aiming to auction items that appeal to women.   As a personal request, I ask that you donate something you, yourself would like to have.   :-)   This will make the silent auction much more successful, and raise lots more dollars for women suffering at the hands of domestic violence.  It’s also great p.r. for you!    Your gift is tax-deductible as the law allows.   I hope you will find it in your heart to make an in-kind donation to this very worthy cause.  A donation with a value of $300 or more will also receive a 1/8 page program ad.

#3: I am asking for artists to donate individual works for our silent auction.   Your donation will be tax deductible as the law allows, and you will have made a very important contribution to a cause we can all relate to.  You will also receive some publicity as your item will be out for all to view, and of course you can have your own p.r. materials on hand for folks to peruse.

****
February 19, 20 and 21, 2009, V-Day Jackson will present a three-night benefit for local organizations who work to stop violence against women and girls. The benefit will include a gala with Silent Auction, Thursday, February 19th beginning at 6pm followed by a very special production of “A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant and A Prayer.”

February 20th and 21st will feature productions of Eve Ensler’s award winning play, “The Vagina Monologues.”

All three evenings will be held in the Theatre in the Center for the Arts.  Tickets will be available beginning January 30th at the Center for the Arts Box Office.  Tickets for the Gala Evening are $50.   Tickets for The Vagina Monologues are $30.  Two night event tickets are also available for a discount; ask your ticket agent.

To learn more about V Day Jackson 2009 e-mail the organization at VDAYJH2009@live.com.  To learn more about V Day and its campaigns visit www.vday.org.

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February 1-28, 2009, Jackson Hole’s Trailside Galleries presents its annual Wildlife Discovery Show.   As always, the gallery pulls out all the stops to feature works by an impressive list of artists.   Included are Nicholas Coleman, Andrew Denman, Nancy Glazier, Veryl Goodnight, Matthew Hillier, Grant Macdonald, Bonnie Marris, Jim Morgan, Ralph Oberg, Dino Paravano, Sherry Sander, Lindsay Scott, John Seerey-Lester, Kyle Sims, Ryan Skidmore, Adam Smith, Daniel Smith, Linda St. Clair, Richard D. Thomas, Kathy Wipfler and Sarah Woods.

Presentation is everything.  If you’ve yet to experience Trailside’s new space on West Broadway, walk that way.  The gallery’s extensive artist portfolio provides something for everyone, and meandering through Trailside’s nooks and crannies is endlessly rewarding.   The gallery feels like a post-and-beam rustic lodge, with its massive rock fireplaces, Western furnishings and high ceilings. Upstairs, it’s possible to preview works that will be up for sale at the 2009 Jackson Hole Art Auction, produced in conjunction with the Gerald Peters Gallery.

Nancy Glazier’s new works are a February feature; I did not find a direct link to a website for this artist, but Glazier is known for her paintings of North American wildlife in their natural habitat.  She is a conservationist, as many wildlife artists are, recommitting her pledge to protect and study our earth’s wild inhabitants.

For information about Trailside and its exhibitions, email cara@trailsidegalleries.com, or phone 307-733-3186.   Gallery Hours: Monday – Saturday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm ; Sunday – 11:00 am to 4:00 pm

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Spotted an item about an upcoming documentary, Handmade Nation, set to be released sometime this winter.

Economic impact of arts and non-profits, according to the Natural State.   Just because.  Article talks about employment statistics relating to non-profits.

And just because I love saying it…”This is L.A., not Kentucky!”  ( “Clueless” )

Trio Fine Art, home of works by artists Kathy Turner, Lee Carlman Riddell and September Vhay, has gone British.   Thursday afternoons, stop by the gallery between 4-6:00 p.m. to enjoy tea and conversation.   As the gallery says, “Thursday Tea at Trio” is a nice–and may I add civilized– way to gather with friends, talk about and view art, drink good tea and stay warm.

The gallery offers teas by Heather Bupp, of Dragon Lady Teas.   Teas vary week to week; all are “hand made” by Dragon Lady Teas.  The china is very nice, too.

Trio’s winter hours are limited, providing all three artists time to paint.   Visit Trio noon-6:00 p.m. each Thursday; call for special appointments.   Trio Gallery is located at 545 N. Cache, Jackson, just north of the Visitors’ Center.   Telephone:  307.734.4444        www.triofineart.com

Jackson Hole’s Art Association presents new works by painter Susan Durfee Thulin, January 23-March 4 2009, in the Center for the Arts ARTSPACE Theater Gallery.  An opening reception for the show, “Circle of Shadow and Light,” takes place Friday, January 23, at 5:30 p.m.

I’m a huge fan of Susan’s early work.  I recall seeing my all time favorite Thulin painting hanging on Mary Grossman’s living room wall.  I haven’t seen this show yet, but I love what I can make out of “Moonlight Marsh,” an abstract landscape arranged in horizontal fields of color.  A moss green pond nourishes waving fronds and Matisse-like plants below its surface.  Above, Thulin’s charcoal verticals bisect arcing shades of blue, mingled with pink patches of sky.  A moon’s golden strip floats.

Looks like information can be found at www.lmcontemporary.com;  Thulin is represented by Lyndsay McCandless.

Cut and pasted below is information on the Art Association’s call for artists wishing to participate in 2009 Art Fair Jackson Hole:

Call to Artists!

Art Fair Jackson Hole applications are now available on-line through www.zapplication.org and will be available through February 28, 2009. The July and August Art Fair Jackson Hole fairs are juried, three day events July 17, 18 & 19 and August 14, 15 & 16 taking place in Miller Park. Produced by the Art Association of Jackson Hole, the fairs offer high-end arts and crafts, as well as children’s activities and entertainment.

For more information please go to www.jhartfair.org, www.zapplication.org or call 307.733.8792.  Thanks!