Dreamers Don't Sleep - Amy Ringholz

Why is the Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival (FAF) so important? Every year the 10-day arts extravaganza confirms Jackson’s status as an important arts destination–Western Art, Wildlife Art, Cowboy Art, Western Contemporary, Contemporary, Sculpture, Photography, Paintings, Quick Draws, Art Walks, Galas, Studio Tours, Music, Western Memorabilia, Fashion, Furniture Design….during these 10 days, the breadth and depth of Jackson Hole’s art scene is stupendously apparent. And, the Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival fills our hotels, restaurants and retails shops more than any other single event of the year!  The arts are a growing economic force in our valley, connected to town, county and Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. Come to Jackson, and you get it all in one big bite: spectacular scenery, wildlife and a bustling, exploding arts and culture experience!

The Jackson Hole Art Blog lists FAF events in two separate calendars. This year’s FAF takes place Sept. 6-16th.  This post covers events happening Sept. 6-9th. Calendar No. 2 will cover FAF’s second week. 

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 THURSDAY, September 6

Western Design Conference Lecture

Cowboy boot maker  &  Western clothing designer Lisa Sorrell talks about finding her craft, a journey that took her from sewing clothing to learning boot making. Lisa was featured on PBS’s program “Craft in America.” FREE, Open to the Public!  Place: Center for the Arts.  Time:  12:00 Noon.  www.westerndesignconference.com 

Western Design Conference Gala Event: Fashion Jewelry Show

A live-model jewelry show and champagne blow-out, with a “Winners Circle Art Auction.” Past award winners donate new works of art to be auctioned off. All proceeds benefit the annual WDC artist awards fund. Then, a runway fashion show struts western-genre couture collections from the best Western fashion designers. $22,000 in cash prizes to the exhibitors whose work best exemplifies the traditions and evolution of western design. Gala reception with food by Dining In Catering to follow.   Place: Center for the Arts / Doors open at 6pm. Fashion Show at 7:15pm   Tix:  $125 box seats, $100 main floor, $35 balcony.  Reserved. Book your tix at 307-733-4900 or via www.jhcenterforthearts.com.  

Grand Teton Gallery

Deb Penk is the gallery’s Artist in Residence 11am-3pm. An artists’ reception, featuring the work of  Shawndell Oliver, Chuck Middlekauff , Sam Thiewes & Penk will take place.  (307) 201-1172   www.grandtetongallery.com

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FRIDAY, September 7

20th Annual Western Design Conference Exhibit Sale

A giant exhibition of western furniture, home accessories, and fashion, hosted by Teton Home and Living magazine. Brings together artists, scholars, collectors, interior designers, architects, and fashion designers with a passion for the West. Over 100 artisans display handcrafted functional art in leather, metal, accents, woodworking, jewelry, and fashion during the 3-day exhibit sale.

Place: Pavilion at Snow King Resort, 10am–5pm    Tix: At the Door. $15.   www.westerndesignconference.com 

Palates & Palettes Gallery Walk!!!!  Hit the Streets at 5:00 pm! Go home by 8:00 pm! 

Maybe the wildest, craziest FAF night!  A no-can-miss!  More than 30 art galleries open their doors to showcase magnificent art with food, wine and music! Takes place at galleries ALL OVER TOWN. Park your car away from town center, if you can. Walk it out. Free, open to the public! Please don’t spill your drink on any expensive art!  Here are a few P&P highlights:

The David Brookover Photography Gallery always gives back during P&P. This year’s Mocha’s (David’s beloved dog) Bash For the Birds will be catered by the Four Seasons Resort and Amangani, and ALL PROCEEDS benefit the Teton Raptor Center.  A $5 entrance fee is “for the birds!”  Live raptors will be in the gallery; for a small fee you can have your Polaroid Camera picture taken with one of the birds. No digital images allowed inside the gallery, please!  Above is Brookover’s newest image, “The Vale,” a spectacular silver gelatin panoramic of Yosemite Valley. Brookover took the shot during a January storm, noting that “it took quite a while for the storm to clear up; I may never have gotten the shot if my friend hadn’t forgotten a tripod. We had to rush up from the valley floor in hopes of finding it~~~and got this!” A platinum palladium (limited edition of 7) version of the shot will be on display.  Check out the event at  http://www.tetonraptorcenter.org/mochas-bash-for-the-birds.html

Amy Ringholz, featured artist for the 28th annual Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival, has her new works on display at her home gallery, Altamira Fine Art, during Palates and Palettes tonight! Over the last few years Amy has taken the Jackson Hole fine art scene by storm, establishing herself as a “must have” artist. Her energetic canvases and vivid imagination combine to create an inspired array of animals, each with their own playful personalities. www.altamiraart.com   Ringholz’s signature poster, “Dreamers Don’t Sleep,” appears at the top of this page. 

Camille Obering’s Pop-Up Gallery Features Kiki Smith and Lee Ufan –  PLUS  works by Bronwyn Minton and Linda Broadfoot! Cocktail reception from 5 – 8pm. Live music by Ben Musser. Stop by Obering’s temporary gallery on the corner of Pearl and King Streets. Tel: (917) 617-1207 camille@camilleobering.com

Trio Fine Art  artists (Hoffman, Sawczuck & Turner)  will give drawing and painting demonstrations at the gallery. Free! NOTE SPECIAL TIME: Demonstrations begin at 3:00 pm and end at 5:00 pm. I believe the gallery remains open until 7pm or so.   (307) 734-4444, www.triofineart.com

Cayuse Western Americana’s special show on Native American childrens’ items–”Little Owls.” Included are childrens’ special belongings such as clothing, toys, dolls and other personal items. Special objects include a Sioux saddle, Cheyenne saddle bags, a child-size pictorial tipi bag with American flags, and a fabulous collection of dolls. Several toy tipis, dating from 1870, will be on exhibition. Susan Adams, an award winning master metalsmith who creates jewelry, buckles, hollow-ware and occasionally, spurs will also be on hand. Her current passion is repousse, a difficult but beautiful format for jewelry and accents. www.cayusewa.com  

Tayloe Piggott Gallery  presents NYC artist Paul Villinski , “and the show will be incredible!”  He’s the butterfly man!  ”I am drawn to humble, yet evocative materials; in this case, crushed beer cans from the streets of New York – every one of them once raised to someone’s lips. My process of “recycling” them into images of butterflies is a quiet physical meditation, a yoga of tin snips and files and fingers,” says Villinski. www.tayloepiggottgallery.com 

Diehl Gallery’s Chen: New Works  Indonesia-based artist Master Chen has been designing and constructing extraordinary stainless steel sculptures for nearly 30 years. His works have a sense of mathematical poetry. This show is Chen’s debut of his magnificent, lyrical steel works. The show runs from September 7th thru November 15th.  (307) 733-0905, www.diehlgallery.com

Wilcox Gallery’s “Wildlife and Wildlands Annual Show” kicks off during P&P, and the show hangs through September 30th. Zillions of works! Visit the 110 Center Street gallery location for this show!  (307) 733-6450. www.wilcoxgallery.com

Legacy Gallery presents Kyle Polzin in a One Man Show. Polzin is bringing in 15-20 new works!  Legacy Gallery, on the Town Square!  (307) 733-2353, www.legacygallery.com

RARE Gallery  A showcase of art from around the world, jewelry—and catering by Jackson’s famed Snake River Grill.  (307) 733-8726, www.raregalleryjacksonhole.com

Wyoming Gallery, upstairs at Jack Dennis, hosts painter Anika Youcha, painting out on the gallery’s deck, 5pm – 8pm. Youcha is colorblind; colorblindness has a one in a million chance of occuring in women. www.wyominggallery.com 

The Art Association presents “Jackson Rising,” a show of works by local, unrespresented artists–the “first annual selective index of local artists,” says the gallery.  At least 17 local artists will be on hand—Todd Kosharek, Peggy Prugh, Camille Davis, Tony Birkholz, Amy Unfried and more!  www.artassociation.org  

Heather James Fine Art presents new paintings and photographs by artist Timothy Tompkins. Tompkins’s new paintings and photographs present a re-imagined western landscape inspired by the fantasy landscape paintings of eighteenth century Venetian artist Canaletto. Titled Capriccios, the exhibition is based upon photo studies the artist created over two years of the surrounding western Wyoming topography. This show remains up through Fall Arts.  www.heatherjames.com 

Travis Walker presents his new collection of paintings, “American Dreams,” at Cowboy Coffee, on North Cache Street. See new paintings and original prints by Walker—many featuring his signature trailers, a symbol of the West’s modern day pioneers–and what they might find or experience as they make their way towards the dream. 5-7:00 pm.

WRJ Associates invites you to stop by their sumptuous new space on King Street for a glass of wine. “We are featuring work by masters Pablo Picasso and Francisco Zúñiga, sculptures by Van Breda, a rare image by Curtis Sanders, extraordinary paintings by Jared Sanders, hand carved vessels by Ted Knight, an iconic oil by R. Tom Gilleon and striking photographs of Marilyn Monroe by Lawrence Schiller,” says WRJ. Yummm. www.wrjassociates.com 

Ben Roth will be showing artwork at the Pink Garter Plaza—including a giant hammered bronze shark jaw, rattlesnakes with working copper rattlers and a jade tree made with teaspoons. Roth will be on hand until 9pm, and hold an art talk next Tuesday, September 11. www.benrothdesign.com 

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SATURDAY, September 8

20th Annual Western Design Conference Exhibit Sale  The world’s “preeminent exhibition of western furniture, home accessories, and fashion, hosted by Teton Home and Living magazine” continues!  Place: Pavilion at Snow King Resort, 10am–5pm  Tix: At the door, $15.  WesternDesignConference.com

Tom Mangelsen – Images of Nature Gallery  The renowned wildlife photographer’s Annual Fall Reception at MANGELSEN – Images of Nature Gallery takes place 6:00 – 9:00 pm. Mangelsen will share his latest images, visit with collectors, tell stories about his photographic journeys and sign books and limited edition prints. An excellent party!   (307) 733-9752, www.mangelsen.com

 Artist Studio Tours  Seven artists open their studios. Come, observe and ask questions!  Pick up a post card with details and map to all seven studios at the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce; check for times.  Artists include: 

Susan Thulin, Painting: 400 North Bar Y Road, 307.690.6266

Charlie Thomas, Fine Woodworking: 800 Wenzel Lane in Wilson, 307.733.6121

Margie Odell, Painting: 5445 Cottonwood Canyon Road, Wilson, 307.733.4360

Amy Bright Unfried, Bronze Sculpture: 6245 West Wooded Hills Lane, Wilson, 307.733.4243

Terry Chambers, Custom Iron Design: 2155 north Fish Creek Road, Wilson, 307.413.2289

Meredith Campbell, Oil Painting: 2075 North Rendezvous Drive, Wilson, 307.690.1515

Laurie Thal & Lia Kas, Glass Blowing Demonstrations: 3800 Linn Drive Wilson 307.733.5096

The Big Haus’ Studio Tour includes Teton Art Lab artists Wendell Field, Travis Walker and Mike Piggot. Third Floor, Big Haus Studios. 

Artists in the Environment Join Jackson painter Sharon Thomas at historic Menor’s Ferry, Grand Teton National Park! Thomas will give a free plein air painting demonstration, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm. The public is invited, and this family-friendly event is free! Bring your own art materials if you want to join in the fun!  Presented by the Grand Teton Association. www.grandtetonpark.org

Historic Ranch Tours  I just might have to take this tour this year!  Visit historic valley ranches, where Jackson Hole’s cowboy heritage still thrives. Start out at the Walton Ranch and then head to the Snake River Ranch. The tour is complete with cowboys, Western entertainment, and a good ol’ fashion barbeque. $50, and you bus out from Jackson’s downtown Home Ranch Parking Lot at 3:00 pm.  307.733.3316 or 307.699.3868 for info.

“The Stagecoach Bar: An American Crossroads” Film Screening – Doors open at 7:30 pm for this insanely popular 60-minute documentary of a Jackson Hole roadhouse that’s been serving up music, beer, and barbecue for over 70 years. Produced by JenTen Productions. Sponsors for the event include Grand Teton Music Festival and the Jackson Hole Historical Society & Museum. A 15-minute Q & A with the producer/director Jen Tennican will follow the screening. Tickets are available at the Jackson Hole Historical Society & Museum, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Stagecoach Bar for $10. The film shows at Walk Festival Hall, Teton Village. (307) 733-2414, www.thestagecoachbarfilm.com

Grand Teton Gallery Gary Keimig, Tom Lucas, Les LeFever, Rip Caswell, and Evan Davies ”in residence”, 11am-5pm  Reception from 4:00-8:00 pm.  (307) 201-1172, www.grandtetongallery.com

Legacy Gallery  Enjoy a traditional Cowboy Art Association show featuring Bit & Spur Makers, Rawhide Braiders, Saddlemakers, and Silversmiths. 10:00 am – 6:00 pm.  This show repeats tomorrow, same time!!  (307) 733-2353, www.legacygallery.com

RARE Gallery Artist Michael Swearngin. Worked stamped with museum provenance approval, says RARE. Swearngin will be on hand Sunday, Sept. 9, for the same hours. 4-8:00 pm  (307) 733-8726, www.raregalleryjacksonhole.com

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SUNDAY, September 9

20th Annual Western Design Conference Exhibit Sale – Third and final day. Place: The Pavilion at Snow King Resort, 10am–5pm; tickets at the door, $15. WesternDesignConference.com

13th Annual Takin’ It to the Streets The Jackson Hole Art Association’s open-air, juried art fair featuring 40 local artists selling an array of fine artwork. Booths galore!  Place: Jackson Town Square, 10am – 4pm. Looking at art is free, but Taste of the Tetons, below, charges for their fare. Contact Amy Fradley at 307.733.8792 or artistinfo@jhartfair.org

Taste of the Tetons  Valley chefs, restaurants and caterers cook up their best culinary work for sampling. Wine tasting, silent auction, and the Howdy Pardners “Pickin’ in the Park” – musical entertainment by The Jackson Hole Cowboy Jubilee. Each taste ticket is $1.  Jackson Town Square, 11am – 4pm

NEXT WEEK: THE JACKSON HOLE ART AUCTION, QUICK DRAW, WESTERN VISIONS MINIATURES & MORE, GALLERY TOURS & RECEPTIONS, ARTIST STUDIOS, AND SO MUCH MORE!