Posts Tagged ‘Jackson Hole Art Galleries’
Glittering Art World; Wolf Kahn
Pinedale is a Wyoming town working hard to infuse art into its veins; the movement is growing. A blooming flower, its seeds are sewn by local artists, Sue Sommers among them.
Her mural, seen here, is one of two completed in the past two years as part of Pinedale’s public art program. Sommers’ large-scale, whirling, arcing and bright painting, “Our Glittering World,” Â will remain at its current site for two years.
Pinedale’s public art initiative, IN|SITE EX|SITE, hosts an artists reception on Friday, February 8th, 6:30-8:30 pm at the Sublette County Library. Artists contributing work to Pinedale’s community, also to be honored, include Bronwyn Minton, JB Bond, Kirsten and Palmer Klarén, and Sommers.
I asked Sommers about the world she was considering as she created her mural.
Courtesy Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council
Great news from J.H. Public Art came last week: Â “On Monday, November 19th, the Town of Jackson approved the final draft of the public art guidelines, completing a two-year effort and securing a bright future for public art in Jackson Hole. A huge thank you to senior staff and the Mayor and Town Council.” Â Yay!
Last week I wrote to Jackson’s elected officials regarding the Town of Jackson’s supporting of public art guidelines. I’m recreating the message here; while my message was meant to be positive, at least one town official interpreted it negatively. Remaining aware of chances we might miss, we’re less inclined to miss them.
Everyone is talking about change. The Snaz is changing-leaving. Jackson’s art is changing-diversifying. This sand castle will wash out to sea. The Jackson Hole News & Guide sent out an e-survey, reflecting the possibility they may change. Obama is staying, Teton County’s elected officials roster is changing. Â At a the dinner party I attended last night, guests were well-stoked with wine and discussing changing their own lives. BTW, what’s good writing? It shines light on the obvious that, for whatever reason, has not crystallized in our consciousness.
Criticism is a form of patriotism, as well as a form of deep love. Did you hear Colleen Thompson speak about Wyoming’s health care on NPR last week? She keeps an eye on health issues because she cares about her family and community.
Here’s my letter, written prior to last week’s vote:
If you’ve been to Jackson’s Pearl Street Post Office, you know these flowers. You may have also seen them at various other front desks, shops and venues around town. These glowing, hot-colored assemblages feel beamed down, a gift from friendly aliens.
The artist, Mark Sunday, is a Jackson local. I will give Sunday a label: Outsider Artist. He’s not represented by a gallery, his work is scattered about town and, unless you ask, anonymous. Sunday enjoys giving good folks one of his stylized flowers. With the right karma, Sunday’s whimsical flowers and his other work— intricate, imagery-rich sculptural assemblages—will be available in more venues.
His work is all the more remarkable because Sunday has Stargardt’s Disease, a form of macular degeneration; he suggested I title this post “Impaired Vision.” It’s a great title, and Sunday is given to self-mocking humor, but I’d not sleep well referring to Mark Sunday that way. He is, however, legally blind.
She’s not real. But she sure looks real. Walk through Heather James Fine Art’s front door and see if you aren’t fooled by the gorgeous girl, seductively kneeling, eyes closed, sensual lips barely apart, clad in a short, filmy, black dress—and meditating.
“Kneeling,” by Milwaukee artist Marc Sijan, is, says he, an homage to humanity’s fascination with its own myriad forms. “Kneeling” is mind-blowingly realistic, and irresistable. Gentlemen, in case you didn’t know, women check each other out all the time. I was drawn like a bee to a flower by this polyester resin and oil-paint sculpture. Timidly I approached her; could I sense a heartbeat? Would she move? If she had, I’d have jumped out of my own skin. Was she really that gorgeous? As you near this magnetic work, you’ll notice her “flaws,” imperfections we all have: freckles, visible veins, some evidence of an oily complexion, the beginnings of a wrinkle, a tiny scar. And it’s these details, not immediately visible, that we sense from across the room, ultimately drawing us towards her.
Pecking Bird - Jill Auerbach
Lately, I’ve talked quite a bit about “showing up.” I’ve been a no-show for recent scheduled events—though I have been out interviewing and working. Sometimes an event like the passing of Greg McHuron can just take over. You know it’s comin’ but finality is a new reality. Â While I’m thinking about it, I’ll mention that the NEXT “Artist in the Environment” is Tammy Callens, that jumping sprite of a painter–she is a delight! Callens will be painting at Sawmill Pond, GTNP, on August 11th, 2:00-5:00 pm.Â
Summer is busy; summer is compressed; summer is full of possibility!
Today I looked on Facebook and spotted John Frechette’s post about having artist Jill Auerbach and her bird paintings alight at MADE. Bird art speaks to our tribal selves—not in
a drum-thumping way, but definitely in a spiritual, “reminding” way. In cultural “medicines,” most bird species represent some kind of human state of being or emotion. Auerbach relates her paintings of birds and other critters to petroglyphs. That word is derived from the Greek words “petro-,” a variation of the word “petra,” which means “stone.”  And the back part of the word, “glyphein,” means “to carve.” The original French word was “pétroglyphe.”
