Historical Native America: Portraits from the 19th Century, a One Man Show of  works by painter James Ayers, opens with an artist’s reception at the Legacy Gallery on August 5, 6-8:00 p.m.

Inspired by great historical artists and portraitists such as Karl Bodmer, George Catlin and Edward Curtis, these paintings “…reference the historical drawings and photographs but from a modern day artist’s perspective.”  Expect to view contemporary takes on such prominent figures as Black Buffalo and Mano-Tope Four Bears.   A likeness of the former is particularly creative because no actual photographs of Black Buffalo exist, according to the gallery.   Ayers’s take on what this Native American leader must have looked like spring from descriptions found in the descriptions of Lewis and Clark, written during their 1804 expedition.

For more information about the show please visit  www.legacygallery.com, or email janell@legacygallery.com.

Item #2:

Over at Trailside Galleries, another showcase takes place this month: Huihan Liu’s new works are on display at that gallery through August 31. An artist’s reception takes place Thursday, August 19, 5-7:00 p.m. Ten new paintings lovingly depict people and village life in Tibet–an exquisite, ancient civilization in a struggle for its own survival.

The showcase runs in tandem with a larger Trailside showcase, its annual “Western Classics.”

The gallery is highlighting 30 or more of its best traditional paintings and sculptures.   Representational works by well known western artists, including those affiliated with the Cowboy Artists of America, are included.   Emphasized are contemporary renditions of cowboy life, Native American subjects and spectacular landscapes.    Take your time, there’s a lot to see!

Phone contact:  307.733.3186.   www.trailsidegalleries.com

Don’t forget to wander upstairs to view the offerings for this year’s Jackson Hole Art Auction.

Item #3:

Jackson local artist Amy Ringholz opens a new show of her singular style animal portraits in a new show, “Resonance,” opening August 5 at Altamira Fine Art, on Center Street.     An opening reception takes place August 5, 5-7:00 pm, and the exhibition remains up through August 17.

Ringholz openings are always infused with the artist’s own sense of celebration and fun; expect to get down, downtown.

“Resonance” refers to Ringholz’s efforts to connect powerfully with viewers. Study of textiles, 19th Century prints and art nouveau have infiltrated these compositions.  Moving into storytelling mode, these new paintings are related to her totem series but are more illustrative — they possess a fairy tale quality.   She feels that the “magic” of these new paintings offer a “flow of stories of love, friendship, family, God, honor and the pursuit of dreams.”

“Amy’s art has brought joy to admirers and collectors across the country. This show will be an especially significant step in her artistic journey as it melds her familiar abstract styling with the sophisticated conceptual storytelling thematic,” says gallery Director Mark D. Tarrant.

For more information, email connect@altamiraart.