High Desert Museum’s Annual Art in the West Exhibition and Silent Auction Coming Soon

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Mark your calendars! On Saturday, July 20, the High Desert Museum will unveil its annual exhibit Art in the West exhibition and silent auction featuring a captivating mix of traditional and contemporary artwork.

This year’s exhibition features 113 pieces by painters, sculptors, photographers and more from across the country.

Each work is inspired by the High Desert, a sprawling region stretching from the eastern slopes of the Cascades and Sierras to the Wyoming Basin and Colorado Plateau.

This juried art exhibition serves as a canvas for artists (who should be invited to submit their work) to channel their interpretations of the region’s landscapes, history, cultures and wildlife. From oil paintings to acrylic masterpieces, from pastel sketches to charcoal wonders, the mediums are as diverse as the artist’s inspirations.

“The exhibit’s growing range of artworks, spanning diverse subjects and mediums, continues to captivate visitors,” said museum Executive Director Dana Whitelaw, Ph.D. “These interpretations of the West reveal new perspectives, enriching our understanding and appreciation of this extraordinary region. »

This year Art in the West The winner of the Jury’s Choice Award is Monte Yellow Bird Sr., also known as Black Pinto Horse. Yellow Bird is an Arikara/Hidtsa of the Three Affiliated Tribes and grew up in White Shield, North Dakota. The award-winning and internationally recognized artist says he uses his heritage as a source of creative inspiration, incorporating his tradition and spirituality through contemporary forms of visual arts expression and education.

His winning 23.5″ x 13″ acrylic painting Bison hunting under the three stars is one of two works by Yellow Bird presented in this year’s competition Art in the West exposure.

The 2024 Art in the West The Curator’s Choice Award goes to acclaimed artist and past winner Analee Fuentes for her 53″ x 17″ hand-cut paper collage on canvas, Gift. She won the Art in the West Curator’s Choice Award for the first time in 2019 for his work Hosmer speckled trout. Fuentes attributes his appreciation of Oregon’s natural beauty to his Mexican-American heritage, which allows him to view landscapes through a lens of vibrant colors and rich patterns.

Visitors to the museum can also expect to view artwork by 2023 Curator’s Choice winner and Bend resident Taylor Manoles. His oil paintings from 2024, Ahead And John Day River, depict spectacular scenes of the High Desert.

Another Art in the West Featured artist Ben Stallman creates his meticulously detailed works by burning wood. Stallman has notably created wood guitars for musical icons Chris Stapelton, Morgan Wallen, Tyler Childers and the Jonas Brothers. Other artists featured include renowned painter Richard York, renowned photographer Richard Bergeman and Bend watercolorist Stuart Breidenstein.

The entire 2024 collection will be on display at the High Desert Museum and can be viewed on the museum’s online auction page at highdesertmuseum.org/aiw . A gallery guide will be posted July 13, and online bidding will begin July 20 at 9 a.m., with the option to purchase artwork directly. The auction is conducted exclusively online, and shipping is available.

The auction closes and the exhibition closes on Friday, September 20 at Art in the West Closing evening at the museum. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet participating artists, watch live demonstrations, and enjoy food and drinks. The event starts at 6:00 p.m. and the auction ends at 7:00 p.m. Register today at highdesertmuseum.org/aiw-closing-party.

Art in the West is made possible by Western Art Collector and American Art Collector magazines with support from Tetherow and Central Oregon Radiology Associates.

ABOUT THE HIGH DESERT MUSEUM:

The High Desert Museum opened in Bend, Oregon in 1982. It brings together wildlife, cultures, art, history, and the natural world to convey the wonders of North America’s High Desert. The museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, is a Smithsonian Affiliate, is a 2019 recipient of the Western Museums Association’s Charles Redd Award for Exhibition Excellence, and is a 2021 recipient of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. For more information, visit highdesertmuseum.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.