The history of the early West is a kaleidoscope of adventure, romance, biting humor and toils of those living on the frontier in the vast Western wilderness.  With a poignant reminder of the spirit of the lifestyle encountered some 150 years ago, each selected artist celebrates a small slice of life during these times.  Being contemporary artists, they  portray color and character and at times a satirical view of life’s social drama endured during this historical period.

 

Tom Gracy presents three paintings in a surreal and dreamlike stereotype settings in the early West.   He references this time using a bluegrass musician playing a banjo, idealizing views of American legends with a western saloon and referencing a boyhood fantasy of viewing old TV Westerns in the 1950’s.

Lawrence Dumas takes on a folksy guise using nostalgic appearance of people doing typical chores.  Carefully painted ceramics in the period costume, Dumas creates, domestic at times, memories of those wrapped in the hand made clothing by early settlers in the West.

Taking on a comical and tongue-in-cheek approach, Eric Dahlin creates his ceramics depicting a woodcutter or perhaps a cowboy seen in the early West.  His rabbits or other animals take on some new character associations as his sculpture portrays those living during this historical time.

John Berger always is in for the fun of depicting his sensibility and humor toward the late 19^th century. He brings his perceptions up to the present time in some outrageous characterization of themes and personification of critters of the Early West.

Myron Stephens makes fun of the old west by playing with cowboys and Indians.  Incorporating peculiar toy-like icons, Stephens skillfully combines humorous notions with familiar and recognizable children’s games.