Western Art on the Square

The Phippen Memorial Day art show is a Big Deal in Prescott. Its focus: Western Art, a genre very, very popular in the Southwest. Held every year since its 1974 debut at the public library, this show now fills the Courthouse Square each year. No room for refreshment stands or cutsey poo collectibles. A serious venue.

Two of the major themes of art at the Phippen: cowboys, Indians. However, I would never expect that painting of a gunman above to take a prize. Too much of a Hollywood cliche. The mission of the Phippen Art Museum, the show's sponsor, is to preserve and exhibit museum quality Western art and educate the public about the unique heritage, history, legends and influence of art of the American West.

The themes above -- a cattle round-up, a mountain man -- are more to the point of the show. I was interested to note that compared to other shows on the Square, there was less art depicting the Native American in a cloyingly romantic fashion.

There were works by Indian artists on display; this booth held a prize-winner.

However, the bronze above truly represents the meat of the Phippen: a working cowboy beset by too many head of cattle. A bit more history from the museum's web site:

George Phippen, first President of the Cowboy Artists of America, died in 1966, leaving behind a group of artists interested in creating a facility that specifically represented artists in the American West. In 1974, the George Phippen Memorial Foundation was formed to create a centralized venue that would fully support Western Art. The resulting museum finally opened its doors in 1984.

Animals are another favorite subject of Western Art. Here buffaloes. But also eagles ... mountain lions ... bobcats ... bears... and, of course, horses. Not much in the way of javelinas or ravens, two of my favorites.

One trend spotted this year -- though always a major venue for bronzes, the show saw sculptures getting larger and LARGER. A good example: the epic size elk and moose above. Suitable for the grounds of those huge McMansions being built north of town, I guess.

And while many booths featured landscapes -- mountains, forests, streams, deserts -- I overheard one artist say that only one such painting gets an award each year. Reason: landscapes are not quite on-theme.

More than one artist added action to her display by painting a quicky...

... an unexpected strolling Victorian couple added color to the scene ...

...while the lone busker played a mean banjo and sang western songs.

Did I mention that the originals on display were pricey? That's why an important part of many artists' offerings included a good supply of less expensive prints ready for the wall. No, I didn't buy this year. Don't have the wall space. Too many books.