SPRING 2008 Newsletter

inside this newsletter. . .

Show Schedule
Spring in Kelsey Country
"CM Russell Show 2008"
"Bullish"
Now in bronze  - "The Signature"
Look for Editorial Coverage this Summer

Schedule
Shows ~ Exhibitions ~ Galleries


May 23-26 2008:  Phippen Fine Art Show, Courthouse Plaza, Prescott, AZ
May 23-26 2008:  Phippen Museum Masters in Miniature Show, Phippen Museum, Prescott, AZ
August 2008:  CM Russell Museum Masters in Miniature Show, Great Falls, MT
September 4-6 2008:  Quest for the West, 2008 Art Show & Sale, Eiteljorg Museum, Indianapolis, IN
September 2008:  Bosque Art Competition & Sale 2008, Clifton, Texas
October 2008:  Museum of Western Art Collector's Classic, Kerrville, Texas
November 2008:  Mountain Oyster Club Art Show, Tucson, AZ
December 2008:  NFR Cowboy Christmas Gift Show, Las Vegas, NV
March 6-7 2009:  Night of the Artists, San Antonio, TX
March 17-21 2009:  CM Russell Art Show & Auction, Great Falls, MT
March ? 2009:  Museum of Western Art Roundup Show & Sale, Kerrville, Texas
 
Greg' sculpture can be found in the following fine art gallery: 

changes are on the horizon ~ exciting news to be announced soon!
 

We would be happy to provide more information about the upcoming shows, exhibits or galleries upon request.
We hope you will stop in and see us.

 Spring 2008
February brought the end of the huge storms and the first calf of the year.  Valentine was born on the 14th.  We traveled most of March between Montana and Texas.  From the CM Russell show in Great Falls to the Roundup Show in Kerrville.  With Lauren in tow, we made time to visit a couple National monuments along the way.  The Battle of the Little Bighorn Memorial was serene and quite.  A disturbing piece of history that leaves an unsettled feeling in your gut.  Carlsbad Caverns were amazing; awe inspiring really.  We retuned home to Colorado to a full melt off and winds that had dried up all the mud, just like Greg predicted

In April we headed down to the Tsosie's match bronc riding.  Under the shadow of Ship Rock on the Navajo Reservation, Tommy Tsosie raises some big feather-footed saddle bronc horses out at Table Mesa.  It felt like a full circle journey to return to a place Greg used to ride back in the day.  It's a sight to see and feel.  The guys come from all over the Four Corners just for the horses.  It's a long drive out to the middle of nowhere, an hour plus from medical attention if the need arises.  Which I witnessed within the first 15 minutes of a chute gate opening.  The ambulance is a green '93 Ford Ranger with whiskey dents in every panel.  The bright orange medical bag in the back is plenty official with its reflective tape, minus the dust.  Five minutes into the first section of bulls the doc squad arrived late but right on time.  They started doctoring the bull rider that was laid out in the dirt at my feet with somebody's work glove soaking up the blood pouring from the four inch gash on his forehead.  I use the term doctoring rather loosely in this instance like I do when I refer to us doctoring cattle.  It's the strangest place to find the pure essence of bronc riding.  There is nothing quite like watching great bucking horses, with Table Mesa outlined by the bright blue New Mexico sky, and arena dirt in your nose.  

It's hard to believe that Lauren is turning nine in May.  I have a lot of memories of nine, now our daughter is reaching the same age -  time is a funny and fickle thing.  She's been riding a grown up Easy.  They're getting on pretty well though they have their days when the wind is in their ears and heads are high.

We are thrilled Spring has come to our country and the deep snows of winter have given way to pasture grasses turning green.  We are looking forward to a few brandings, and legging up horses out in the sand washes once the wind subsides.  There is still harrowing to do and the never ending fight to get our irrigation lined out.   
Greg is happy to see the sun through the studio windows, and has several clays in progress.  In fact, our daily life seems to be inspiring pieces at every turn.  I am pretty sure we may see a "Ditch Meeting" piece making its way to the top of the list. 
The Phippen Show is at the end of May and will officially kick off summer vacation.  We will then settle in for a summer at home - living the life we love and loving the life we've been blessed with.

"The Signature"
We are pleased to announce that THE SIGNATURE is now in bronze. The first numbers are shipping to destinations around the country.  You can view the professional photos of the bronze in the Gallery section. 

The other day I read a bumper sticker, "Trust your neighbors, but brand your calves".  It is tantamount to a life lesson in taking ownership for what is yours and all that that entails.  Brands mean a lot, especially out West.  Quite simply a brand is the "symbol of a ranch, and of the people behind it. It's reputation will rise or fall on what the people do.  In a small way, it's like the stars and stripes standing for America."  It is American to believe in ownership.  Ownership of your rights as a citizen, your reputation, your actions.  Not to mention your piece of ground, the livestock you own, that you run on the ground you own.  The water you own, for the ground you own, in the country you love.  A sense of pride should well up in your breast when you look out over what you've worked hard to call yours.  Your brand is the finishing touch, "no matter how skinny the cow", Greg says.

Brands have been, and continue to be one of the most interesting tools used by livestock people. Through blood sweat and tears, families have carved places out of rugged and tough country.  They fitted them with livestock, and gave it all a brand.  It's more than any one thing alone:  the place, the animals on the place, or the people; their brand encapsulates it all and comes to stand more for their way of doing things, their legacy - good or bad. 

Brands are chosen and drawn up by individuals, their design shows what is burned into their own heart or memory, and it represents those feelings or ideas.  The origin of old brands are steeped in brand lore.  Their stories are as endless as they are interesting.  Brands are to be drawn in a fashion that can't be easily changed and often convey the character of the owner, plus they have a language all their own.  The ability to read them is referred to as "callin' the brand."  They are always read top to bottom, left to right, outside to inside. 
 
Brandings have become steeped in tradition.  The are a family, if not a community event.  Certain protocol is followed and each ranch has it's own way of getting the job done.  From dragging calves to the fire, to staking calves and having the irons on the run.  Branding is hard, hot, serious work, with burning hair and hide, dusty pens, ballin' cattle, and heat from the fires and irons. 

Brands have come to indentify places and families and decades of hard work and dedication.  A cowman might as well sign his brand as his name, and they do when they burn it on their stock.  It is their signature.  The pride in a brand runs through generations and becomes the trademark of the family. As long as there is one man and one cow the irons will remain in the fire.
 

The 2008 CM Russell Show
The Charlie Russell Show in Great Falls, Montana this March was a huge success.  Despite the media worries about the state of the economy, the auction broke records and our room was busier than ever.  We all enjoyed seeing the many friends that converge in Montana once a year, and meeting new ones.

Lauren was thrilled to meet Red Steagall, the host of Cowboy Corner on the radio, and cowboy poet, songwriter and author. It was the highlight of her trip, though she turned a bit shy at the handshake she spoke volumes about it later.  As parents, Greg and I were proud to see that she held in so high regard a man that is working hard to preserve the memory of the rural culture and ranch life in America.  We listen to Red's radio program just about every Sunday.  He is a genuine man that shares his love of the real cowboy way of life, as it was and is.  There was a moment in our exhibit room while Greg and Red were visiting that I felt I was listening to the radio program as they exchanged thoughts about living the dream.

 Greg took along a work in progress, to keep him busy, SURLY& SET IN THEIR WAYS.  It turned out he didn't need any help in the busy department.  He was invited to participate in the quick draw event, so he jumped through the hoops involved in sculpting in front of a crowd with the clock ticking.  The piece started that night is now pictured on the website in clay.  The quick draw event brought in a two night record of $101,700 which is a full donation to the Museum.  

It was heart stopping to see EASY displayed in the lobby of the museum.  We hadn't seen it in person until we walked through the doors for the Thursday night museum reception.  There are some moments that are pure and essential and this was one of them.


"Bullish"
If you've ever watched a bull strut out of the arena after bucking off a bull rider in 6 seconds you know their sheer strength and power.  If you've gathered the bull pasture then you've noted the slow swagger of the herd bull.  If you've worked bulls at all, you know how they'll stand their ground while pushin' the issue.   They have a 'my way or no way, on my terms in my time' attitude.   There is an underlying aggression that will surface when they're pushed too far.   All that surliness is the large definition of "Bullish" .  As Greg defines it, " it's snortin' the air with a constant spring time feeling."

  BULLISH was started at the CM Russell show Saturday night quick draw.  It is now pictured in clay in the Gallery section.  It is the second hat rack in the series to be released for sale.  The edition is limited to 50.

Editorial Coverage
Coming soon. . . ART OF THE WEST, mini-feature.

From Greg
I believe you should paint or sculpt what you know and love.  The story of the western life is worth being told in an authentic way.  When you live it, you can bring across a perspective that's not always seen from the road.
   

Hope to see you on down the line. . .

We look forward to hearing from you. . .