Pauline Adamek
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The 14th Annual Masters of the American West Fine Art Exhibition and Sale, that celebrates American art and artists, has been extended until Sunday, March 20, 2011.
Report by Pauline Adamek
The country”™s most important Western art show, the Masters of the American West Fine Art Exhibition and Sale, is currently on exhibit at the Autry National Center. This prestigious exhibition challenges nationally recognized artists to exhibit their very best work. The juried exhibition and sale features 75 artists whose work is stylistically and thematically diverse.
Masters artists participate in opening-weekend activities such as a special artists”™ dinner and gallery tours. Most are on hand for the Saturday “˜chuck wagon”™ luncheon, where the awards are presented, followed by the evening cocktail reception featuring the official sale of the new works and a silent-bid process for the most sought-after works. Patrons attending the Saturday events are able to view the works and meet the artists.
Entering its 14th year, the Masters show has featured the best artists from across the country, with the top five artworks””by Z. S. Liang, Mian Situ, Tucker Smith, Howard Terpning and Morgan Weistling“”entered into a sealed silent bid. Awards include the Masters of the American West Purchase Award, the Thomas Moran Memorial Award for Painting, the David P. Usher Patrons”™ Choice Award, the Bob Kuhn Wildlife Award, and the Gene Autry Memorial Award. They have been bestowed upon such distinguished artists as Robert Griffing, George Carlson, Kenneth Bunn, John Coleman and John Fawcett.
“It is a great honor to have the best contemporary Western artists work exclusively year-round on one or more pieces for the Masters show, and to also have them attend the Masters opening weekend to meet patrons and discuss their work in person,” said John Geraghty, Autry National Center Trustee and Special Advisor to Masters. “This type of dedication ensures that Western art will have a lasting place in modern art.”
Five new artists joining Masters this year include wildlife painter Greg Beecham, wildlife sculptor T. D. Kelsey, landscape painter T. Allen Lawson, portrait and cowboy artist Xiang Zhang, and wildlife sculptor Margery Torrey.
in Griffith Park
4700 Western Heritage Way
Los Angeles, CA 90027-1462
Open:
Now through Sunday, March 20, 2011,
Tuesday-Friday, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Saturday-Sunday, 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Closed on Mondays.
ADMISSION:
Museum admission is $9 for adults, $5 for students and seniors 60+, $3 for children ages 3-12, and free for Autry members, veterans, and children age 2 and under.
Admission is free on the second Tuesday of every month.
Box Office:
Purchase tickets here or call (323) 667.2000, ext. 252
About the Autry National Center
The Autry National Center, formed in 2003 by the merger of the Autry Museum of Western Heritage with the Southwest Museum of the American Indian and the Women of the West Museum, is an intercultural history center dedicated to exploring and sharing the stories, experiences, and perceptions of the diverse peoples of the American West. Located in Griffith Park, the Autry”™s collection of over 500,000 pieces of art and artifacts, which includes the collection of the Southwest Museum of the American Indian, is one of the largest and most significant in the United States. The Autry Institute includes two research libraries: the Braun Research Library and the Autry Library. Exhibitions, public programs, K-12 educational services, and publications are designed to examine critical issues of society, offering insights into solutions and the contemporary human condition through the Western historical experience.
Weekday hours of operation for the Autry National Center”™s museum at its Griffith Park location are Tuesday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Autry Store”™s weekday hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and the Golden Spur Cafe is open Tuesday through Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday hours for the museum and the Autry Store are 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The museum, the Autry Store, and the cafe are closed on Mondays. The libraries are open to researchers by appointment.
I’m glad the Autry extended the exhibition and sale. I’m a fan of the West (art, film, history, cultural artifacts), so I’ll definitely see this exhibition. Thanks!