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Art of the Old West
12 September - 16 October 2007
This exhibition features art from the western United States. The “Old West” became a popular subject for painters in the late 19th century and well into the turn of the century. The artists Frederick Remington, John Sloan, the Taos Masters and other Utah artists featured in this exhibit  present the unique, colorful, and active culture of the West. The artists shared a similar goal in their works: to capture the West in all its light, life and glory. The artists started heading West at the encouragement of Western enthusiasts, and they were encouraged to grasp in their art the beauty of the vanishing scene of America on the western frontier. Each of the artists in this exhibition sought to capture the Old West in their work.
Most of the artists who traveled out West stopped for some time, sometimes indefinitely, in Santa Fe. That was a beginning for the major cultural art center that is modern Santa Fe. In the 19th century the opening of the railroad to Santa Fe enabled the artists to travel easily and immerse themselves in the Western scene. Santa Fe was a major stopping ground for the artists; in turn, having so many artists there led to the rise of the Taos Masters, whose work is specifically centered on the deep cultural heritage of the Native Americans and the Western  landscape. In addition, there were other artists unaffiliated with the Taos schools that were equally successful with their depictions of the West.
The artists in the exhibition display the vivid and lively culture of the West. The realistic style makes the paintings simple and focused, but full of the life and excitement of the Wild West. (written by Rebecca Carlson)
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