Life on the Ranch and in the Studio, and on the Road

Click your heels and come with me to the 'No Place Like Home' 53rd Annual National Women Artists of the West Exhibition & Sale at Newton, Kansas. 

Approximately 30 women artists from across the country and their guests arrived in the heart of America on July 20-24 to celebrate women and discover what great artists women are as shown by the beautiful exhibit at the Carriage Factory Art Gallery in downtown Newton, Kansas. Mary Lee-McDonald did an excellent job hanging 119 beautiful works of art in this historic building circa 1883 which was rescued by the Newton Fine Arts Association in 1983. This year they are celebrating their 40th year. 

The week of activities was kicked of with a celebration of 'Third Thursday' in the community and free carriage rides with two white Percheron horses and a team of half Clydes-half Belgian horses modeling for the many women artists painting them live en pleinAir in the late afternoon. The gallery was open for a quick peek of the artwork and a food truck provided barbeque to the patrons and artists with live music to complete the festivities. 

Friday was a day of discovery with artists traveling to nearby Lindsborg to take in 'little Sweden'  to pleinAir paint the old flour mill, take a tour of the 1898 Smoky Mountain Roller Mills,  1904 World's Fair Pavilion, West Kentuk one room School all on the Heritage Square. Many artists took in the Birger Sandzen Memorial Gallery and got to see the great collection of Swedish born Artist Birger Sandzen which is one of the 8 wonders of Kansas. The museum is definitely worth the visit. 

The herd of Wild Dala horses roamed the streets of Lindsborg and you could get a glimpse of them throughout the town which was decked out in all its Swedish architecture throughout the town. Magnificant old homes in bright colors gave a glimpse of what these immagrants had left behind in the home country. 

The museum portion of the Old mill had a wonderful exhibit of photos and letters from the early pioneers and the home country. 

A strange mountain, well in Kansas it is a mountain, rises up northwest of Lindsborg which is known as Coronado Heights. It is the site of a rare find of a conquistadors breast plate. From that vantage point you can see many, many miles. There is a fort type lookout and many picnic tables with big fireplaces dotting the small mountain, all built of beautiful stone from the area, during the WPA era. 

Friday evening was celebrated with 42 guests at the Genova Italian Restaurant and a great time was had by all, even celebrating long-time member, Judy Fairley's birthday a bit early. We were just glad she finally landed in Wichita, due to bad weather-related delays across the Rockies and into western Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Tornadoes almost lifted Judy in places other than Kansas, like another familiar Judy in 'the Wizard of Oz'..... truly , 'No Place Like Home' our properly named show for this year was almost a reality. 

The Art Show kicked off on Saturday, with lots of demonstrations and activities going on in the  Carriage Factory Art Gallery.  A demonstration by Kim Casebeer, the show judge, gave a wonderful oil demonstration on the gallery's main floor. Live models dressed in 1800's regalia posed for artists upstairs, while sculptors were demonstrating and being videoed downstairs. The presentation of the awards at 7pm was live streamed and can be seen on face book, Women Artists of the West. You can also visit the WAOW website at www.waow.org to see some of the demos. 

German food was experienced on Sunday morning as we departed to return to our homes. A great time was had by all and the show continues till September 15, 2023. Go out and see a beautiful exhibit and support your favorite artist and invest in women artists. Grace your home with a gift for your loved one or that hard to buy for special person. It is the gift that keeps on giving for a lifetime. 

The catalog, a flippingbook, of the artwork may be seen on the WAOW website and purchased. Many sales were made and my sculpture, 'Prairie Treasures' sold two editions. It is a special piece commemorating and calling attention to the vanishing species on the Prairie from Canada to Texas; the Bison, Horned Toad Lizard, and bobwhite quail. Several Editions are still available and will benefit the gallery and the WAOW organization.