We all agree that a painting of a stagecoach, thundering along the trail, pursued by outlaws, is Western art.  But what about the stagecoach itself?

The Deadwood stagecoach shown in this video was used In Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show, from the start of the show in 1883, all the way to 1901.  It is an Abbot and Downing coach, which is considered one of the most beautiful and significant makes by stagecoach aficionados.  It made the hazardous run from Deadwood to Cheyenne, Wyoming, carrying passengers, mail, and gold.  Having been ambushed, burnt, and abandoned on the trailhead, it was purchased by Buffalo Bill himself for his Wild West Show.

Watch this video from the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, drink in the rugged but simple beauty of this stagecoach, and then let’s chat about whether this is Western art or merely a piece of hardware.

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I enjoy contemporary Native American art as much as more traditional Western art pieces.  The great news is the number of venues and exhibits around the world to experience Native American art continue to rise, and finding these opportunities are now just a web search away.

Rick Bartow is a highly regarded contemporary Native American artist of the Wiyot and Yurok tribes of Northern California.  I had the privilege of seeing some of his work at the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis recently, and frankly, it made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.

Fox Spirit by Rick Bartow (mixed media, 2000)

You simply have to see this Native American artist’s work to appreciate how visceral and emotionally intense it is.  The Fox Spirit, done in mixed media, seems less like a live fox, than a dead but fully animated one - truly a spirit in motion.

“I believe in the power of drawing as medicine,” says Rick. “Using Coyote’s tail for a brush and Raven’s beak to make my marks, I am blind to my destination. I begin to erase my marks, attempting to cover my tracks and, like forgetful Coyote, I lose my way. Yet the record of my comings and goings is visible like the lines left by the tide as it advances and recedes.”
 
Rick Bartow’s work has been displayed in some of the most prestigious galleries and showcases in the world, including a solo exhibition at the Smithsonian, the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden at the White House, and of course the Eiteljorg.  His work often depicts strange hybrids of animals and birds mixed with humans, creating a sense of myth and transformation.

To see more of this exceptional artist’s work, check out the Froelick Gallery.  And as I said in an earlier post, if you find yourself within a hundred miles of Indianapolis, get yourself out to the Eiteljorg and their great collections of both contemporary and traditional Native American art.

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Other than a day spent tramping around the tall grass, I like nothing better than to visit a new Western art museum.  I’ve recently had the privilege of visiting the lovely city of Indianapolis and the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art.  Here’s my “quick draw” review.

A lot of museums are static places - but the Eitejorg is very interactive and that makes it great for the serious Western art fan as well as families and kids.  Even I got a bit giddy hopping into a real Concord stagecoach for a simulated run from Cheyenne, Wyoming, to Deadwood.  I also enjoyed the audio commentaries on many of the artworks - a great help when discovering new artists.

I also appreciated the mix of traditional Western art and contemporary Western art, much of which was breathtaking.  The contemporary exhibitions by Native American artists and Hispanic artists were also quite extraordinary.  But in particular, it was the traditional Native American art of pottery, clothing, jewelry, baskets, and some spectacular totem that kept me riveted.

My only regret was that I didn’t time my visit for late June, when the Eiteljorg Museum brings about 150 Native American artists to Indianapolis to sell their art. This is a major cultural event with Native American dancers, singers, and storytellers, along with a market and great, authentic food.

Everyone in the museum was really friendly, down to earth, and helpful, from the entrance to the gift shop.  If you are ever in Indianapolis, the Eiteljorg is a must see for all Western art fans.

Eiteljorg Western Art Museum

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The Wieghorst Museum in El Cajon, California (near San Diego) is now open!

Navajo Madonna by Olaf Wieghorst

Olaf Wieghorst is one of our most revered painters of Western art, and his works are eagerly sought after by collectors.  His painting of the “Navajo Madonna”, for example, was sold for $450,000 to a private collector.  His paintings of cowboys, Native Americans, and horses are renowned in Western art circles for the way they so perfectly capture the spirit of the Old West.

While many Western art museums are formal affairs of stone and metal, the Wieghorst Museum is housed in Olaf’s actual former residence, a comfortable home decorated entirely as it was in the late 1940s and 1950s, right down to the authentic television set and its 8” screen.  The living room wall is even adorned with the occasional blob of paint next to the easel where he created much of his finest work.

Best of all, tours of the Olaf Wieghorst Museum are free.  I hope to see you there next week when I make the pilgrimage myself.

For more information, check out The Olaf Weighorst Museum

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