The constant emergence of western can become extremely ho-hum. It gathers either its staunch advocates and followers or luke-warm observers. To the radical “connoisseurs” of art it is barely recognized.
And though the market does become saturated, even glutted, by Western depictions, there comes along a few works which demonstrate superb talent, skill in technique and knowledge of the medium.
The Old West is once again revived in an exhibit of paintings and sculpture which opened over the weekend at the A. Huney gallery in Hillcrest.
Among artists exhibiting in the group show are Richard A. Myer, Lathrope Bullen Gay and Douglas Downs, sculpture and Charles Sultan paintings.
There are impressive works in each medium, but the sculpture seems to be the most captivating.
Among works by Myer are “The Chase,” “Fury,” and “Eagle Horse.” “The Chase” shows a band of charging Indians cascading down a hillside in pursuit of a cowboy and his pack horse. Myer details this look with tiny prairie dogs. Look closely and you will see an arrow gouging into the pack horse. The Indians brandish spears, which in this miniature form, appear slender and extremely delicate.
Myer textures the work with attention to reality of horsehide and blanket material. There is an immediacy to the situation and Myer crystallizes it.
“Fury” shows the action of a rearing horse and Indian rider hurling some sort of cape or blanket. “Eagle Horse” is a more calming yet flowing piece of an Indian on horseback holding an eagle to the sky, as if some sort of religious ceremony. In each of these also is the attention to minute detail of an artist who appears to love his subject matter.
Myer received his degree in fine art at Brigham Young University in Utah and also taught sculpturing there. He also studied at the Art Students League in New York and at the Sculpture Center under the direction of John Hovanis and William Zorach. He now lives in Glendora, and devotes full time to his sculpture.
By Jan Jennings, Tribune Art Writer