After two and a half years of showing exclusively online, Western Gallery made a real world debut this past weekend, and it was absolutely wonderful!
We hung about 50 pieces from nearly 20 represented artists, and featured the first significant body of work from Lucile Wedeking in her own showcase section. You can check out the pieces in the Impermanent Collection, while they last.
The opening was well attended and so much fun. Artists came in from Colorado, Arizona and from all over Texas, and viewers consisted of local Austinites and folks from out of town as well.
And sales were strong! Not only was it a notable first showing for Lucile (more than half of her works sold immediately), but there were significant sales from the Impermanent Collection, as well, including works from newcomers Greg Piazza, Elizabeth Dryden and Brandon Owen.
I couldn’t have asked for a better venue or partners. The show looked beautiful and somehow there was just the right amount of space for the work we had. Host Vaughn Art‘s Ashley Nussbaum was a big help with the layout and physically hanging much of the work and Maeve Eichelberger’s incredible acrylic sculptures really helped activate the space with their dynamic translucence. It was great to be able to show 3D work in person! Drinks were enjoyed by all thanks to sponsors Epic Western craft cocktails, William Chris Vineyards and Rambler sparkling waters.
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- L to R: Andrew Barker, Lucile Wedeking and George Irwin
On Saturday, Lucile gave a fascinating talk about her work and her experience working with the SMS ranch archives, shedding some light about the cowboys who mosey through her drawings and paintings.
A cast of characters pulled from photos and stories of cowboys past tell a story through her work, which is as fun to look at as it is to contemplate. Lucile’s color choices and innovative uses of iridescents compliment her strong compositional instincts. Though her references are courtesy the SMS archives, they’re often collaged together and superimposed over Dixon-esque dreamscapes.
See the full exhibition online in the Impermanent Collection.