Modern Fable of Animals
| 01.01.2021 - 03.11.2021 |
Artists: Johnny Defeo, Anne Lemanski, Adonna Khare,Michael Dickter, Allison McIntyre, Rocky Hawkins, Tim Berg and Rebecca Myers, Humberto Ramirez, Penelope Gottlieb, Taryn Boals, Luke Anderson, Robin Whiteman, Karen Rosenkrantz, Kollabs, Anne Siems, Julia Lucey, Robin McCauley, Robert McCauley
As the days get shorter and the nights stretch out their arms, we approach the season of myth and legend. We see dark woods and dark skies and are immersed in a sort of Grimm fairytale. The holidays approach and we act out ancient stories, cutting Christmas trees and lighting candles to the days. There seems to be a force in the winter that pushes us towards our roots, towards the stories and fables that comprise our cultural bedrock, and across every culture, every fairytale, like a great unifier are animals. They flit in and out of some of our most beloved and significant stories, from the tortoise and the hare, to Greek gods masquerading as lions and owls, to the snake biting its tail. Animals give us a personification of life, death, rebirth, strength, and power. They teach us important life lessons as children and bring color, interest, and wonder to these stories. Cuddling up in our cultural memory they hold a special place in our hearts- the fox, the wolf, the rabbit, the horse. We dress up like them, we learn from them, we honor them, and in our upcoming show at Visions West, we make space for them to be loved, appreciated, and contemplated in the realm of contemporary art. Join us as we look deep into the eyes of a bear with Robert McCauley, explore shamanistic relationships to animals with Anne Siems, climb through the bramble with coyotes in new work from Julia Lucey, and delve deep into animals in art history with Shelly Reed. In this show, as ever, animals serve as an important unifying force in the fabric of each artist’s story spanning a wonderful diversity of new work with ancient roots. In addition to the aforementioned artists, we will be showcasing new work from Johnny Defeo, Allison McIntyre, Anne Lemanski, Tim Berg and Rebecca Myers, Adonna Khare, Humberto Ramirez, Penelope Gottlieb, Michael Dickter, Rocky Hawkins, Robin McCauley, Taryn Boals, Luke Anderson, Robin Whiteman, Karen Rosenkrantz, and Kollabs. Don’t miss a chance to see contemporary interpretations of art’s most timeless and beloved subject in THE MODERN FABLE.
Extranjero: Recent Paintings From Mexico
| 01.29.2021 - 03.06.2021 |
Artists: Tracy Stuckey
In August of 2019, artist Tracey Stuckey and his family moved to Baja California Sur, Mexico for what was supposed to be a year. The artist’s wife was on sabbatical doing a research project in the Sierra de la Laguna, their two children were enrolled in the local schools, and Stuckey was left to soak up the experience and work in their makeshift outdoor studio. When preparing for this adventure, Stuckey’s mind was full of ideas and perceptions of what he thought would be his experience. Shortly after arriving, the artist realized that his actual experience was not going to be as anticipated. His original intention was to work in the same manner as he usually does, exploring the romantic and exaggerated ideas about the region’s history, especially as it related to the US side of the border; however, Stuckey soon realized that his intentions were ill-conceived and what he previously thought he would be exploring was not a reality. Rather than trying to force his preconceptions about the region into the work, the artist decided to take in as much of the experience as he could, to observe, and to explore. Tracy Stuckey’s time in Mexico was cut short due to COVID-19. Stuckey and his family were asked by the State Department to return home at the start of the pandemic; however, he continued to work on these new paintings after returning to his home in Colorado. The paintings and drawings in this exhibition contain snippets of memories and ideas of kitsch and clich鬬 - reflecting his experience as a whole. Extranjero translates to “foreigner” or “stranger”. Although he did his best to speak the language, make friends with locals, enjoy all the foods, and see all that he could, Stuckey still felt like an outsider trying to understand the amazing experience.
Anonymous Women: Demise
| 03.12.2021 - 04.17.2021 |
Artists: Patty Carroll
In the latest narratives, “Demise,” the woman becomes the victim of domestic disasters. Her activities, obsessions and objects are overwhelming her. Her home has become a site of tragedy. The scenes of her heartbreaking end are loosely inspired by several sources including the game of clue, where murder occurs in one of five rooms of the house: Dining Room, Kitchen, Hall, Conservatory, and Library. Visions West Contemporary will be participating in MOP (Month of Photography). Month of Photography (MOP) is a biennial festival held in Denver and includes gallery exhibitions, museum exhibitions, artists talk, outdoor screenings, and much more.
West: The American Cowboy
| 03.12.2021 - 04.17.2021 |
Artists: Anouk Masson Krantz
French photographer Anouk Masson Krantz traveled the West to capture the everyday lives of The American Cowboy. "Even as a child growing up in France, Anouk Masson Krantz loved horses and cowboys. After she moved to the United States as an adult, her youthful passions evolved into photographic projects spanning years. Her first book, the bestselling Wild Horses of Cumberland Island, compiled a decade’s worth of photographs taken on a remote barrier island off the coast of Georgia. Her new book, WEST: The American Cowboy, offers a contemporary depiction of Western ranch and rodeo life." Visions West Contemporary will be participating in MOP (Month of Photography). Month of Photography (MOP) is a biennial festival held in Denver and includes gallery exhibitions, museum exhibitions, artists talk, outdoor screenings, and much more.
Herd Mentality
| 03.12.2021 - 04.03.2021 |
Artists: Rocky Hawkins, William Sweetlove, Malia Landis, Robin McCauley, Travis Walker, Taryn Boals, Adonna Khare, Jennifer Nehrbass, Julie Buffalohead, Gordon McConnell, Johnny Defeo
Throughout history, prey animals have learned to stick together to survive. There is even fossil evidence that some dinosaurs roamed the ancient earth in flocks and herds. In banding together, predators are unable to discern where one animal ends or begins, cannot sneak up on the whole herd undetected, and allows some of the prey to relax and feed while others “keep watch.” Visions West Contemporary is proud to announce our creative take on this concept in our newest Montana show – Herd Mentality. This lighthearted show plays off the idea of “strength in numbers”; that work grouped together by a single artist allows for eachpiece to uniquely shine while also morphing into a cohesive body of work. This saloon-style display highlights each artist’s color palette, stylized brushstrokes, and reoccurring metaphors or themes and allows the viewer to make their own connections between individual pieces. Participating artists include Rocky Hawkins, William Sweetlove, Julie Buffalohead, Malia Landis, Robin McCauley, Travis Walker, Taryn Boals, Adonna Khare, Jennifer Nehrbass, Gordon McConnell, Johnny Defeo. This show is open and free to the public March 12th – April 3rd, 2021 in the Bozeman gallery.
The Fallen Fawn
| 03.12.2021 - 04.17.2021 |
Artists: Holly Anders
The Fallen Fawn continues Holly Andres's examination of personal narrative and feminine subjectivity depicting short melodramas inspired by childhood memories. In large-scale, lush color images, Andres revisits the complexity of childhood, the fleeting nature of memory, and female introspection. The Fallen Fawn is based on a personal account of Andres’ two older sisters who, as adolescent girls, discovered a woman's lost or abandoned suitcase near the river behind their house. Knowing it was a valuable treasure, they took it home, hid it under their bed, and when they could, often during the night, secretly dressed up in this "mystery woman's" belongings. Visions West Contemporary will be participating in MOP (Month of Photography). Month of Photography (MOP) is a biennial festival held in Denver and includes gallery exhibitions, museum exhibitions, artists talk, outdoor screenings, and much more.