April 24, 2008

Western Art Show returns to Historic Ritzville Days

The 2008 Western Art Show promises a wide variety of artists and mediums when it returns to downtown Ritzville on May 24-25.

Nearly 40 artists are registered for this year’s show, more than double the number of artists at its debut last year during Historic Ritzville Days.

An impressive roster that includes nationally acclaimed artists Cameron Blagg, Hulan Fleming, Anita Klein and Diamond Doug Keith joins returning high-profile artists such as Fred Oldfield, Gabe Gabel, Jack Fordyce and Jim Lisk.

Four of these artists – Klein, Keith, Fordyce and Lisk – are members of Cowboy Cartoonists International (CCI), Inc., a group of western cartoonists that endeavor “to promote their work and educate people about their unique profession,” according to the Web site at www.cowboycartoonists.com.

A highlight of the weekend is the unveiling of the next historic downtown area to be added to Mike Scovel’s Historic Downtown Series.

Scovel is in the process of capturing Ritzville’s downtown on canvas. He and his wife, Dusti, will donate one of two original paintings to the Ritzville Museum Volunteers as a fund-raiser for the group.

Prints of Ritzville’s downtown will be available at his Web site, www.mikescovel.com/HistoricDowntownSeries.htm.

This is his newest project and is a tribute to historic downtowns across the country. The new series, titled Remember When, includes scenes from Bastrop, Texas; Meeteetse, Wyoming; and now Ritzville.

Scovel has captured the humor of everyday people for more than three decades and has been featured in the Saturday Evening Post, The American Cowboy, Southwest Art and Western Horseman.

His work is permanently displayed in the Leanin’ Tree Museum of Western Art, the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame and the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame.

Scovel’s talent shines in humorous creations, serious paintings and sculptures. He is the highest selling artist of Leanin’ Tree cards, having more than 300 paintings used by the Colorado company since 1979.

A full range of entertainment is on tap for the weekend as cowboy poetry, traditional cowboy and western music, humorous renditions and barbershop quartets mingle with artists in businesses and on the streets of downtown Ritzville.

Cimarron Sue and Nevada Slim, Diamond Doug Keith and Jake Harder will offer tempting tunes, soulful tales and cowpoke humor on Saturday.

Over Forte and Inspiration, two regional barbershop quartets, will stroll among artists and visitors in perfect harmony on Sunday.

Regional and local artists Doc Cook and Patty Fawn, William Hamilton, Linda Kubik, Sherryl and Vince Evans, Carol Ann Schwisow and Karen Allen of Medical Lake join art show veterans Miles Athey, Dan Jordan, John Rankin and Ned Fox of Spokane for an event sure to please every art aficionado.