May 27, 2010
Ritzville art show to include nationally acclaimed artists, expanded venue
The fourth annual Historic Ritzville Days Western Art Show promises to showcase a wide variety of artists and mediums, complimented by an amazing lineup of western entertainment in historic downtown Ritzville on May 28-30.
The art show is held in conjunction with the 105th Ritzville High School Alumni Banquet and eighth annual Historic Ritzville Days, which was formed to complement the banquet while focusing on celebrating the history of the city and its people.
This year’s show will feature the finest western and wildlife artists from throughout the Pacific Northwest. More than 60 are registered for this year’s show, including a full contingent of Cowboy Cartoonists International (CCI), Inc. artists.
An impressive roster that includes nationally acclaimed artists Mike Scovel, Lynnette Johnson, Ron Adamson and Robert Krogle joins returning high-profile artists such as Gabe Gabel, Jack Fordyce and Jim Lisk.
CCI artists Anita Klein, Mike Scovel, Jim Lisk and Jack Fordyce will be corralled in an ‘old western town’ constructed of barn board in Pioneer Plaza where each will display their humorous artwork.
A highlight of the weekend is the unveiling of one more painting featuring Ritzville’s history to be added to Mike Scovel’s Historic Downtown Series. Scovel portrayed two historic scenes of Ritzville prior to the 2008 show, donating one of the originals to the Ritzville Museum Volunteers as a fund-raiser.
Prints of the 2008 paintings are available at his Web site, http://cowcreekmerc.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. He is the highest selling artist of Leanin’ Tree cards, having more than 300 paintings used by the Colorado company since 1979.
Regional and local artists Rowdy Barry, Cheryl de Groot, George Flett and Maria Ryan join art show veterans Jim Bauer, Sheila Bledsoe, Carol Ann Schwisow, Miles Athey, Dan Jordan, Molly Kubista, Paul Langston, Julie Van Sant, John Rankin, Harland Eastwood and Ned Fox of Spokane for an event sure to please every art aficionado.
Sunny Spot Floral and Gifts, Wooden Nickel Public House, H.E. Gritman Senior Center, Ritzville Computer and Internet, chamber office, Ritzville Drug Company and Flying Arts Ranch are slated to host artists.
Groups of artists, artisans and authors will be located at:
• The south side of Main Avenue from Adams Street to Division Street
• The west side of the Ritzville Trading Company Building on Main Avenue and Washington Street
• The Ritzville Public Development Authority Building at 205 West Main Avenue
• The Adams County Development Council Building at 109 North Washington Street
• 109 West Main Avenue, between the chamber office and Ritzville Computer and Internet
• The building on the southwest corner of Main Avenue and Division Street, one entrance on the corner and one on Main Avenue
• Pioneer Plaza, Washington Street between Main Avenue and Railroad Avenue
• Washington Street, between Main Avenue and the alley next to the U.S. Postal Service
The art show office is located at the intersection of Main Avenue and Washington Street at the entrance to Pioneer Plaza.
Another highlight of the show is when Nona Hengen, well-known artist and author, will unveil some of her latest paintings at the show.
In addition, Hengen will sign posters specifically made for the show from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. She will be located inside Ritzville Drug Company.
Eighteen artists will participate in quick draw demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday.
A quick draw is a common art show event where an artist will display their talents in a short amount of time, one hour at this year’s show.
One and all are invited to stroll through Pioneer Plaza and visit various artists in their designated booth spaces during the quick draws to witness art as it is created.
Each completed piece will be sold at the conclusion of the quick draw in a live auction in Pioneer Plaza.
Payment for the purchased quick draw items is due at the conclusion of the auction.
Fifty percent of the proceeds from the sale of each art piece will go to the artist while the remaining 50 percent of the purchase price will be donated to the RDDA to help fund the 2011 show.
Artists participating in the quick draw on Saturday at 3 p.m. are Ronald Adamson, Rowdy Barry, Barbara Conner-Reed, Patricia Cooper, George Flett, Jack Fordyce, Cheryl Grunlose, Doris Harvist, Lynnette Johnson, Anita Klein, Robert Krogle, Molly Kubista, Marivi Lavides, Jim Lisk, Randy McIntyre, Joel Olson, Jerre NightHawk Raven and Rick Urdahl.
In addition, a group of artisans will demonstrate their trade during the show hours on Saturday and Sunday, such as forge welding, rawhide braiding and setting a wagon wheel.
The Historic Ritzville Days Western Art Show continues to be a free show to the public and those participating in the show.
The executive committee does not charge a fee to the artists, artisans or authors; however, each participant is asked to donate one piece of artwork to the RDDA for a fine art auction held at a different time.
Monies garnered at the event will fund future art shows and art-related projects.
A Web site dedicated to the art show includes extensive biographies of each participating artist, author, artisan and entertainer as well as information about the ongoing Art in Education program sponsored by the Ritzville Downtown Development Association to bring art into the schools.
Find galleries of photos from previous shows, MP3s showcasing the entertainers and more at http://www.ritzvilledowntown.com/artshow.htm.
More information is available by contacting the RDDA at info@ritzvilledowntown.com or art show committee at ritzvilleartshow@gmail.com.
