By Liz Bryson
May 15, 2008
The 36th Annual Ellensburg National Art Show & Auction, a three-day event that attracts thousands of tourists, will kick off May 16 with artist demonstrations and more than 14,000 square feet of display space.
The art show is one of the oldest in the nation. Held every third weekend in May, it features Western art by more than 100 artists specializing in several forms, including all types of painting, sculpture, jewelry, pottery and woodcarving. Their work epitomizes the many facets of Western life in the United States, and focuses particularly on the rodeo and cowboy way of life, nature, wildlife, and family.
"The Ellensburg National Art Show & Auction is a significant one in the Western art world. People come from all across the country to see the excellent work on display and for sale," said JoAnn Wise, the event's coordinator. "Like past years, the show promises to be a comprehensive and impressive collection of art."
Artwork that will be auctioned at the event is currently on display at the Clymer Museum of Art, 416 N. Pearl St. A catalog of the art is available online. There are 158 pieces of original work at the museum.
One painting of a father and son in a horse-drawn buggy is gaining particular interest with art show organizers. It was painted about 15 years ago by Lacey, Wash., artist Calvin Capener. Titled "Father and Son," Capener painted the scene after attending an Ellensburg Rodeo. The painting has local people in it, but no one has been able to identify who they are.
"The man and his son were residents of the area at the time. Nobody can remember their names, but people do remember his rig. It would be fun to figure out who they are, get in touch with them and show them the painting," Wise said.
The first person able to identify those in the painting will receive a signed, limited-edition print of this year's auction poster.
"There are a limited number of those prints, which we sell at $50 a piece," Wise said.
This year's art show and auction begins Friday, May 16 at the Kittitas Valley Event Center at 10 a.m. with the opening of the artists' display booths. From 1-2 p.m. on Friday, artists will be available to sign this year's art show and auction poster, as well as posters for the 2008 Kittitas Valley Fair. Mike Wise painted this year's art show poster, a stunning oil painting of St. Mary Lake in Glacier National Park, Montana.
New to this year's event is wine tasting, to be held from 2-5 p.m. May 16 and again from 2-6 p.m. on May 17. Wine tasting scripts will be available for purchase, and all funds raised will be used to benefit the Clymer Museum of Art. Kestrel Vintners, Cave B Estate Winery, Maryhill Winery, Olympic Cellars Winery, Fox Estate Winery and others will be at the tasting.
The main auction, to begin at 5 p.m. May 17, requires a ticket. They are available at the Western Art Association for $40 per individual or $70 per couple, both include a full color catalog. A full event schedule can be found on the event's Web site, www.westernartassociation.org.
