Quest for the West

Indianapolis, IN

On September 6 and 7, the Quest for the West kicked off its 14th annual exhibition and sale at the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis. The festive opening weekend was marked with artist discussions, a miniature sale, a trunk show and the popular by-draw sale, which this year achieved more than $1 million in sales.

“The interest level in Quest for the West by top art collectors is an indication of how prestigious this show and sale has become,” says Eiteljorg president and CEO John Vanausdall, who adds that the interest from the general public was also high at this year’s exhibition, which ran through October 6.

The show, which takes place in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, is a favorite venue among artists and collectors alike due to the gorgeous and recently redesigned museum, ideal weather, and one-of-a-kind collection that features the top artists from throughout Western art. One artist whose work will be joining the permenant collection is Texas painter George Hallmark, who won the Harrison Eiteljorg Purchase Award for his Spanish mission scene Sagrado (Sacred).

Other winners from the opening weekend were Sandy Scott, winner of the Cyrus Dallin

Award for Best Sculpture; Brent Cotton won the Victor Higgins Award of Distinction for his body of submitted work; and there was a three-way tie for the artists’ choice award, which went to Terri Kelly Moyers, Robert Griffing and H. David Wright. Wright, the historic painter from Tennessee, had a huge weekend with other wins: the Henry Farny Award for Best Painting and the patrons’ choice award. All three awards for Wright were given for his campfire scene Colonel Crockett’s Last Serenade – The Alamo, March 1, 1836.

On top of all that, Wright was also there to celebrate the opening of a retrospective exhibition, which ran concurrently with the

Quest for the West.

Top artists in the sale included Cotton, C. Michael Dudash, David Grossmann, Greg Kelsey, Krystii Melaine and Howard Post, who brought four major horse paintings, all of which sold.

The museum announced during the opening weekend that next year’s show, the 15th annual

Quest for the West, will feature an exhibition made up of all the previous museum purchase winners.

George Hallmark stands next to his painting Sagrado (Sacred), which won the museum purchase award.

H. David Wright, Colonel Crockett’s Last Serenade – The Alamo, March 1, 1836, oil on panel, 48 x 60”

Terri Kelly Moyers, Zuni Patterns, oil on gesso board, 20 x 16”

1. Howard Post and his wife, Marilyn. 2. Eiteljorg Museum curator Johanna M. Blume, left, with Emily Kapes, curator at the James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art. 3. Dave Santillanes, left, with his wife, Heather Burton, and Tony Abeyta. 4. Robert Griffing and his daughter, Rayna Santiago, left, with John Buxton and his wife, Noralee. 5. Curt and Wendy Mattson with museum sponsor Jane Marmon, right. 6. Donna Howell-sickles with one her pieces in the Quest gallery. 7. Steve and Jane Marmon, left, with Roberta and Bill Witchger and Eiteljorg Museum president and CEO John Vanausdall. 8. H. David Wright with one of his works in his retrospective exhibition. 9. A trumpet player marks the end of bidding during the by-draw sale.