Iconic images
Up to 25 works
Mountain Trails Gallery
336 SR 179, Suite A201
Sedona, AZ 86336
(928) 282-3225 www.mountaintrailssedona.com
Alongside cowboys and Native Americans, horses and canyons are two of the most recognizable images of the West. Mountain Trails Gallery in Sedona, Arizona, will celebrate these icons with the aptly titled exhibition Horses & Canyons, which will include approximately 25 works by gallery artists such as Joshua Been, Steven Lang, Vicki Catapano, Bill Cramer, Curt Mattson and Linda Glover Gooch.
Julie R. Williams, director of the gallery, says, “Horses and the history of the West go hand in hand. Whether an artist is depicting the nobility of Native peoples or the traditions of the cowboy way of life, horses are a theme expressed in the work of many Mountain Trails Gallery artists. Many of these artists draw from their own love of horses and years of riding, roping, cutting or running cattle to make their paintings and sculpture full of both action and accuracy. The landscapes of the West are not only inspirational on their own, but provide a beautiful backdrop to many of these works of art. Horses & Canyons is a tribute to this beautiful and historic relationship.”
Catapano’s painting Moonlit Mosey was inspired by her love of the Nevada buckaroo. “The horse the buckaroo is riding is a rare Spanish mustang, and the buckaroo is an authentic Nevada buckaroo, taking pride in his gear and horse,” she says. “His horse...has been trained in the old Spanish Spade bit, a process that takes years.”
Canyon Haze, one of Gooch’s paintings in the show, was done on the west end of the Grand Canyon. “It is my favorite area to paint when I want an expansive view. The formation from this view remind me of cathedrals and the shadows that form as the sun moves take on a life of their own,” she shares. “I get mesmerized as I work to capture it on canvas. At the end of the day, I’m already contemplating my return.
It’s like going home.”
Mattson’s sculpture Catchin’ a Quitter depicts a cowgirl on the back of a horse gathering a cattle that has broken away from the herd. “The name for these cattle is ‘bunch quitter.’ Unfortunately for him, this cowgirl has jumped into action and spoiled his getaway,” Mattson explains. “While the steer made it a little way, this gal makes a real good hand with a really nice horse under her. As a team they have the maverick turned and headed back to the herd. This horse is so handy as he slides down the hillside; this rider is setting her horse like she’s been there a few times.”
Horses & Canyons opens May 1 with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. and remains on view through the rest of the month.