Support the Free Press | Facts matter. Truth matters. Journalism matters
Salt Lake City Weekly has been Utah's source of independent news and in-depth journalism since 1984. Donate today to ensure the legacy continues.
More
This is a past event.
Billy Schenck: West of the Wasatch Staff Pick
ModernWestFineArt.com
New Mexico artist Billy Schenck is one of the true innovators of the Western pop-art movement over the past 40 years, a creator of images that add a strongly stylized sense to timeless imagery of the classic American West. With a manner that can be alternately irreverent and respectful, Schenck does not reinvent history, but instead uses it to his advantage in creating narratives, portraits and genre scenes that speak of the past while reflecting the present. These works retain his signature classical character, transcending time and place. An example of such is "A Lonely Journey II" (pictured). This magnificent image addresses no specific historical moment in terms of past or present. It is not a cowboy on horseback or a native warrior, but a cowgirl heading to an unknown destination. The presentation of her iconic form is reduced to strong, bold color and light and shadow, with a classical beauty that could be from the 1920s, or from 2015. Set against a monumental sky of tall, billowing clouds that look more like sails, she is propelled on her universal journey. Simpler, yet no less iconic, is "Tom Mix—Black and Yellow." This graphic representation of the famous star of vintage silent serials, in stark yellow and black, still speaks to contemporary viewers. Schenck combines a bit of kitsch with pure fine art, and a heart that's as big as the West. (Ehren Clark)
-
Modern West Fine Art
- 177 E. 200 South, Salt Lake City SLC-Downtown UT 84101
-
801-355-3383
- ModernWestFineArt.com
