The Governor's Art Show and Sale--- Small Town- Big Art Center

" Acequia Reflections" 16x12 oil on linen

I just returned from the opening reception at the Governor’s Invitational Art Show and Sale that will be open daily until June 2 at the Loveland Art Museum in Loveland, Colorado. After 21 years this show has tapped me to be in it for its 22^nd show.
To paraphrase Groucho Marx I am not sure I want to be in a show that would let me in it! I am joking. Click to go to the Governor's Show siteThe paintings on this post are all in the show. The one above sold at the reception.

" South Clear Creek Falls" 20x16 oil on linen

I am very appreciative to be accepted into this nationally renowned exhibition. It is sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Loveland and the Thompson Valley.
Many of the beneficiaries of the success of this Art Show and Sale are children and youth in the community and beyond.  Every 3^rd Grader in the Thompson School District gets a hard-bound dictionary. Several thousands of dollars are given to college bound students  and an apprenticeship for a non-college bound student is arranged.  The Kids Pak program feeds hungry kids each weekend for the entire school year.  A Books for Kids campaign and other youth organizations are helped, as well as some international projects.  And, of course, both clubs are extremely active in participating in Rotary International’s End Polio Now campaign. 

 

" Threshold to Loch Vale" 24x32 oil on linen

This show has been a standard for promoting the finest painters and sculptors in Colorado and has presented some of my favorite painters such as Richard Schmidt, Stephen Quiller, and Charles Ewing.

A side story on the Loveland art scene illustrates the power of individuals to shape communities and events.

My family was intimate with Loveland when I was a kid, before the art aspect was developed. It was a small agriculturally-based community and was and is a tourist gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. A favorite trip for us was to motor up to Trail Ridge road and feed the chipmunks (not cool, now).

My aunt and uncle lived there with their two daughters/ cousins and we would visit them several times a year.

I attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins so I dropped in on them occasionally when I was going to school. By the time I graduated in 1975, Loveland was growing rapidly as was all the Front Range but still had not become the art scene it is now.

"Pass Dam" 12x16 oil on linen

That changed when sculptor George Lundeen set up a studio in 1973 followed soon by a foundry. He was the cloud seed that soon started the creative rain for this little burg. Other sculptors and artists quickly migrated to this art friendly environment.Shortly after Lundeen’s arrival, a sculpture show was created that soon became a national renowned annual showcase. There are now two world class sculpture shows annually.
Fine art galleries opened and public sculptures started popping up like mushrooms. Part of this creative upwelling  was also the aforementioned Governor’s Show.
Click here for a link to Loveland

Today Loveland is one of the most renowned small town art centers in the U.S.

To me it illustrates the power of a few individuals with vision- a process that can happen in any community- maybe even yours.