Yee Haw, Cowboys...and Girls. Contemporary Art says Howdy.

Last week began the annual Denver Stock Show.  As usual, it commenced with a parade involving several covered wagons, a variety of Western-style beauty queens, lots of people on horses wearing chaps and fancy hats, and, inexplicably, several old-school fire trucks.  There was also a somewhat unnerving mascot dressed as Woody the Cowboy.

As a huge crowd of pedestrians, some of whom possibly just got caught up in the shuffle on their way to lunch, stood around chatting and blocking traffic, a crowd of stampeding longhorns was shepherded down 17th Street by cowboys-and-girls (cowfolk? cowpeople?)

Suppressing an unexplained fear of farm animals, we braved the crowd and observed as the clamor moved uptown.  

The whole parade experience was extremely patriotic.  Pedestrians of all ages cheered and waved flags and cowgirls in fancy outfits smiled blindingly (and really, who isn't a sucker for a sparkly cowboy hat?)

All in all, an hour well spent.  

In honor of the stock show, Translations is currently featuring artists influenced by the culture of the American West.  The show is wide-ranging, including paintings, sculptures, drawings, jewelry and photographs, and showcasing both abstract art (traditional for Translations) and realistic work.  While the show certainly features traditional images of the west, bucking broncos are not the only offerings.
 rainbow-colored rust on an old Dodge

Bryan David Griffith
701 Dodge Print #3










an incredibly detailed rendering of Johnny Cash

Brian Curran
Johnny Cash










semi-abstract longhorn skeletons

Paula Hudson
17th Street Canyon






and traditional western landscapes approached in a thoroughly nontraditional manner give the show the element of surprise and open it up to viewers who may not necessarily be interested in conventional western art.  Even if Cowboys-and-Indians isn't your thing, there's probably something here for you anyway.  We love Bryan David Griffith's crazy colors, Paula Hudson's unusual approach to traditional subject matter, Jillian Pate's lace-like metal work, and the stunning digital prints done by Izah Gallagher.  (For the show's full catalogue, click HERE).  
Contemporary Western Art will be showing at Translations from January 6, 2011 - February 12.