Toast of the Town

Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival | September 10-20, 2015

> Story by Jenn Rein
> Photography by Latham Jenkins, Courtesy of Western Design Conference and Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce

After the high summer season has waned, there remains much more to look forward to with the start of the annual Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival. Showcasing work from all over the West, it continues to be a benefit for the artists that make it thrive and the community that provides enthusiasm for their talent. Now in its 31st year, this art and design rendezvous has witnessed a distinct evolution in the themes of the Western art genre. Depictions of expansive vistas, majestic wildlife, and the mythical cowboy will remain the foundation on which Western art thrives. But in the genre’s current state, artists tackling the subject matter from a fresh perspective are thriving, and more unique events than ever allow patrons and collectors from all over the country to sit in the front row.

Jackson Sets the Stage

The Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce plays the role of ringleader throughout the FAF. The selection of this year’s featured artist is a reflection on the thoughtful work that goes into planning each year. Bill Schenck, the first artist to design a poster for the FAF decades ago, carries the torch this year. His image, “13 Minutes to Eternity,” depicts the cowboy and mountain culture in vivid contemporary realism.

Schenck, whose work can be found in major collections throughout the world, will be available to sign this year’s image at Altamira Fine Art. Providing a collectible takeaway for art lovers, a signed copy of the FAF annual poster has become a beloved souvenir of the event. The pull does not stop there.

FORM MEETS FUNCTION

The Western Design Conference Opening Preview Party kicks off these 10 artful days in September with a bang, allowing a select few the opportunity to meet the artisans that have been juried into this year’s WDC. Other highlights of the evening will include a jewelry and fashion show that features both established designers and those that are new to this long-held event. Guests will be able to shop the finely crafted pieces while enjoying creations by the culinary team at Café Genevieve.

The Western Design Conference Exhibit + Sale presents functional art throughout the opening weekend of the Falls Arts Festival. Many tastes are accommodated through the exploration of Retail Row—a reflection on current trends in fashion and accessories for the home. The return of the WDC’s Designer Show House will emphasize local architecture and interior design in a home setting that establishes its own atmosphere through innovation on theme.

TASTE OF THE TETONS
September 13 | 11am – 3pm

CULINARY EXPLORATION

Palates & Palettes pairs art with flavor. Restaurants serve signature tastes while foot traffic flows from one art gallery to another. Often, the pairing of a restaurant and gallery may create a scene of its own with the addition of wine and music. This walk around downtown Jackson is a locals’ favorite, with good reason.

Two days later, the open-air, juried art fair, Takin’ It to the Streets, will feature Jackson’s finest artists selling their work to a public with discerning taste. With the fair now in its 16th year, the art that is provided to purchase on the Town Square during these few hours is both exceptional and varied in its composition. After the artists pull up their stakes, the party continues as the eateries, private chefs, and caterers that define the food landscape in Jackson have their time to shine during the Taste of the Tetons. A savory journey, it is accompanied by a wine tasting, silent auction, and live music.

JACKSON HOLE SHOWCASE OF HOMES
September 18-19 | 11am – 4pm

The Allure of the Valley

Away from the Town Square and hidden in the dramatic topography that surrounds Jackson, magnificent views are glimpsed from within some of the finest homes in the country. These residential spaces are often an ode to the craft of design-build; their artful interiors a reflection on sublime living.

A unique element to the FAF schedule, the Homestead magazine-hosted Jackson Hole Showcase of Homes will allow a limited group the chance to explore a handful of private residences during the festival’s final weekend. Representing the diversity of residential styles that reflect the New West, this self-guided, two-day tour of custom architecture and design also provides interaction with the team members who helped to create the spaces. Questions ranging in subject from site selection to architectural finishes to choices in art can be answered by the artisans and craftsmen on hand. This is a rare opportunity, and has the added appeal as a fundraiser for the charitable organization of each homeowner’s choice.

QUICKDRAW ART SALE AND AUCTION
September 19 | 9am

Art in Motion

The QuickDraw Art Sale and Auction lends high drama to the proceedings during the last Saturday of the FAF. Artists of local, regional, and national caliber gather in the Town Square to accomplish a finished work in 90 minutes. As they attack their medium, art lovers are welcome to witness the process. With the artists fully engaged in their method, knowing that their art will be auctioned off upon completion, the suspense can be palpable.

Once the QuickDraw items have been auctioned to their new owners, the true highlight of the FAF is at hand: the sale of the featured artist’s original work. In 2014, featured artist Nancy Dunlop Cawdrey’s brilliantly colored portrait of a bull moose, done with dye on silk, sold for $50,000. Each year, these proceeds contribute to the largest revenue stream for the organization that continues to make the FAF a success—the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce.

The selection of Bill Schenck as 2015’s featured artist is surely an homage to how this annual celebration of Western art has grown. His reputation as an artist has only expanded since he designed the very first poster for the Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival in 1985. Now, Schenck’s talent makes the perfect match for a tradition that continues to flourish with time.