May 21, 2009

Growing roster of artists expected for

Historic Ritzville Days Western Art Show

The third annual Historic Ritzville Days Western Art Show promises to showcase a wide variety of artists and mediums in a two-day event centered in Pioneer Plaza on Washington Street and in several storefronts of local merchants.

The show will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

The art show is held in conjunction with the 104^th Ritzville High School Alumni Banquet and seventh annual Historic Ritzville Days, which was formed to complement the banquet while focusing on celebrating the history of the city and its people.

This year’s show will feature the finest western and wildlife artists from throughout the Pacific Northwest. More than 50 participants are registered for this year’s show, including a full contingent of Cowboy Cartoonists International (CCI), Inc. artists.

An impressive roster that includes nationally acclaimed artists Lynnette Johnson, Zella Strickland and Ted Foulkes joins returning high-profile artists such as Hulan Fleming, Fred Oldfield, Cameron Blagg, Gabe Gabel, Jack Fordyce and Jim Lisk.

CCI artists Anita Klein, Zella Strickland, Ted Foulkes, Jim Lisk and Jack Fordyce will be corralled in an ‘old western town’ constructed of barn board in Pioneer Plaza, where each will display their humorous artwork.

Regional and local artists Diane Culley, Frank de Leon, Molly Kubista, Paul Langston and Julie Van Sant join art show veterans Jim Bauer, Sheila Bledsoe, R. ‘Bob’ Stem, Carol Ann Schwisow, Miles Athey, Dan Jordan, John Rankin, Harland Eastwood and Ned Fox of Spokane for an event sure to please every art aficionado.

Sunny Spot Floral and Gifts, Slice of Life Pizza, H.E. Gritman Senior Center, Ritzville Computer and Internet, chamber office, Ritzville Drug Company and Flying Arts Ranch are slated to host artists.

Groups of artists, artisans and authors will be located in:

• The west side of the Ritzville Trading Company Building on Main Avenue and Washington Street

• The Ritzville Public Development Authority Building (former Brunswick) at 205 West Main Avenue

• 109 West Main Avenue, between the chamber office and Ritzville Computer and Internet

• Pioneer Plaza, Washington Street between Main Avenue and Railroad Avenue

• Washington Street, between Main Avenue and the alley next to the U.S. Postal Service

The art show office is located on Washington Street in the building occupied by the Adams County Development Council (former location of Whitman Insurance).

Eighteen artists will participate in quick draw demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday.

A quick draw is a common art show event where an artist will display their talents in a short amount of time, one hour at this year’s show.

One and all are invited to stroll through Pioneer Plaza and visit various artists in their designated booth spaces during the quick draws to witness art as it is created.

Each completed piece will be sold at the conclusion of the quick draw in a live auction in Pioneer Plaza.

Payment for the purchased quick draw items is due at the conclusion of the auction. Fifty percent of the proceeds from the sale of each art piece will go to the artist while the remaining 50 percent of the purchase price will be donated to the Ritzville Downtown Development Association to help fund the 2010 show.

Artists participating in the quick draw on Saturday at 1 p.m. are Barbara Conner-Reed, Patricia Cooper, Hulan Fleming, Jack Fordyce, Ted Foulkes, Cheryl Grunlose, Lynnette Johnson, Anita Klein, Molly Kubista, Jim Lisk, Randy McIntyre, Joel Olson, Jerre NightHawk Raven, Carol Ann Schwisow, R. ‘Bob’ Stem, Zella Strickland, Tina Reeve Tharp and Rick Urdahl.

A new addition to the show is a group of artisans who will be demonstrating their trade during the show hours on Saturday and Sunday.

A demonstration schedule of chainsaw carving, saddle making, bit and spur work and rawhide braiding will be posted at the artisans’ locations on Washington Street near the U.S. Postal Service.

The Historic Ritzville Days Western Art Show continues to be a free show to the public and those participating in the show.

The executive committee does not charge a fee to the artists, artisans, authors or vendors; however, each participant is asked to donate one piece of artwork to the RDDA for the Cowboy Christmas Art Auction on the first Saturday in December. Monies garnered at the event will fund future art shows and art-related projects.

A Web site dedicated to the art show was launched earlier this year and includes extensive biographies of each participating artist, author, artisan and entertainer as well as information about the Art in Education program sponsored by the Ritzville Downtown Development Association to bring art into the schools.

Find galleries of photos from previous shows, MP3s showcasing the entertainers, directions and more at http://www.ritzvilledowntown.com/artshow.htm. More information is available by contacting the RDDA at info@ritzvilledowntown.