Jeff Ham and Malcolm Furlow open a new show, “The West – Expressions in Color,” August 1 – 15, at Mountain Trails Gallery. An artists’ reception takes place Thursday, August 6, 5-8 p.m. Mountain Trails is ensconced in its new space, on the northeast corner of Jackson Town Square. Haven’t been in? Now’s your chance–both artists will be on hand.
Is it me, or does this gentleman look angry? Ham portraits have conveyed pride, spirituality…check his earlier big, brightly painted, delineated portraits. They’re thinking, “I’m huge. I’m beautiful. I’m iconic.” Now, paint is thrown in the face of confidence, a bloodied history is realized, and Ham’s “Blue Indian” is tear tracked, a devastating accusation in his eyes.
This evolved perspective is a good reason to check out Ham’s new works. His color and composition spring from a background in illustration — Ham is a Disney veteran.
“I do my best to translate emotion and feelings into color and communicate my individual interpretation of each subject,” he explained. ”My goal is to capture spontaneity. As an artist I am learning to express myself in an honest and straightforward manner.”
Malcolm Furlow wears a coat of many painting colors; his vivid canvases reflect a love of the outdoors, landscape, Western history, cowboys and wildlife.
Furlow lives and works primarily at his northern New Mexico ranch. Sitting under 
the pinion trees provides peace and solitude that feed his creative soul. I remember a story about a bull, Ferdinand, who sat under a cork tree smelling flowers, away from all the other sparring, fighting bulls. It’s a story of peace. 307.734.8150.
Item #2:
Lyndsay McCandless plans on pulling out another First Friday this month. She’s got rocker Charlotte Potter and Friends set to play at Lyndsay McCandless Contemporary on Friday, August 7.
That’s great music. Drove by the gallery the other day, and McCandless still has works up; she’s not done. Perhaps she should just turn it all into a nightclub? A coffee house? We don’t have a coffee house. The kind with beatnik poets and red checked table cloths. Maybe Mike Bressler would show up and do a reading. Pay for his food. We don’t have a university town bookstore/bistro kind of place, where ensembles play cellos in the corner, and there are shelves and shelves of things to read, book-related items to buy, newspapers from around the world, AND art on the wall…ALL IN ONE PLACE. Breakfast would be nice, too.
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PS: Lyndsay McCandless is promoting her new venture, SLAM, a farmer’s market for artists taking place on Saturdays, at 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, at the gallery. Finish up at the Town Square Farmer’s Market, then head on over to Jackson Street. 734.0649.
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CIAO Gallery’s deadline for entry to Nocturnes: Art Inspired by the Night 
was July 31, but give gallery director Michelle Walters a call if you missed it. Walters tells me that anyone applying for CIAO exhibitions can do so online, via the gallery’s website. “Nocturnes” opening reception is scheduled for Saturday, August 22.
CIAO’s next deadline, for its 2nd Annual Call of the Wild is August 7th. The show will run during Fall Arts Festival week. Check the website’s “Call to Artists” tab. For more information contact Walters, or visit www.ciaogallery.com.
Tammy Christel 
