Friday, November 18, the Art Association’s fundraiser Out of the Woods takes place at the Center for the Arts Theater Lobby, 6-9:oo pm. This party is a great time!
Participating Art Fair Jackson Hole artists contribute works to be sold off in a silent auction during the evening. Over 250 works of art will be up for sale–in truth, there’s all manner of goodies: jewelry, photography, glass and ceramics, wood and fiber, paintings and multi media work. Art Association ceramicist Sam Dowd’s
custom beer steins will be available for sale. Additionally, high profile artists Dwayne Harty, Thais Beltrame, Jennifer Rasmussen and Jennifer Harmon have donated art to this year’s benefit; those works will not be auctioned, but will be available to buy on the spot. Out of the Woods always offers up great quality. In addition to the auction’s usual format, the Art Association will raffle off some yummy gift packages.
Delicious fare and spirits will be on hand, generously donated by some of Jackson’s best eateries and Westside Wine and Spirits. Arrive early! Oh, wait–this is Jackson Hole, and great food will be passed around, so advising folks to arrive early is a bit redundant! Try to arrive on time; don’t rush the good people who will be very busy getting ready to receive you enthusiastic art revellers! www.artassociation.org
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A girlfriend of mine and I went to Osteria for dinner last weekend–we had a first-rate meal and contributed to Jackson’s Food Pantry in the process (buy one entrée, get a second entree for $2–the $2 goes to help those in
need); on our way in we noticed brown paper covering the window of what used to be Hotel Terra’s concierge office. Written on the paper was the message that John Frechette’s MADE will soon be expanding into the space. Staking out ground at Teton Village–nice move, MADE!
Wendell Field is (sigh!) leaving his wonderful nest of a studio over Fitzgerald’s Bike Shop. Fitzgerald is moving over the Pass, the Brew Pub wants Wendell’s space. He’ll be hookin’ up with the Factory Studio folks, so look for him there—and look for more on Wendell Field’s art and times here on the blog soon.
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Wildlife artist George McLean is so cool. His enigmatic, “camouflaged” paintings depict dense habitats that are home and refuge to wildlife. It takes a moment to spot the painter’s subject.
Beginning November 19, McLean’s meticulous paintings—resulting from close observation—will be on display at the National Museum of Wildlife Art in the exhibition George McLean: The Living Landscape, on display through April 22, 2012.
“A white-tailed buck bounds through a forest,” writes the Museum. “A Great Horned Owl descends, talons extended, towards its squirrel prey. Capturing singular moments in the lives of animals mostly from the eastern hardwood forest around his remote country home, artist George McLean uses careful fieldwork to inform his powerful vision of wildlife – often portrayed in motion – and its environment.”
McLean’s “densely layered” paintings raise awareness–a fascination–of the interactions between wildlife and their habitats. McLean, who lives in a stone farmhouse in Grey County, Ontario, can take a year to create just one of his intricate paintings. Museum gift shop idea: George MacLean jigsaw puzzles! How fun would it be to lay next to a roaring fire and piece together a MacLean landscape scene?
“My animals are fit into a landscape,” MacLean says. “Some of the paintings, as a matter of fact, are more about the landscapes than they are about the animals.” www.wildlifeart.org
Tammy Christel 
