Renowned Western artists exhibited at Cawdrey Gallery
Two renowned Western artists are being featured at Cawdrey Gallery in Whitefish.
Crow artist Kevin Red Star and equine sculptor Brenna Kimbro will have their latest work on display at the gallery. The opening reception for the exhibition is Thursday, Oct. 3, from 5-8 p.m. during Whitefish Gallery Nights.
Kevin Red Star paints depictions of warriors, ceremonies, costumes, and tipis, all with great attention to historical detail.
He was born on the Crow Indian Reservation in Lodge Grass. He was recruited to attend the newly founded Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe where he was encouraged to experiment blend Crow (Apsáalooke) traditions with modern art trends. Red Star then received a full scholarship to San Francisco Art Institute to continue his studies of the modern Indian Art movement. He received an honorary doctorate from Rocky Mountain College in Billings in 1997 and one from the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe in 2010. In 2018 Red Star received both the James R. Parks Trustee Purchase Award at the Autry Museum’s Masters of the American West in Los Angeles and the Montana Governor’s Award for the Arts in Helena.
“Indian culture has in the past been ignored to a great extent,” he said. “It is, for me, as well as for many other Indian artists, a rich source of creative expression. An intertwining of my Indian culture with contemporary art expression has given me a greater insight concerning my art. I hope to accomplish something for the American Indian and at the same time achieve personal satisfaction in a creative statement through my art.”
Brenna Kimbro was born in Seoul, Korea then was adopted by a loving family who lived on a working cattle ranch in eastern Oregon. She grew up surrounded by animals and art and instantly fell in love with horses. Kimbro is a painter and sculptor primarily depicting horses and Western wildlife. She creates sculptures out of wood and other found materials. At a young age, Kimbro was able to start casting her wood sculptures in bronze and has been creating equine art for over 35 years. Next year her events include showing at the Out West Art Show and Sale in Great Falls, teaching an artist workshop at Triple Creek, and participating in the Indian Market in Santa Fe.
"The things that exude freedom in my life energize and inspire me to dream, build, and create,” Kimbro said. “I am particularly inspired and captivated by the gracefulness, freedom, and movement of horses, which I celebrate through my art. The power of my work lies in the dynamism of movement that comes alive on canvas and in sculpture. My art transcends traditional genre boundaries to capture and explore the complexities of beauty, freedom, and emotion, creating works of pure artistic expression. I am inspired to create when my work brings others Joy."
The show will be on display through the month of October.
Brenna Kimbro grew up surrounded by animals and art and instantly fell in love with horses.