The Big Bend of Texas: Interpretations by Seven Artists

Few places are more splendid than the Texas Big Bend, on display through vivid artwork during The Big Bend of Texas: Interpretations by Seven Artists, on view October 30-November 28, 2015 at William Reaves Fine Art.

Big Bend is a grand and spirited country. Brusque mountains, chiseled arroyos and high desert terrain merge to create alluring compositions in virtually every direction.

The scenes at hand grow even more inviting in the fall. The autumnal light glows more gently, deftly blending subtle hues of azure with pale yellows, reds and gold, forming a rich patina that illuminates the surrounding vistas. Possessed of such natural glories, the Big Bend long has been a destination for Texas painters, but the land seems to issue its strongest calls to Lone Star artists in the fall.

During the fall, we felt it appropriate to share this treasure trove of works from the studios of seven stellar artists who capture this region, and likewise unveil a lively selection of freshly-painted, plein-air sketches by a subgroup of these painters, all just returning from yet another sojourn to the Texas Big Bend.

The Big Bend of Texas brings together many of the most accomplished landscape artists in Texas: Mary Baxter (Marfa), David Caton (Utopia), Pat Gabriel (Fort Worth), Noe Perez (Corpus Christi) and Jeri Salter (Round Rock), all members of the gallery’s august society of Contemporary Texas Regionalists.

In addition, the show introduces Houstonians to the incredible, large-scale drawings of Jim Malone (Fort Worth), as well as presenting iconic imagery by well-known photographer, Michael H. Marvins (Houston). Over fifty Big Bend inspired works are on view in the exhibition.

In addition to the main installation of finished works, the gallery will also host patrons for an opening-day, salon-style revealing, providing a unique exhibition-within-an-exhibition experience.

At the unveiling, visitors will be able to see and discuss plein-air paintings by Baxter, Caton, Perez and Salter. This format will afford viewers a unique opportunity to view fresh, off-the-easel renditions, as well as garner first-hand insights into the artists’ experiences with and approaches to painting Big Bend.

Replete with great Texas landscapes, this show will appeal to those who already know the Big Bend region and entice others to go experience it for themselves.