"Yee haw, partner! It's the wild, wild West!" Or is it? At this handsome gallery specializing in 19th- and 20th-century American Western art and contemporary art, owner Tyler Mongerson shows that art from the Great Westward Expansion covers more than cowboys and Indians.
Sneak up the old-fashioned spiral staircase to this second-floor, woodsy space, and take a seat on one of the tan leather couches. A friendly girl sits typing away at a giant Mac computer, shuffling and photographic "clicks" can be heard in the back room and tons of sculptures and paintings complete the intimate feeling that permeates this family-owned gallery.
Charles Humphriss (1867-1934) is just one of many Western artists whose work is featured in the gallery; his bronze sculpture of a decorated Indian chief riding a muscular horse makes for interesting viewing. Want something different? The not-so-Western works of American painter William Meyerowitz (his topics ranged from New York City's Central Park to portraits of sea-faring folk), currently being catalogued for a pending catalogue raisonee, also make up a large part of the exhibits. A huge collection of books lines a back wall, and small windows at the front let in just enough light to allow for viewing without damaging any paintings. Mongerson zips around the gallery ready to help patrons find what they need, as he has done for years. This charming gallery has been around since 1971; you just might not know about it because of its location directly above the more prominent Addington Gallery.
Centerstage Reviewer: Alicia Eler