24 • portfolio
Footprints On e Trail Art Show and Sale
Western Heritage artists Celebrate The West From Past To Present
W
Eric Reese - Mission Mountain Sunset • Photo
By Susie Wall
footprints
on
the
trail
art
show
and
sale
estern Heritage Artists are a group of professional artists who share
a genuine passion for depicting the West as it was in the past and as it
still remains today. eir purpose is to present western scenes based on
historical facts and to preserve its history. is is the association's 43rd
annual show and sale at Western Art Week and will include works by over
25 exhibitors from Montana, seven other states, and Canada.
e Western Heritage Artists are a select bunch. A jury process is
required to become an artist member of the group. However, non-artists
can join as volunteers. Despite this choice status, the artists that make
up Western Heritage Artists are a welcoming group of people, according
to Shelley McClellan, the secretary for the Western Heritage Artists
Association. "Even though we have a lot of artists that do the same
thing, there's not a lot of competition. ey feed off each other to make
themselves beer. We strive to make it a welcoming environment,"
says Shelley.
Painter and member Melinda Wagner echoes that sentiment. "e
members of the Western Heritage Artists are some of the nicest people
to participate in a show with. ey treat you like family right off the bat,"
she says. is is Melinda's third year as a member of the association and
her third year appearing in Western Art Week. She resides in Georgia but
returns to the west for her art every year with her husband and father.
"Everybody gets a kick out of my accent 'cause I don't sound like anyone
else," she laughs.
Melinda describes herself as a dry medium painter who uses mostly
charcoal, pastels, and graphite, but she does occasionally paint with
Dana Zier - "Eagle View" • 5" x 5.25" linoleum reduction print
