Winston Publishing

TEXT BY AMY JOYNER Photos courtesy of Jay Contway and Friends Art Show O ffering an art show for 30 years during Western Art Week is no small task for artist Jay Contway and his wife of 20 years, Lynn Cont- way. The process begins almost im- mediately after each show ends in March. Jay Contway & Friends Art Show happens at the Hil- ton Garden Inn and features art from Jay Contway, and Western art and mixed media created by 15 artists who Jay accepts into his show. Some artists return year after year, yet others are new. Lynn immediately names Scott Enloe, Nelda Schrupp and Gary Holland as re- peat favorites. "Each artist brings his or her new work to the show every year. Several artists have been here before, but they will be bringing new items with them in 2017," Lynn says. "To keep things fresh, Jay looks for an eclectic group of people who offer something that is certainly Western art, but different, out of the ordinary," Lynn adds. For instance, this year Jay has brought in Mitch Billis, a bronze artist who creates animals, but not a lot of wildlife. He features children, musical instruments and some mythical elements. "His subject matter is com- pletely different than Jay's. Whereas Jay does traditional horses, Mitch does a more con- temporary type of sculpture." Through his own art, Jay brings in a certain amount of buyers each year. "Jay never stops creating. Both in bronze, and he's going back to his first art form, which is painting. … Watercolor, oil, and he still sculpts. He does it every single day." Jay's featured bronze this year is "Grandfather's Wis- dom," which has a limited cast of 100. A large portion of sales proceeds will be given to the Phillips County Museum in Malta, where Jay was born and raised. Lynn says, "He likes to support his home-town museum and has made many past donations. They will use (Grandfather's Wisdom proceeds) to create a program where students can visit, volunteer and learn through the museum. They are still developing the details. …Never-the-less, we hope that people will like the piece, it will sell well and we will get a good start on the fund." JAY CONTWAY AND FRIENDS ART SHOW World-Famous Art With Local Backdrop JAY CONTWAY & FRIENDS EVENT SCHEDULE Thurs., March 16, 2017 • 9 a.m.-8 p.m.: Exhibit open Friday, March 17, 2017 • 9 a.m.-8 p.m.: Exhibit open Sat. March 18, 2017 • 9 a.m.-8 p.m.: Exhibit open Hilton Garden Inn, 2520 14th St. SW www.jaycontway.com > j a y c o n t w a y a n d f r i e n d s a r t s h o w PORTFOLIO ~ P.35 "Turning 'Em North" Bronze, Jay Contway "Grandfather's Wisdom" Bronze, Jay Contway

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