Winston Publishing

portfolio • 37 orld famous American Western sculptor, Jay Contway, returns to Great Falls on the verge of his 83rd birthday. And, once again, his friends are along for the ride. How does one become Jay's "friend?" His wife, Lynn, says, "The artists that come to Jay's show have been artists he's known because of his own travels. He's gone to so many shows and met people up and down the coast from Jay Contway & Friends Show Where Bonds are Forged and Challenges are Faced By Heather Bode Jay Contway & Friends Show Event Schedule jay contway and friends art show March 15 Show open 9am-8pm March 16 Show open 9am-8pm March 17 Show open 9am-8pm Hilton Garden Inn 2520 14th Street SW Canada to Mexico. Over all these years, he's gathered those artists he's thought are the best and brought them to his show." One of these special friends is fellow Montanan and wildlife bronze artist Sam Terakedis. Sam is one of Jay's friends that's been around for so long, it's hard to recall how they met! But they have been together at the Calgary Stampede, one of the world's biggest juried art shows, for many years. Both Contway and Terakedis have garnered many awards from the Calgary Stampede. While in previous years Terakedis has been awarded Best of Show and Best New Artist, Contway is busy working on the Stampede Chuckwagon for Calgary's upcoming event. Lynn Contway says, "Out of all the Calgary Stampede contracts given to artists, the chuckwagon is the top. It's the most difficult and expensive." It seems Jay is still up to the challenge. Contway has also created his art in silver. It is more difficult because silver melts at a lower temperature. It must be perfect to get the detail Jay has in his work. Jay likes knowing that he has the ability to master this technique. In previous years, Contway operated his own foundry on his property, but now works closely with Con Williams, a fellow cowboy, at a Belgrade foundry to ensure his sculptures remain full of the details he's known for. "One thing people have always said about Jay is, 'He knows how to sculpt a horse properly,'" Lynn says. Contway's most recent work being displayed during Western Art Week is a bronze called "Loney." "Loney was Jay's friend. They'd known each other over 50 years. The last time Jay saw him, it was in a room with four old cowboys and they just talked and talked and talked. Shortly after that visit, Bill (Loney) passed," says Lynn. "So Jay worked at night on this one. This was a private one. He worked at 4 in the morning and it was his time to be alone and think of Bill and work on Bill. Now, Jay says, 'Wouldn't Bill just laugh knowing people are coming to buy him?!'" After a long, highly decorated art career, why does Jay Contway return to Western Art Week? Lynn concludes, "It's like breathing for an artist to make and show his work. His fellow artists are his friends and it's a great time to get together." W Jay Contway "Old Duke" 5" x 5" x 11.5" Bronze Jay Contway

• Cover