WHIMSICAL WEST Art Reception

A collection of Western and Folk inspired modern art. Featuring Colorado artists Jeff Barton, Steve Gordon, and Lea Wells. Curated by Eric Matelski, this collection is currently on display through April 24th at The MacSpa, 1738 Wynkoop, Suite 103, Denver, CO 80202. Contact: Eric Matelski at ArtPimpInfo@mac.com 303-898-4350 I am not a Colorado native and when I moved here from Chicago in 1992 I did not enjoy Western art. It was not until I began to study classic Western artists like Remington, Russel, Catlin and many others that I realized that great Western art is created by artists that have a true respect for their environment. Denver may be thought of as a cow town, but it is a fast growing, progressive Western city and that is why I love it. The love I have for this city is what inspired me to curate a collection of Western art that embraces the progressive spirit of this great cow town. - Curator Eric Matelski Artists: Jeff Barton- Jeff Barton grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and now lives and works in Denver, Colorado. His passion for art began at a young age. As a child he was surrounded by art and music, and was encouraged to be creative in all his pursuits. Jeff’s western pieces are very much influenced by his surroundings and adventures living in Colorado. He brings bright colors and a modern take on subject matter that one sees throughout Colorado, whether it be stopping by to see the buffalo along Highway 70, or spending a summer in Telluride. Steve Gordon- Steve is a Colorado native, having grown up with an eye toward engineering, learning and practicing until the mid-80's, then leaving that discipline to dive into art, including 4+ years as head of the art department at Ocean Pacific, before moving in a more fine art direction. Steve has collected old decorative plates for a long time and about year ago he began creating fired on custom decals that create a modern folk element to the art. Lea Wells- Lea grew up on a barrier island, and her art as a child was inspired by the ocean life there. Lea has a background in graphic design and advertising, but mainly likes to create fine art that she hopes inspires and helps others. Lea says, someone once told her that she creates small characters that are big on emotion. Lea’s works on display are a illustrative look at Western imagery.