My dear artist friend, collaborator Jody Menge died tragically in a horseback accident. Jody was doing what she loved, riding in the Missouri breaks on a large Montana ranch, researching and moving cattle for a painting commission. She was a wonderful talented lady, I will miss her, her determination, her grace, her smile.
If you plan to travel, travel to Miles City Montana and experience the exhibit "Downstream". A wonderful body of Jody's work is on display till the end of December 2007. Custer County Art and Heritage Center.
"DOWNSTREAM"
Missouri Yellowstone
A collaberation between two Montana Artist,
Jody Menge from Lewiston, Montana and Robert Spannring of Livingston Montana.
Jody and I have two very different approaches to this exhibit theme,
DOWNSTREAM. Jody is painting actual places along the Missouri, where I
am painting from my memory, fictitious places that present asymbolic
Yellowstone.
This exhibit has become very involved, I am producing seven large
paintings and six small paintings. Along with this I am producing a
series of eight sculptured works, please let me explain;
the 3-D work are sacred boxes, they are 12"x 12"squares, 12" high, with
20"- 24" four-sided cones atop these 12" squares. Pedestals of sort
that are lite internally from the bottom, with plastic translucent
tops. I am building ceramic water vessels that are the shape of large
Christian Chalices, which will be affixed to the top of the pedestals.
The Chalices are brightly colored, bottoms deep sand color to moss
green then to light water blue, finally deep blue with orange-brown
rims. Inside the viewer will see rich water blue, to a sun symbol in
the bottom, but there will be a hole in the bottom, so the viewer can
peer into the sacred space......What does the sacred space hold?
I INVITE YOU TO COME, THE EXHIBIT HANGS IN MILES CITY, MONTANA
from Oct through December 2007
Miles City Heritage Art Center
Below is the begining painting and page two of this site presents a preview Exhibit
"Untouched"
Paradise Willow......Oil study for larger painting.
Smith River Reflection, unfinished
Yellowstone Meadow, oil study
" One Canoe Tree "
The date was July 19,1806, dawn of another grueling day for explorer Captain Clark and his company as they made their way along the Yellowstone River. The men had wound their way through uncharted territory toward present-day Park City, Montana, in search of cottonwood trees from which to create dug-out canoes and ease the arduous labor of travel on foot. Finally, the first tree large enough was found.
In "One Canoe Tree," acclaimed artist, Robert Spannring, offers a historical dipiction of that glorious sight; the first suitable tree for long-sought canoes, and the break Clark and his men needed to further their trek.
