In the early 1980s, the Art of the American West collection was established by the donation of paintings, drawings, and sculpture by Ileen B. and Samuel J. Campbell. The collection has flourished and now includes artwork from over 200 years ago to the present.

The West embodies diverse cultures, traditions, and histories that can be traced through many art forms. Although styles have changed over time, Indigenous cultures, cowboy life, and landscapes continue to resonate in realistic or imaginative ways. Some artists represent idealized and romantic views of the West, while others seek to convey images as truthful as possible. As art of the West evolves, universal subjects remain steadfast but are revitalized and transformed.

Image credit: Charles O. Golden, Don’t Fence Me E-E-UN, 1945, watercolor. Collection of the Tucson Museum of Art. Gift of Charlotte “Charlie” Burton. 2019.5

SPECIAL INSTALLATION

People of the West: A Rethinking of Westerners

Located within the Hamilton gallery, a continuance of the ongoing community exploration, People of the West: A Rethinking of Westerners will be installed in Winter 2024-2025. A special project begun in 2021, this community- collaborative exhibition addresses how people living and working in the West are more than the often recognized or stereotyped cowboy and Indigenous imagery. These provide rich, significant histories that enhance the way we think about the region. Previous iterations of People of the West have been developed with contemporary artists Papay Solomon and Anh-Thuy Nguyen as well as students from Tucson High School. This new installation will be curated in collaboration with the Southern Arizona VA Polytrauma group using TMA’s collections. This new installation will feature the discussions and collaboration of a new community group using TMA’s collections.

The Art of the American West gallery has been refreshed with some new works of art related to the ongoing special project: People of the West: A Rethinking of “Westerners”.

Globally, a Westerner is considered a person from the greater Western world, such as the United States or Europe. But within the United States, a Westerner is a vague term, sometimes referring to someone located to the West of the Mississippi River, or a person following a certain cultural way of life. Because of mass media, literature, film, television, and art, many may envision a cowboy, Indigenous person, farmer, or a historical figure as a so-called Westerner. How might we offer a new interpretation of this term that is more inclusive and reflective of a 21st-century vision?

Inspired in part by conversations with Arizona-based artists Papay Solomon and Anh-Thuy Nguyen, the works on this wall are displayed in dialogue with the Art of the American West collection. It contains works of art depicting all types of Westerners and includes those who are often not engaged as part of the myths and stories of the West such as people of color, women, immigrants, and people with disabilities. These provide rich, significant histories that enhance the way we think about the region.

This iteration of People of the West was collaboratively developed with students from Tucson High School which adds another perspective to understanding westerners today. Their choices focus on images that reflect those seen at a local coffee shop, a person who looks like a relative, powerful women, or works based on media, line, or color.

A principios de la década de 1980, la colección del Arte del Oeste de Estados Unidos se estableció mediante la donación de pinturas, dibujos y esculturas de Ileen B. y Samuel J. Campbell. La colección se ha desarrollado y ahora incluye obras de arte desde hace más de 200 años hasta el presente.

El Oeste encarna diversas culturas, tradiciones e historias que se pueden rastrear a través de muchas formas de arte. Aunque los estilos han cambiado con el tiempo, las culturas de los pueblos indígenas, la vida de los vaqueros y los paisajes siguen resonando de manera realista o imaginativa. Algunos artistas representan puntos de vista idealizadas y románticos del Oeste, mientras que otros tratan de transmitir imágenes lo más veraz posible. A medida que el arte del Oeste evoluciona, los temas universales permanecen estables, pero se revitalizan y se transforman.

Crédito de Imagen: Charles O. Golden, Don’t Fence Me E-E-UN (No Me Enci E -R-RES), 1945, acuarela. Colección del Museo de Arte de Tucson. Obsequio de Charlotte “Charlie” Burton. 2019.5

Gente del Oeste: Un Replanteamiento de la Gente del Oeste

Ubicado dentro de la galería Hamilton, siguiendo la exploración comunitaria en curso, Gente del Oeste: Un Replanteamiento de la Gente del Oeste será instalada en el invierno 2024-2025. Esta exhibición de colaboración comunitaria, un proyecto especial iniciado en 2021, aborda el cómo las personas que viven y trabajan en el Oeste son más que las imágenes indígenas y de vaqueros a menudo reconocidas o estereotipadas. Estas sugieren historias ricas y significativas que mejoran la forma en cómo pensamos sobre la región. Versiones previas de Gente del Oeste se desarrollaron con los artistas contemporáneos Papay Solomon y Anh-Thuy Nguyen, así como estudiantes de Tucson High School. Esta nueva instalación será comisariada en colaboración con el grupo VA Polytrauma del sur de Arizona utilizando las colecciones de TMA.