The Unknown Cowboy intends to inspire questions surrounding the stereotype. Often misunderstood, this hard-working, often a conservationist, cares about the land and the livelihood. The simple muted colors offer space for dwelling. The subject looks beyond the horizon knowing the future is unknown. It is a character that is etched into our brains and the perceptions can vary greatly from one viewer to the next.
Paintings such as Roping At Chico Basin, and Tightrope, focus on the profiles and iconic shapes of wranglers while surrounding them with altered colors. Color is my abstraction. Pushing vales and hues allows the viewer to enter from a less-obvious path. Contemplationis the intended result. Purple, orange, and pink say something very different than sky-blue and dirt-brown.
Sunrise On The Plains and A Rancher’s Winter are opposites in temperature but both graphic in nature. They are about the land, and the working relationship with humans. A rancher, a farmer– both are present, yet not depicted. From the sun of summer to the overcast of winter, it is all west at different times. Weather and land, we are at their mercy, and the simplicity of each work asks for thoughts on a complex matter.
TERRY GARDNER: Western Mysteries, Intimate Views is on view at Ann Korologos gallery through August 28, 2019. For more information, please contact art@korologosgallery.com, call (970) 927-9668 or visit us at 211 Midland Avenue in Basalt, Colorado.