Press Release Jackson five

For Immediate Release Press Contact: Sandy Scott Director of Marketing [email protected] 770-387-2833 The Jackson Hole 5: Important Painters from the West on exhibit at the Booth Western Art Museum February 13 – June 7, 2020 Showcasing the work of five exceptional artists currently or until recently living in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, this exhibition explores the close connections the artists share with the physical beauty and abundant wildlife of the area and how each of them communicates those connections through their unique artistic styles. Encompassing more than 35 new paintings by Amy Lay, Amy Ringholz, Kathryn Mapes Turner, September Vhay and Kathy Wipfler, the exhibition marks the first time these five artists have shown together as a group. The exhibition will open to the public on February 13. Booth Museum members are invited to the ceremonial exhibition opening on the evening of March 28. Booth Museum Circle Members will have the opportunity to attend an exclusive meet and greet with the artists on March 27. These opening events will be the highlight of the Booth Museum’s annual Southeastern Cowboy Gathering weekend which also includes a chuck wagon invitational, Western music, cowboy poetry performances, educational events and activities for all ages. Booth Museum Executive Director Seth Hopkins says, “We are excited to be hosting the Jackson Five exhibition. The opportunity to put five terrific painters together in a group show like this, representing a specific geographic area does not come along very often. While all five of them happen to be women artists we will be focused on the quality of their work and the nature of the geography and wildlife which surrounds their homes and studios that is the common theme in their art much more than their gender.” One of the things that initially attracted Booth Museum Curator Lisa Wheeler to the five artists was the perseverance they demonstrated in pursuit of art and art career. “It became apparent from the start that these artists have worked extremely hard to carve out the successful careers they have today. All five of them are experienced around horses, farms or ranches. One had a career as a surgical technician, another as an architect, while the rest worked at a variety of odd jobs before becoming full time, fine-art painters. Each of these artists knew they wanted to pursue art as a career, as early as age five for several of them. Some were inspired by family members who passed down their creative genes, or by MORE

Page 2 artistic friends of their families. Others claim it was simply the amazing beauty of the land and the wildlife they were constantly exposed to while growing up that fueled a desire to share those scenes with an audience. Each also confirms the existence of a spiritual connection to the natural environment they believe is reflected in their paintings. All five artists credit at least part of their success to people who helped them along the way. Whether it was a mentor helping them with the business side of building an art career or the roster of artists like Skip Whitcomb, Ned Jacob, John Felsing, William Reese, Hollis Williford, Scott Christensen, Robert Bateman, Craig Sheppard and others who were willing to share their knowledge of painting. While each artist has taken their own winding path to achieve recognition in the art world there are also some universal truths the artists share and often had to learn the hard way. Amy Lay says, “There’s no how-to book on being an artist.” Lay is known for her stunning wildlife paintings described as “almost wildlife impressionism with a lot of line and movement.” She credits being accepted into the juried Art Fair Jackson Hole, as an early career highlight. Through hard work and determination she has established a reputation for quality work. She is now represented by Mountain Trails Gallery and others around the country. Just recently she has relocated to the family ranch in Oregon, but still dreams of Jackson Hole and the surrounding area. It is somewhat unusual for an artist to be able to meet deadlines, stay organized and have an abundance of creativity, but Amy Ringholz is what a gallery might call the total package. A highlight of her career was being named the featured artist at the Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival in 2016. At the time, she was only thirty-six years old and was both the first female and the first contemporary style artist to be selected in a decade. Growing up in Jackson Hole, Kathryn Mapes Turner says she, “always felt an impulse to create visually as a way of expressing gratitude for the natural beauty that surrounded me.” She expresses openily her appreciation for her mentors, Skip Whitcomb, Ned Jacobs and John Felsing for making the biggest difference in her growth as an artist. She was the 2018 Featured Artist at the Southeastern Wildlife Art Show in Charleston, S.C. As a child, September Vhay, remembers watching her grandfather paint large watercolor washes and Craig Sheppard, a family friend draw animals for her and her siblings, igniting her passion for art. She pursued a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture and spent 8 years in the field before turning to painting full time. Her training in architecture taught her a lot about structure, light and composition, which gives her paintings a sense of three-dimensional form.

Page 3 After working first as a surgical technician, Kathy Wipfler moved to Jackson Hole in 1979 to pursue her dream of making a living as a painter. To support her early painting years she worked at a variety of jobs including: window washer, polo horse groom, cowboy, house painter, waitress, UPS delivery helper and property caretaker. She generally depicts wildlife and figures in the landscape, working primarily in oil, and outdoors on location, in the wonderful surroundings in the Teton Valley. All five artists look forward to being at the Booth Museum for the opening events, meeting their Southern fans and sharing the wonder of their art and Jackson Hole. The exhibition will be on view through June 7, 2020. About Booth Western Art Museum Booth Western Art Museum, an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is a 120,000 square foot museum located in Cartersville, Georgia, where guests are invited to See America’s Story through contemporary Western artwork, a Presidential Gallery, Civil War art gallery, and Sagebrush Ranch, an interactive children’s gallery. Open since August 2003, Booth Museum is the only museum of its kind in the Southeast and was named the 2016 Escape to the Southeast Travel Attraction of the Year by the Southeast Tourism Society. To learn more about Booth Museum, visit www.boothmuseum.org. ###