Fredrick Remington and Charles M. Russell were pioneers of a new art movement in the late-19th and early-20th centuries, a naturalistic and occasionally impressionistic style of artistic creation that focused on the Wild West, from cowboys and Indians to vast frontier landscapes to herds of galloping horses and buffalo.
More than 100 years later, the tradition of Western art is carried on and expanded upon by a variety of contemporary artists. The cream of the crop are featured in Raymond James Financial's Ninth Annual Wildlife & Western Visions Art Show.
The Tom and Mary James/Raymond James Financial Art Collection is among the country's largest private collections; of the 1,850 pieces, Western- and Southwestern-themed works make up more than half. A huge assortment of these is presented alongside original paintings, sculptures, jewelry and prints by 18 popular Florida artists, members of the esteemed "Cowboy Artists of America," and Native American jewelers, who were invited to take part. Most will be on hand during the two-day art show, including John Coleman, Grant Hacking, Debra Copenhaver Fellows, Matthew Hillier, Chad Poppleton, Julia Rogers, Charles Rowe, Ernest Simmons, Trevor Swanson and David Yorke.
Ninth Annual Wildlife & Western Visions Art Show, April 26-27, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun., Raymond James Financial Center, 880 Carillon Parkway, St. Petersburg. For more info, call the Plainsmen Gallery at 888-779-2240.
