T
his August, a group exhibition at
Mountain Trails Gallery will explore
migration in Jackson Hole, Wyoming,
and surrounding areas. On view from August
3 to 10, Migration features the work of Bryce
Pettit, Jennifer O’Cualain and Jim Bortz.
“Jackson Hole is a place that is full of stories
of migration,” Pettit explains. “The greater
Yellowstone area is one of the few relatively
intact ecosystems in the lower 48 states and
therefore one of the last places where one can
see the living and doing of wildlife in their
natural environment.”
For the show, Pettit has chosen to highlight
several aspects of migration—connection,
home, promises and generations—with his
bronze wildlife sculptures.
“I like each piece to have a story about the
life history of the animals; an ecological story
that helps to appreciate the species itself as
well as a personal/human allegory underlying
the concept behind the artwork,” he says.
O’Cualain interprets the exhibition’s theme
“in a broad sense.” She elaborates, “It can be
a physical movement but it can also speak to
the movements we make internally to bring
ourselves where we want or need to be.”
With this in mind, the artist strongly
incorporated symbolism into her work for
the show. In At the Watering Hole, O’Cualain
utilizes three elements to symbolize movement.
“In the background, a watermelon plant
is represented in four phases: seed, plant,
blossom and fruit,” she says. “To me, this
speaks of movement of physical existence.
The Sandhill crane is a well-loved icon
for migration and movement of physical
location. He has been attracted to this
watermelon as he searched for water, but
suddenly has noticed the dragonfly, which is
historically a symbol of graceful movement
and psychological change.”
Incorporating striking red hues in his
impressionistic paintings, Bortz’s work in
Migration is a call to the wild.Far and wide
UPCOMING SHOW
Up to 36 works
August 3-10, 2019
Mountain Trails Gallery
155 Center Street, Jackson,
WY 83001, (307) 734-8150
http://www.mtntrails.netSHOW LOCATION JACKSON, WY
Bryce Pettit, Butterfly Collection, bronze