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The point of this blog is to share ideas about art of the American West by using my experience with Robert Macfie Scriver, a sculptor from the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana, as a point of reference.

I will reflect on history of art issues, how art is evaluated, and maybe even review auctions and institutions. As Western art becomes more valuable (now reaching into the millions, but not quite touching the tens of millions), the pressure to promote and even exploit both works and artists increases.

Art of the American West is still looked down on as "lesser" by the fanciest New York galleries and writers, possibly because they just don't know that much about it. The slick Western art magazines cannot become very critical for fear of losing important advertising income. Individuals with talent still hope that they can "save the ranch" by becoming a famous artist. There are many fascinating angles to explore.

As well, I intend to develop short pieces about the work of Bob Scriver and the context in which he became an artist. From the SW center of the Industrial Cowboy Art Cartel, he is an outlier. From the northern prairie bi-national context, he is a central figure. I would like to spend time considering individual works of art, not because they are for sale but because they are interesting and valuable.

I invite comment. If this blog won't accept it, contact me directly. I think it's long past time to discuss many of these issues.

Mary Scriver