RioBravoFineArt Presents Olin B. West's "Timescapes"

West was born in Paris, Texas, but his roots are deep in the American West and Southwest. He was raised on the plains of Wyoming and spent his first ten years after graduation from high school living in various Western cities. He finally settled in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1976. He used his silversmithing and beadwork skills in the making of wearable art to establish himself as a New Mexico artist. After a very successful time as an artist in Santa Fe, he moved his studio to Truth or Consequences in 1997 to devote his full time to painting.

West’s paintings for the Timescapes series are a profound reflection of his artistic vision. West states his artistic vision as follows:

“Being an artist is a lifestyle and, the product of that lifestyle, the Art, is a way of sharing that experience with others. My works are a sincere effort to share visual, intellectual, and emotional points of view, using sight to stimulate the formulation of philosophical ideas.” —Olin B. West

The paintings in the Timescapes series typically have discrete marks or “tabs” presented in a precise and structured manner. Each tab can represent some unit of time, say a second, in the life of the artist, West. These tabs mark the progression of time as the artist works on the painting. But there is a background for the tabs that represent the actual experiences of the artist during the process of creation – random distractions (perhaps a dog barking or a bird chirping), thoughts on practical or emotional concerns, sensations from the surrounding physical environment such as warmth or light. So, a particular image reflects the passage of time and the personal experiences of the artist during the creation process for the image.

The paintings in Timescapes have a subtle grace, a contemplative nature, and visual richness. They represent one of the finest expressions of West’s artistic vision, and RioBravoFineArt is exceedingly proud to have this show of the Timescapes series as a part of the gallery’s long running history.

RioBravoFineArt is pleased to partner with our friends at La Galeria at the Shaffer for this important show. Several of West’s paintings will be on display at La Galeria coincident with the show at RioBravoFineArt. La Galeria is a jewel of a gallery located in the historic Shaffer Hotel, a rare example of Pueblo Deco Architecture, in Mountainair, New Mexico.

RioBravoFineArt, located in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico has a gallery space of six thousand square feet with an eclectic collection of art on display at any one time. The gallery, now entering its twenty-eighth year, offers several legacy collections while promoting and supporting the work of approximately two dozen accomplished contemporary artists from all over the country. RioBravoFineArt is in the Historic Hot Springs District of Truth or Consequences, the site of many popular spas using the natural hot springs of the area. Truth or Consequences has a vibrant arts scene and is in the center of historic, recreational and scenic areas of Southern New Mexico. Southern New Mexico has other communities – Magdalena, Mountainair, Carrizozo, Las Cruce and Silver City – that, like Truth of Consequences, also have vibrant art communities.