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Summary: A Magazine that is Growing in Importance
Comment: SOUTHWEST ART has been around for a long time, a journal that focused on the art of the southwestern regional artists of this country plus a heavy dollop of how-to articles on pastel, watercolor, acrylic, oil etc. It was, and to some extent remains, the chief reference source of cowboy art, Indian art, and the galleries of Santa Fe, Scottsdale, Houston, and environs.
But recent issues show an increased awareness of the classical arts and the current issue, subtitled the Collector's Issue, is a strong indication that the magazine is growing in a healthy way. Recent past articles on Drawing included some of our finest artists in the country. Now there are focus articles on particular artists whose works contain no elements of the general past subject matter. For example, the very strong American artist Wes Hempel is featured in this Collector's Issue in a fine article by Devon Jackson entitled 'Personal Mythologies', and while Hempel's works are highly respected and collected from California to New York and in collections in Europe (especially Italy), the writing and generous illustrations in Jackson's article introduce new information that informs this gifted artist's work. And immediately following the article on Hempel is another fine monograph on photographer Keith Carter paying homage to this teacher and practitioner of his craft.
With changes such as these Southwest Art could enter the pantheon of important American if not international art journals. It bodes well! And yet there still is enough 'western art' to satisfy even the most insatiable appetite for Indian markets and men on horseback looking off into the sunset....Grady Harp, November 05