06 Sep Editor’s Note: Pioneers of the West

Western Art & Architecture celebrates the creative perspectives that have always shaped Western culture. In this issue, we delve into the relationship between tradition and innovation, exploring how artists and architects draw on inspiration from the past while pushing the boundaries of their imaginations to create work that’s relevant today and will stay meaningful into the future.

Take, for example, artist Len Chmiel (“An Artists’ Artist,” pg. 130). For more than 50 years, curiosity and intuition have driven his self-expression, leading him to find shapes and colors in the landscape that not only describe the feeling of the place but also imbue his paintings with a sensibility that’s distinctly his own. Chmiel’s peers as well as his collectors respond to his vision, appreciating the beauty that the artist eternalizes in paint.

Innovation has long been a guiding principle for artist Kim Douglas Wiggins. He has always sought to bring new perspectives on the West to his work in order to draw an audience that prefers Modernism over traditional realism. Wiggins believes that innovation within the Western genre is essential because the West represents our enduring yet ever-evolving American identity (“A New Mexico Modernist,” pg. 118).

In this issue, we also discover the groundbreaking technique of artist Nathan Bennett, who blends chemistry and creativity to develop his complex patina paintings. By using heat and such elements as iron, silver nitrate, zinc, cobalt nitrate, titanium oxide, copper, and even sulfur, he creates atmospheric works that are full of movement and depth (“Formed by Fire,” pg. 148).

In addition, we explore architectural projects that honor the natural world with unique designs that are as functional as they are beautiful. In “Elevated Living,” pg. 124, a mountainside home’s geometric configuration glows like a lantern at night for the perfect Rocky Mountain retreat. And in “Window to the Wild,” pg. 142, a majestic lodge blends an industrial edge with landscape art that reflects its California setting.

Above all, this issue reminds us that art and architecture tell the stories of our time and place, paying homage to the rich heritage of Western creativity while celebrating the innovations that will carry it into the future. We hope you find inspiration within these pages, perhaps even choosing to create something beautiful of your own.

Christine Rogel, Editor in Chief
christine@westernartandarchitecture.com