Welcome!!!

Welcome to the Cheyenne County Art guild blog page. The CCAG has been promoting art and artists for over 40 years. We hope this blog will not only provide information, but be a center for discussion and idea sharing.

Stop back often - see what's new in the world of art in the panhandle of Nebraska and beyond.

Special Note: Please do not steal. All artwork on this blog is copyrighted and is the exclusive property of the artist. If you see something you like and would like to contact the artist, email Sheila Phelps blog-manager: sheilaphelps59@gmail.com

Monday, July 21, 2014

Ron Nordyke - July Artist of the Month

On display at the Sidney Public Library and the Cheyenne County Community Center until Aug 10th are paintings by Ron Nordyke of Chappell.  Some of the paintings at the Center are from a series of “hand, quilt and sky” pieces called the Time-Life Quilt series.  Each painting expresses a time of day which coincides with a time of life.  For example a 6:00 a.m. sky and the hand of a newborn on a baby blanket quilt.  A 9:00 p.m. sunset with the hand of a his 84 year old Mother-in-law on a “States Quilt” with her hand across the Nebraska block, a state where she was born and raised.  Her hand showing the signs of a life of endless working, cooking, loving, writing, washing, serving, dancing and somewhat reshaped by the presence of arthritis.  This series of paintings appear to be landscapes.  

 
"Life's Little Ups and Downs"
As a small child all Nordyke dreamed of being was an artist.  After graduating with a BFA from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, Ron spent over twenty years in the upholstery business with his wife Dianne.   In 1992 he began a new career teaching Art for the Chappell Nebraska Public Schools giving him incentive and more time to paint.   Since then he has focused on painting many subjects, commissions, and murals mainly in acrylics.
     Recognized regionally for his “Landscape Quilt” paintings Ron Nordyke is continually using the juxtaposition of objects and ideas to create visual metaphors in his works.   Whether he’s working with his art students on a community project, on a commission, or his own work,  he’s searching for “meaning”.   A love of art has kept him searching and creating with his hands since he was a small child.   His works don’t actually fit into any category. He enjoys the awesome beauty of a sky, a landscape, a face, or just something old, weathered, and worn.  In some ways they are a lot like the quilts he paints; a little piece of this and a scrap of that.  Just as quilts are laid out in patterns of simple repeating shapes, his art has some of these themes that reoccur regularly,… and life is a lot like that.  Looking for ways to visually express the overlapping of the “natural” God-created world and the “man-made world” fuels his artistic fire.
   Like a composer of music he’s looking for that “hook” that will cause you to look and think deeper.  In his own words, “I like to think I’m portraying our common  heritage by way of visual images.”  Many of these ideals are universal: the value of  hard work and fine craft; the virtue and strength of character that comes from age; the freedom and energy of youth; the awesome regenerating power of faith; the magnificent beauty and diversity of creation; even the thoughts and emotions linked to images from our collective past.  He uses common ordinary objects and presents them in thought provoking compositions creating visual metaphors.  In addition to Ron Nordyke's display of artwork at the Sidney Public Library and the Cheyenne County Community Center more of his artwork can be viewed at rnordyke.com.

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

CONGRATULATIONS CCAG MEMBER NANCY DEE!!!!

CCAG MEMBER NANCY DEE WINS 2ND PLACE IN INTERNATIONAL SHOW

"Morgan County Angular Moment"  (Pastel Painting)

The Mile High International Pastel Exhibit recently informed Nancy Dee of Haxtun, CO, a Cheyenne County Art Guild member, that her pastel painting "Morgan County Angular Moment" received a 2nd Place Award in the 10th Annual Mile High International Pastel Exhibition being held at the Denver Public Library in Denver, CO.   Dee's artwork was also chosen by the Denver Public Library's graphic designer to be one of four displayed on the "poster" for the event.

In addition three important milestones are happening concurrently with this show in Denver.  This year is the 10th Anniverssary of the Pastel Society of Colorado (PSC) hosting the show, the 20th Anniversary of the Pastel Society of Colorado, and the 125th Anniversary of the Denver Public Library.  Because of all the anniversaries, the PSC askedd several of the previous judges of this show to display a painting as part of the exhibit.  These past judges are a "Who's Who" of celebrities in the national pastel painting world according to a press release issued by the Pastel Society of Colorado.

The 10th annual Mile High International Pastel Exhibition is on the seventh floor of the Denver Public Library in the Vida Ellison Art Gallery.
Gallery hours: Mon - Fri, 10 AM - 5 PM, Sat. 9 AM - 5 PM, and Sun. 1 - 5 PM.  Nancy Dee said,  "If you get a chance, this is a great show (to see) and if you have any interest in pastel, don't miss it."  The show closes August 30, 2014.

The Cheyenne County Art Guild congratulates Nancy Dee on this fine award and accomplishment!  For more information about the Pastel Society of Colorado go to www.pastelsocietyofcolorado.org.  To see more of Nancy Dee’s work go to www.frenchmancreek.com.