Art Walk - Frame of Reference Gallery 8/4/2022
Please join us at at the Whitefish Art Walk this Thursday at Frame of Reference Gallery!
https://forfineart.com/event/whitefish-gallery-nights-art-walk-august/
Blog
Giclees now available on RobAkey.com
We're beginning to upload images and information on paintings available as giclees. Giclees are high quality, high resolution prints on canvas that can be stretched and framed just like the original paintings. We will offer them rolled, stretched and framed and will be posting prices accordingly but for now please call for that information.
Western Art Week 2022
Western Art week 2022 heralds a new era for us as we announce that Frame of Reference Gallery of Whitefish, Bigfork and Tucson, Arizona will now be representing my work! To kick off this great new chapter my work will be featured at the Frame of Reference room in the Alberta Room at the Heritage Inn in Great Falls March 17, 18 and 19 as part of the Out West Art Show. I will be at the show this Friday and Saturday and would be de-lighted to see you there.
Of All The (Irish) Luck
I had an Irish grandmother that shuddered at the approach of a Friday that fell on the 13th of the month. Almost refused to leave her house. So busy was I with preparations for the big show (the first in two years) in Great Falls, that I was scarcely aware of that baleful collision of weekday and month date. Twas the next day however (last Saturday), when rereading for the fourth time my lab results reporting a positive test for Covid, that the angry notion which is part and parcel of my inheritance occurred to me-insert slight brogue here - 'sweet Jesus, what idiot goes for a Covid test on Friday the 13th?'
And so it goes. Today I would be pulling away with my little trailer full of goodies and myself full of enthusiasm. Instead, I'm feeling,
after four days on my back and feeling as miserable as I've felt in-well- ever, just human enough to bang out this notice of my absence at this week's Out West Show and Sale and the Russell Auction.
Yes, I've been vaccinated. Parse this anyway you're inclined because God knows we've become experts at that, but this is bad enough with it that I wouldn't want to try it without one. I don't wish it on anyone else either and so won't breathe it on them regardless of their notions of the moment.
Thank you so much for the pre-show sales! The major pieces available are still up on my website under the 2021 Out West tab.
I wish you all a great show- artists, collectors and our wonderful Museum.
Next post I'll tell you how to ensure the good luck seeing a pure white horse will bring you, courtesy Grandma Susan.
2021 OutWest Art Show and Sale
We're back in the saddle and heading for Great Falls August 17-20. I'll be showing new work in room 176 at the Out West Show and Sale at the Heritage Inn. My painting "Down The Middle Fork" will be in the 2021 Russell auction on Saturday the 20th. We'd love to see you so stop by and say hi!
https://www.robakey.com/collections/138787
Thank you,
Rob
Out West Art Show and The Russell 2019
Hard to believe that we’re about to head out for our tenth Out West Art Show. We have been blessed from the beginning with good times, good sales and many new friends and collectors along the way. Also thankful to be in the CM Russell First Strike Auction again this year. These are a few of the paintings we’ll be featuring at the show. Drop me a note if you need any further information about the show and Western Art Week. We hope to see you there!
Marking Time
Time. A notion which in different contexts holds different meanings and whose measure can be perceived as alarmingly fleeting or painfully slow... Observed among the (timeless) treasures at the Pitti Palace in Florence was this humble fellow making little notations of his hours in a homemade notebook. I could spend hours and hours in the Pitti, I'll bet this guys got a different perspective. I think he's a guard but I'm pretty sure I could've snatched a little Giotto and out run him. Meticulous tracking of interminable hours and minutes among several hundred years of ageless art and achievement.. Art is supposed to hold a mirror to life but sometimes the two seem little out of step.
"Signore, I'd love to answer your question regarding the impact of early Humanist thought upon the emergence of the Mannerist movement - but my break's just started..."
"Marking Time", 12x9 will be in my room, 270 at theThe Out West Art Show & Sale in Great Falls March 20-23.
Whitefish Christmas Stroll
The Whitefish Christmas Stroll is this Friday Night. The Idol Gallery is featuring miniature paintings by it's stable of artists including me.
Stop by for some cheer and check out the work. Bet you'll find a perfect little stocking stuffer. Speaking of, here's a festive little preview, a
10x8 I guess I'll cleverly call "Whitefish Christmas Stroll" ...... I can already smell chestnuts and kettle corn...Merry Christmas, hope to
see you downtown.
Hockaday Plein Air Paint Out
These four paintings are my results of the 2018 Hockaday Plein Air Paint-out in Glacier National Park. They along with many other great pieces by about 30 artists are on display and for sale at the Museum until July 28th. Stop in and take a look and, heck, make an acquisition. your Hockaday Museum, and I, would greatly appreciate it!
#hockadaymuseum #glaciernationalpark #glacierpark #pleinair #boldbrush
"The Old Belton Bridge" - A Father's Day Reflection
The old bridge that used to be the the only crossing into the west entrance of Glacier Park is easily missed these days due to the maturing pines along Highway 2. Young locals know it well as spot to test the nerves with a jump into the crazy cold Middle Fork of the Flathead. To rafters on the river it's where you do the paddle "high five" after cheating death once again on rapids with names like "Bone Crusher". The bridge was nearly wiped out in the '64 flood. All that survived was the concrete arch - which still shows the damage from the deluge that took the top deck and its supports. The deck's been replaced with a pedestrian crossing to serve as access to trail heads (and ersatz diving platform).
One day passing by the bridge with my father late in his life he nodded at the bridge and said, "My dad gave me that bridge.." He relayed that as a little boy he was whining more than usual one day on the way to the Park that (his big brother) "John gets everything and I never get anything!" His father said "you're right Gub, you can have this bridge." Every time they went over it some reference would be made to Gub's bridge. Nobody likes to be reminded of being a whiner. My father's father died when he was ten and I think he retained unofficial ownership of the bridge for the rest of his life as one more way to remember his dad. It's still your bridge Gub, Happy Fathers Day.
