Sisters artists featured in Art of the West

This year's Art of the West exhibition and auction at the High Desert Museum will feature more than 60 works by some 40 artists, nearly double the number of pieces included in last year's show.

"We are thrilled by the number of high-quality works that were submitted by both local favorites and prominent artists from outside the area," said Dana Whitelaw, Ph.D., executive director of the museum.

The artists include Lillian Pitt, Sherry Salari Sander, Kathy Deggendorfer, Mark Yale Harris, Barbara Slater and Pat Courtney Gold, to name a few. "This year's show includes a wonderful array of artistic styles and media including watercolor, oil, pastel, photography and sculpture," according to Curator of Exhibitions and Collections Faith Powell.

The exhibition and silent auction will kick off with an artists' reception on Thursday, July 30. Artists Dawn Emerson, Marjorie Kalama and Gil Dellinger will be doing live demonstrations inspired by the museum's wildlife, artifacts and objects. There also will be live music, food and beverages.

Art of the West culminates with live and silent auctions at the museum's signature annual fundraising gala, the High Desert Rendezvous, on August 29 at the museum. Proceeds from the gala and the auctions help support the museum's educational programs.

For more information about both, visit www.highdesertmuseum.org or call 541-382-4754.