Towards Home: The Art Of Gary Ernest Smith
The show will run from May 24th through July 21st, and Towards Home will be a 80-piece show of retrospective work of Gary's, including pieces he did in High School. A selection of Gary's sculptures will also be on display.
Gary was born and raised in Medical Springs on a working cattle ranch, and his parents encouraged his early artistic promise. After service in Vietnam, Gary came home and started his journey to become one of the "Standard Bearers" of Contemporary Western Art.
Each piece pays homage to the land and its stewards, the romance in ordinary ranch life, and the silent stories whispered by the land. Smith’s artwork transcends traditional Western paintings — it produces a timeless representation of the ever-changing lifestyle experienced by the West. “That's why people buy original art... because the artist actually creates a living thing that has a spirit,” says Smith.
He has had over 40 major gallery/museum shows around the country, and he wanted to leave one last gift to his hometown. This will be the largest show in Crossroads history, and we are planning for 29,000 guests to come to Baker County during the six weeks of the show. The Show opening has been scheduled to align with the reopening of the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center and Baker City's 150th Birthday.
When asked about his painting’s inspiration, Smith responded, “To really understand the feel of the property and the landscape...we have to relate to it, we have to have an emotional attachment to that...that’s what I’m trying to create...that sense of emotional attachment.” He continues, saying, “People don’t need to always understand art. But, art can touch people beyond their understanding.”
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Where to Park
We have prepared a quick map and some notes on parking; see the below image:
*Click the image to view and download
There is much more to Baker County
See some recommended itineraries below and see if you can add something to your trip. In addition to this, we highly encourage you to stop by the visitor center when you're in town and pick up maps, an eat play sleep brochure, and a copy of the 2024 Travel Baker County Visitor Guide.
View even more on the Visit Baker County Calendar HERE.
Grants:
James and Marion Miller Foundation
Roundhouse Foundation
Ford Family Foundation
George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation
Union Pacific Foundation
DE and Jane Clark Foundation a part of Oregon Community Foundation
Flack Family Fund
Leo Adler Foundation
Ash Grove Foundation
Baker County Transient Lodging Tax Committee
Sponsors:
Signature Sponsor: Lew Brothers/Les Schwab Tires
Made Possible By Sponsor: Ash Grove Cement
Regional Partner: Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative
We thank Legacy Dodge in LaGrande for providing Courtesy cars for the exhibit.
Catalog:
Essayists:
Joyce Badgely Hunsaker
Seth Hopkins, Executive Director of the Booth Museum of Western Art in Cartersville, GA.
Andrea Snow
Ray Johnson.
Editor: Lisa Britton Jacoby.
Graphic Designer: Kathleen Royster of the Helper Project
Photography: Snelson Photo Color Lab
Printer: Peczuh Printing
Storage: Chaves Consulting
Transportation: Todd Welter
Framer: The Royal Artisan
Partners: City of Baker City, Baker City Downtown, Baker County Chamber of Commerce, Baker County Economic Development, Baker County Transient Lodging Tax, Travel Baker County, Eastern Oregon Visitors Association.
Thank you to DDRC Marketing in LaGrande. Dr. Shari Carpenter, Dustin Follett, Nicholas Duffy, and Colten Alldredge for their remarkable work in marketing the Towards Home show. We could not have done it without you!
Banner Sponsors:
Ag West Farm Credit
Mad Matilda’s
Copper Belt Wines
Craig & Cherie Ward
Dave & Joyce Hunsaker
Dennis & Terri Axness
Dr. Jeff Clausel and Ann Bourne
The Duman Family
Ed and Luann Cook
The Lair Family
Fred & Cammie Warner
Gratton Miller
The Loennig Family
Jackie's Savory Sweets
Jane Bohn
John and Molly Wilson
John Rademacher
Judith Stoffer
Kathy Oster
Kristin Colton Accountancy
The Lamb Family
The McCord House/Leann Haberle
Sundance Clayworks
Marcy Edwards
Mark & Heather Johnson
Mt View RV Park
The Defrees Family
Orchard Wood Products
OTEC
Powder River Bungalow
Richard and Kathleen Chaves
The Savage Family
St. Alphonsus
Sue and Irv Townsend
Sunfire Real Estate
Gaia Resource/Terry and Bill Gee
thegeo.net
Rod & Sandy Lewis
The Freeman Family
Valerie Potter in Memory of Darwin Potter
St Luke's
Vision Wealth Management
The Kahn and Hobson Family
Baker Resource Coalition / Steve and Mickey Edwards
Roger & Charlene Chase
James and Marion Miller Foundation
Helen Marsh and Rob Middleton
Lew Brothers/Les Schwab Tires
Ash Grove Cement
