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