The Taos Six Collection: An Homage to E. Irving Couse
Dennis Ziemienski The Golden Pool (after E. Irving Couse Paintings titled “Indian by a Spring” and “Moonlight Spring”) Oil on mounted canvas 20" h x 20" w
E. Irving Couse Moonlight Spring Year: Unknown
E. Irving Couse Indian by a Spring Year: Unknown
The Taos Six Collection: An Homage to E. Irving Couse When the Taos Society of Artists (TSA), founded in 1915, first organized traveling exhibitions of its members’ work in 1917, art critics didn’t know what to make of it, seeing it as unrealistic and overdone. Upon viewing unfamiliar scenes of Native Americans engaged in everyday activities and spiritual rituals against a stunning backdrop of snow-capped mountains and endless sky, they found the colors too vivid, the landscape too idealized, and the Native American and Hispanic subjects too exotic and dramatically depicted. But the Society’s classically trained, award-winning members knew better, having been lured to Taos from their far-flung homes around the country to revel in exactly those qualities: the majesty of the landscape, the mysteriousness of the cultures, and the vibrancy of nature’s palette. The critics who doubted the truth of these artists’ vision had never even seen the land and people they found so difficult to accept as real. But despite this early opposition, the TSA painters persisted and quickly succeeded in drawing the art world’s attention to this special little spot on the planet, in the process creating a uniquely American artistic expression that remains important and influential to this day. As with the TSA, Taos was the birthplace of Blue Rain Gallery, now in its 29th year and operating in Santa Fe as the premier destination for exceptional contemporary art from around the world. As an homage to the special group of artists who first put that obscure mountain village on the map, Blue Rain is presenting a series of exhibits by nine of its current artists to honor
the six original TSA members who had the talent and foresight to share the magic of Taos with the world. This newest exhibition pays tribute to Eanger Irving Couse, one of TSA’s founding members and its first president. Couse grew up in Saginaw, Michigan, where as a boy he began drawing members of the nearby Ojibwe tribe. After leaving school at 16, he pursued an art education, first at the National Academy of Design in New York City and later at the Academie Julien in Paris. It was there that he met Joseph Henry Sharp, who introduced him, along with artists Ernest Blumenschein and Bert Geer Phillips, to the existence and potential of Taos as an artistic muse. Upon his return from Paris, Couse visited Taos and was captivated by its uniqueness, and although he didn’t permanently relocate to the town, he did spend summers there for many years. In his captivating, Romantic style he portrayed his Native subjects as fully realized people engaged in quotidian tasks, adding a dimension of mystery and magic through his use of vibrant color and ethereal light that imbue each scene with a spiritual aura. For this exhibit, Blue Rain artists Bryce Pettit, Dennis Ziemienski, Kathryn Stedham, Mark Pugh, Matthew Sievers, Rimi Yang, Robin Jones, Sean Diediker, Andrea Peterson, Hyrum Joe, Nathan Bennett, and Z.Z. Wei each have taken a Couse painting and created their own version, using Couse’s mastery of form and color as an inspiration for their own interpretations of the subject matter.
E. Irving Couse Autumn Moon Year: 1927
The Couse painting I chose was “Autumn Moon.” I was immediately attracted to the dreamlike composition of this piece. The subject matter and illustrative style of the landscape felt very in line with the type of paintings I do and it instantly sparked ideas in my mind. Mark Pugh
Mark Pugh Autumn Moon, Floating Leaves (after E. Irving Couse painting titled “Autumn Moon”) Oil and ink on linen mounted panel 20" h x 30" w
Rimi Yang The Wedding Painting (after E. Irving Couse painting titled “The Wedding”) Oil on canvas 36" h x 24" w
E. Irving Couse The Wedding Year: 1924
Matthew Sievers Ode to Couse (after E. Irving Couse painting titled “The Arrow Maker”) Oil on panel 24" h x 24" w
E. Irving Couse The Arrow Maker Year: 1921
While doing research for this show, I came across a book by Virginia Couse Leavitt. As Couse’s granddaughter, she gives an intimate account of Couse’s life, especially on his lifelong interest in Native American cultures, and their significance in his art. I was immediately drawn to this photograph by Couse. Despite being taken in a studio setting with two models, it was a powerful presentation of Native American life, culture and spirit. It tells a story of heritage and life skills passing through generations, which is even more relevant today. Z. Z. Wei
Photograph by E. Irving Couse Two Models Posing for Couse Year: 1906
Z. Z. Wei Hunters (after E. Irving Couse photograph of two models posing in 1906) Oil on canvas 24" h x 48" w
The Moki Snake Dance is a ritual where the performers hold poisonous snakes in their mouths while dancing in pairs. As I painted, I was very mindful that the central figures are in the act of fervent prayer, and I wanted to do my best to honor them. I also felt that praying for rain was a pertinent theme, especially during this time of increased drought and climate change. I imagine the Hopi still dancing and praying for us all as the Snake Dance continues in August of every year as it has for hundreds of years. Kathryn Stedham
Kathryn Stedham A Prayer for Rain — Moki Snake Dance (after E. Irving Couse painting titled “Moki Snake Dance — A Prayer for Rain”) Oil on Belgian linen 24" h x 36" w
E. Irving Couse Moki Snake Dance — A Prayer for Rain Year: 1904
Andrea Peterson The Protector (after E. Irving Couse painting titled “The Captive”) Oil on panel 16" h x 20" w
E. Irving Couse The Captive (La Cautiva) Year: 1891 Permanent Collection of the Phoenix Art Museum
E. Irving Couse A Vision of the Past Year: 1916 Permanent Collection of the Butler Institute of American Art
Sean Diediker Looking Back (after E. Irving Couse painting titled “A Vision of the Past”) Oil on linen 21.25" h x 17.25" w
E. Irving Couse Pottery Vendor Year: 1916 Collection of Philbrook Museum of Art
Bryce Pettit Pottery Vendor, an Homage to E. Irving Couse (after E. Irving Couse painting titled “Pottery Vendor”) Bronze, 1/1 16" h x 21" w
Robin Jones Young Girl with Backpack (after E. Irving Couse painting titled “Portrait of a Young Girl with Her Back Turned”) Oil and 24k gold leaf on aluminum 26" h x 16" w
E. Irving Couse Portrait of a Young Girl with Her Back Turned Year: c. 1910
Hyrum Joe Decorating the War Shield (after E. Irving Couse painting titled “Decorating the War Shield”) Oil on canvas 16" h x 20" w
E. Irving Couse Decorating the War Shield Year: Unknown
Nathan Bennett Replenish at Noon (after E. Irving Couse painting titled “The Water Jug”) Patinas on bronze 20" h x 24" w
E. Irving Couse The Water Jug Year: 1915
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