Square Butte Gallery

In autumn 2003 JWG announced our partnership with Square Butte Gallery, the objective being to provide a venue for both art and collectibles sellers and buyers. At that time, lack of sufficient square footage blocked any attempt to exhibit more than an item or two. Since our move last spring we have given effort to getting the gallery set up. That project now nears completion and we remind all of you that the “latch string is always out” at both JWG and SBG.

Currently on exhibit is a collection of oil paintings by John Clymer, H.M. Stoops, Don McCaw, Ace Powell, Olaf Weighorst, Clarence Ellsworth, Steve Seltzer and Charles Hargens; silver print photographs of Hopi Indian dances, ca. 1905; bronzes by C.M. Russell, C.A. Grende, Terrence J. Murphy, Joe DeYoung & E.E. Heikka and a number of miscellaneous goo-gaws.

Square Butte Gallery to offer prints of J.H. Sharp photographs

At the turn of the twentieth century, noted western artist and a founder of the Taos school, Joseph Henry Sharp, traveled north to Montana where he spent almost a decade painting Montana Indians. Laura Bickerstaff writes in Pioneer Artists of Taos: “When asked why, after having seen and been deeply impressed by Taos in 1893, Sharp decided to spend the first few years of his career as a painter of Indians in Montana, he replied, “I went north because I realized that Taos would last longer,” revealing a startling vision of the future of both his chosen career and that of the Indians themselves.”—p. 86.

Sharp’s remarkable paintings from this era need no explanation, but what is not so well known is the fact that Sharp was as busy with a camera as a brush during this Montana hiatus. A collection of about 1500 photographic negatives by Sharp was acquired and gifted to the C.M. Russell Gallery and Museum in Great Falls, Montana a few years ago.

Square Butte Gallery partner Brad Hamlett has just completed arrangements with the Russell Museum to produce an extremely limited edition of prints from these negatives and, at the same time, provide the Russell with prints as they possess none.

Taken predominantly on Montana’s Crow Reservation, the Sharp images are particularly notable as they were not posed but, quoting Hamlett, “…show the doing’s in an Indian village.” All will be printed in larger formats attractively matted. Additional details will be available in the next issue of the Dispatch or you may write the gallery at 250 Sutter Street, Ste. 350, San Francisco CA 94108. Email requests for information may be addressed: info@squarebuttegallery.com.

Don Perceval Catalogue

Square Butte & Johns’ Western Gallery will issue a catalogue on the work and research files of noted Southwest artist Don Louis Perceval this winter. The John D. Gilchriese collection includes numerous files from Perceval’s working archives.

Among those files are Perceval’s studies of horses, saddles and that system of markings that he regarded as the only truly American system of heraldry, cattle brands. Also included in the archive are a number of pen-and-ink drawings, many for the posthumous title, From Ice Mountain.

If you have Perceval items or artwork you wish to have included, please contact us at (415) 837-1656. Our goal is to produce an attractive and informative catalogue that commemorates Perceval a quarter-century following his 1979 death.

Dawson’s Checklist

We have a few of the limited edition Publications of Dawson’s Book Shop, signed by Glen & Muir Dawson available at $22.50 ppd., Trade-$12.50.

Consignment Call

This issue of the Dispatch presents a few of the important and exciting lots upcoming this season but we can still include additional books & ephemera. Whether you have a shelf or a library, a letter or an archive, we would like to tell you why you should sell with us.

Commissions are competitive and we believe we stand beyond the crowd in our presentation of offered property. Earlier in this newsletter you have noted requests for consignments in specific fields but all Americana—books, ephemera, art and collectibles is sought. You may write or call (415) 837-1656.

Dawson’s Book Shop prepares for Centennial

It was just two years ago in 2002 that the Arthur H. Clark Company of Spokane celebrated its 100th anniversary and the cake is now in the oven for Michael Dawson Gallery/Dawson’s Book Shop in Los Angeles. Founded in 1905 by “Father” Ernest Dawson, operated by Glen & Muir Dawson for over a half-century, and currently under the direction of Muir & Michael Dawson, Dawson’s is a Los Angeles institution.

During the past decade, Michael Dawson broadened the shop’s focus with the creation of a photography gallery featuring exhibitions, publication galas and other events aimed at maintaining Dawson’s as a Los Angeles cultural hub.

Frankly, I believe Dawson’s is being modest about its age. While examining one of artist Don Cornwell’s studies of the ‘founding of the pueblo” for the murals in the Los Angeles Public Library recently, I had occasion to use a magnifying glass. There, clearly visible over one of the conquistador’s helmets and just adjacent to the Padre giving the blessing, could clearly be discerned a sign, “DAWSON’S—BOOKS.” 535 No. Larchmont Blvd, Los Angeles CA 90004. Be sure to visit on your next Los Angeles trip.

Online Bookshop

October 8 sees publication of the Gilchriese fixed price catalogue. All items in this catalogue and much more is offered and illustrated in our online “Bookshop.” This online venue is proving very popular with many of our customers.

Recognizing that not all items are candidates for offer at public auction, the bookshop provides another manner of sale for consigned property. Current online inventory is at about 500 items but this will reach about 2500 items as we continue cataloging collections currently in-house. Meanwhile, art and collectibles will be found at www.squarebuttegallery.com. We invite you to visit both sites.




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