Gala showcases art as an economic driver

An alluring evening at the Elks Lodge last Friday drew a crowd of over 130 art aficionados to downtown Greybull in support of the Big Horn County Arts Guild’s second annual Art Gala fundraiser.
One would not have recognized the revered event space. An elegant entry welcomed attendees with lights and decorations all on-theme: Valentine’s Masquerade. The display cases were draped in black cloth, chairs covered with divine white linen, centerpieces so intricate they dazzled the eyes. The numerous mounted Elks adorning the walls only added to the regalia, reminding one they are comfortably still in rural Wyoming.
Guild president Deanna Skillman said, “The community really got into the theme. We weren’t sure how well a masquerade would be received, but the community really wowed us with their costumes, masks, gowns, and suits. I talked to several attendees who thanked us for putting on this event that gave them a reason to really dress up and go out on the town.”
Gowns in multitudes of colors sparkled as guests enjoyed the evening. Costumes and masks that covered numerous themes enchanted the evening including designs not of this era. There was a couple dressed in flowing middle-eastern attire (Walt and Sandy Rivers) and a renaissance jester (Steven Seibert.) Even the Blues Brothers (the Skillman family) made an appearance along with smartly-dressed men, classic cowboys, and welcomed were plain-clothed art enthusiasts.
Easels, tables, and art filled the banquet room. Stunning art dominated the boundaries of the room like a horseshoe of creativity with the crowd-favorite graze table in the middle sandwiched between two rows of silent auction pieces in beautiful symmetry.
 “This year’s event space provided more room. Last year we could barely fit 21 artists, this year we fit 30. People enjoyed being able to mingle without bumping into each other and enjoyed having a full bar available to them. People were surprised with how we transformed the space,” Deanna added.
Local artist Kaelyn McDaniel said, “I loved everything about the gala. The community coming together to support artists, dressing up, and the graze table was pretty awesome, and the anticipation everyone had to see the reveal pieces.”
The event was part fundraiser for the guild and part promotion of local artists, spurring on economic growth for north central Wyoming. Silent auction art was split with 30% of sales going to the guild with 100% of reveal purchases going to the artist. “More than $5,000 in art was sold Friday night, and in my book, that’s a success,” said guild treasurer Robert Skillman.
Between the silent auction art and reveal art, over 50 pieces were sold. “New art is hanging in homes today that might not have ever seen the light of day otherwise,” added Robert. “Specifically the guild encourages its artists to create something new and never seen for this event. Meaning, without this event, the art we saw Friday evening might not have existed otherwise.”
In a cascading rhythm the showcase pieces were revealed one-by-one throughout the evening, a feast for the eyes emerged. Imagine silver, black, gray, teal – even a Western checkered cloth – draping easels and tables, cloaking the creations by the area’s finest talent.
“My favorite part of the event was just seeing how many people turned out to support the arts,” said Deanna. “With artists from Big Horn, Washakie, Sheridan and Park counties, the community spoke to us with the turnout. We have so much talent that has been able to be exposed the past two years. Many of our artists are very glad to have an organization that puts them in the spotlight. The community and surrounding communities really showed up to show the guild how much they care,” she said.
An enigmatic part of the evening came from a duo dressed in full-face masks and clothing that veiled their identity. In covert self-expression they walked past most guests with indifference throughout the duration of the event, communicating silently through gestures and handwritten notes. It was only when they revealed their art did they reveal their identities.
Dressed as a western-outlaw with a Vendetta mask, JD Kunkel escorted his wife Lisa disguised in a blonde wig, a venetian-style mask crowned with feathers, shimmering purple gloves, and a sparkling black gown with a long train.
Gala attendee Linda Cooper, of Greybull, said, “I was very drawn to JD and Lisa, they were both so mysterious and haunting. They did it right, the old-fashioned way of not disclosing who you were and SHOCKED us all, they made it very fun.”
Cooper continued, “It was a great event again this year. I love mingling with people that always surprise me when I learn something new about the artists. Tons of talent in a small place.”
Romantic jazz-style music entertained guests between the art reveals. “Robby and Josiah singing and playing guitar throughout the event – after setting-up the graze table beforehand – was fabulous,” said guild historian Tera Sanchez.
 “The gala was very fun and it was exciting to see all the different talents on display,” said attendee Tom Bercher, of Shell. “The costumes were also very entertaining. I can’t wait to see what is going to be next.”
Many have asked, what am I supporting when I support the guild? “The answer is that you are supporting local artists. Much like you would pay to go to a baseball game and watch your favorite player hit a homer. Except this homer is an amazing part of someone’s soul expressed through their medium or genre of art,” said Robert.
“You are supporting the guild’s ability to bring more of these events to our community as well. We formed the guild to rekindle art in our community. What we found is that most of it was hidden or artists didn’t have an avenue for their creativity to be exposed to the community or the world. So by supporting the guild, you are making all of this possible.”
In closing Robert added, “We, the Big Horn County Arts Guild, wants to thank Big Horn County and all the other surrounding communities for supporting your local artists. Look for news concerning our upcoming events on our Facebook page or our website: https://bhcagwyoming.wixsite.com/create.”