Artist’s work a look at western life

By Becky Bosshart

Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009 | midnight

She hasn't spent an eternity on it, but Judy Barton's newest exhibit "From Here to There" is a visual recollection of western travels from Montana's big sky to the rugged northeastern coast.

The 30-year Boulder City resident didn't leave out her native landscape, the low desert swept in sagebrush. Barton, a UNLV graduate with a bachelor's of fine art, presents a year of traveling in 20 watercolor paintings and pencil sketches. "From Here to There" is featured at the Boulder City Art Gallery at the Boulder Dam Hotel, 1305 Arizona St., until March 31.

"Some are landscapes and some are old buildings, particularly things I have seen and photographed throughout the West," she said. "I have one of an old shack built by a miner during the days of Leadville in the Titus Canyon Area."

Titus Canyon in Death Valley National Park is a haven for Old West mavens with its ghost town, petroglyphs and dramatic rock formations. For off-the-beaten-path paintings, peer into the depths of Barton's Idaho, Utah or northeastern Washington landscapes. The influence of American realist painter Andrew Wyeth can be seen in her work.

Barton retired from teaching art and photography classes at Boulder City High School in 1999. She also taught photography at the College of Southern Nevada. She teaches Boulder City Art Guild classes and workshops.

While at UNLV she studied under artists Rita Abbey, Bill Reese and Mike McCollum.

The artist reception is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 24. Barton will also be in the gallery from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 21, Feb. 18 and March 18. For information, contact Barton at 293-3326.

Becky Bosshart can be reached at 990-7748 or [email protected].