bridal dress

Prescott, AZ (Vocus) September 2, 2010

The Phippen Museum is, as they say, Cowboy Up with pride! The Prescott museum currently hosting the world premiere of Portraits of the West: The Kenneth M. Freeman Legacy Exhibition is noting record attendance for the exhibit. The display opened to the public on June 26, 2010, and continues through October 24, 2010. Details are available at the website: Phippen Art Museum or by calling the museum at 928-778-1385. The primary focus of the exhibit is on the cowboy and ranching life, so important to the history of this region, as well as Native American subject matter.

A temporary studio replica of Freeman’s own workspace serves as the centerpiece of this exhibition, providing intimate insight to the artist’s creative process. The unfinished Impending Decision IV, the final piece Freeman was painting at the time of his passing, will be on display to clearly illustrate Freeman’s painting technique. Earning scholarships to study at the American Academy of Art, Freeman studied techniques of the European old masters. Capturing the rich heritage of the many varied peoples he encountered in photographs, Freeman brought the personalities of these models to life.

For artist Kenneth M. Freeman, the cowboy hat and boots was not a gimmick or shtick. Neither was his Arizona attitude. Ken Freeman may have grown up in a traditional Jewish home in Chicago, Illinois but make no mistake … he was a cowboy.

Phippen Curator and Collections Manager Deb Bentlage recently spoke about her thoughts on the artist, Kenneth M. Freeman.

“Ken Freeman was a wonderful artist. He appreciated the art and the heritage of the American West, which is the mission of the Phippen. We are so proud to host this world premiere,” Bentlage said. “The exhibit features Freeman pieces from the Legacy archives, some of which have never been exhibited. We also have an illustration Ken did for Coca Cola along with book covers for Will James and J.P.S. Brown; as well as a collectible plate series for Hamilton Collectibles with the corresponding original oil paintings.

Watch the video interview with Bentlage: Video on Kenneth M. Freeman’s Portraits of the West.

Bonnie Adams, Freeman Legacy curator, talked about selecting the pieces for the exhibit.

“We brought out more than a hundred paintings from the archives of the Freeman Collection,” Adam’s stated. “Bentlage’s task was to narrow the selection down to the very best pieces for the exhibit to fit in the space allowed. We both decided that three pieces would really anchor the exhibition: Bronc Buster, Psychin’ Up and the portrait of http://www.shop.kennethmfreeman.com [John Wayne, considered by the Wayne family to be the best portrait ever painted of The Duke.”

Bentlage adds, “George Phippen, one of the founders of Cowboy Artists of America, would have appreciated this exhibition as he had a lot of common interests with Ken and his love of preserving the American West. George enjoyed the real cowboy life and this exhibit celebrates the cowboy life.”

Adams explains the decision for the exhibition title, “Portraits of the West.”

“Ken always said he painted portraits,” Adam’s said. “Whether they were of cows or cowboys; his subjects were always a study in the story behind the faces he painted.” She added.

Portraits of the West – The Kenneth M. Freeman Legacy Exhibition is a travelling retrospective that provides a tribute to an internationally recognized Western artist and illustrator.

A Kiowa poet once remarked that the American West is a place that has to be seen to be believed, and it may have to be believed in order to be seen. Freeman had the talent to draw, paint and sculpt the West as he had seen and experienced it. His unique combination of light and depth of color, together with rich cultural heritage, has left us with a body of work that connect with the soul and spirit of the American West.

“Ken’s old masters’ technique was very time consuming but the outcome is extraordinary. It is the only way to achieve the depth of colors and warm layers of content that will pass the test of time. This painting technique will last for hundreds of years,” said Edward Holmes, president of Western Artists of America whose organization presented Freeman with a Lifetime Achievement Award, hereafter named the Freeman Lifetime Achievement Award.

“Ken painted each piece three times. First he sketched on the canvas or board with pencil and then did a full value, burnt umber painting where he worked out all the details. When the burnt umber was dry, he laid down the color,” added Adams. “This was the style of the old masters, and this style had members of the press dubbing Ken Freeman as The Rembrandt of the Rodeo.”

“We plan to include key items from Ken’s original studio in the replica, such as his easel and palette,” Bentlage said. “The fact that the Kenneth M. Freeman Legacy has preserved the artist’s work space and contents provides an incredible educational resource.”

Ken was a graduate of the American Academy of Art in Chicago. He began taking classes at the American Academy of Art in the summer of 1950 at the age of 15. He won a scholarship to the school from the Latham Foundation. He studied with renowned artist Haddon Sundblom … Referred to as the Father of Illustration.

“He was a man you could never forget. His enthusiasm for life and art was contagious. Of all the artists from the Academy I’ve met over the years, Ken really stood out as one of a kind,” said Aron Gagliardo of the American Academy of Art.

“This particular show is very appropriate for the Phippen. Ken has exhibited at the Phippen before and we are excited about returning with this new exhibition,” Adams added.

Recent Kenneth M. Freeman Awards of Excellence:

Tribute to Kenneth M Freeman by the National Festival of the West (March 2009)
Lifetime Achievement Award from Western Artists of America (Jan. 2010)
Western Heritage Award from Parada del Sol Rodeo (March 2010)
Cowboy Spirit Award from the National Festival of the West (March 2010)
Special Award from the World’s Oldest Rodeo – Prescott, AZ (July 2010)

Kenneth M. Freeman Legacy Museum 2010/2011 Exhibition Schedule:

These two collections are traveling retrospectives of the late Kenneth M. Freeman (1935 – 2008) who had a prolific career as both an illustrator and fine artist, primarily portraying the American West. Artist at Work and Portraits of the West presents a cross-section of Freeman’s lifetime body of work and range of mediums.

Artist at Work: The Kenneth M. Freeman Legacy
Museum exhibition of 50 works by Kenneth M. Freeman

The Booth Western Art Museum, Cartersville, GA

January 2010 – May 2010

The Booth Museum is a Smithsonian affiliate museum

NEXT: February 2011 – The Pearce Museum, Corsicana, TX

Portraits of the West – The Kenneth M. Freeman Legacy
Premiere exhibition of 70 works by Kenneth M. Freeman