March 31st, 2022

Thursday

I’ve recently been wandering through the memories of for decades ago. One of those memories is of the years I worked on the Annual Western Heritage Sale we worked on back in the late 70’s and early 80’s. It was an interesting couple of weeks each year. The sale was an auction of quarter horses, Santa Gertrudis cattle, and art… mostly western.

The part I enjoyed most was the art… and the artists who were brought in to mingle with the guests… and one awed worker.

By Dan Balz – May 18, 1981
John Connally looks magnificent with his silver hair and tuxedo, but you should get a look at Jomar 39/8. He’s more than magnificent, he’s unreal. But then everything here in the Shamrock Hilton Hotel is a little unreal tonight.
This is the sixth annual Western Heritage Sale, a black-tie, by-invitation-only event, and the 1,200 guests who paid $100 for the privilege of being here will spend over the next few hours about $3 million on western art, Santa Gertrudis cattle and American quarter horses. That’s in addition to the 125 pieces of western art — or “fine art of the American West,” as they like to call it here — that went for $1 million on Friday night. It’s only money, folks.
The Selling of the West – The Washington Post

HOUSTON — MAY 16, 1982
Nobody could call the annual Western Heritage sale a run-of-the-mill livestock auction.
More than 1,200 people from 40 states donned black ties and evening gowns to eat shrimp, steak and asparagus at tables set with silver and white linen while bidding on the horses and bulls that paraded past them in the formal ballroom of the Sheraton Hilton.
By the end of the evening, the auction sold 26 registered quarter horses, stallions and mares; 27 Santa Gertrudis bulls, heifers and pairs; and 27 pieces of art. Santa Gertrudis cattle, a cross of shorthorn and Brahman stock, are named for a section of the King Ranch, the state’s largest.
Only in Texas — a black tie livestock auction – UPI

HOUSTON (AP) _ April 12, 1985
Art dealers and ranchers are mingling with cattle and horses in a ballroom for the 10th annual Western Heritage Sale, an extravaganza where $6 million is expected to change hands.
Only in Texas could a London art expert admire a John Singer Sargent painting worth hundreds of thousands of dollars while prized cattle graze in stalls an arm’s length away.
Only in Texas could 1,200 people in tuxedos and gowns sip cocktails in an elegant hotel ballroom and discuss art, cattle and horses while attendants in black ties quickly sweep away manure.
Only In Texas: Art And Cattle Go On Block Together – AP

One of the artists that made a lasting impression on me was Paul Calle. I would spend many of my breaks standing in front of his large canvases. I was also able to speak with him on a number of occasions…

This past year I discovered there was a book out about his life and artwork. So I put it on my Wishlist at Amazon and was gifted a copy at Christmas…

I still find myself mesmerized by the details in all of his artwork. From the stamps that he is famous for to the western art that I was so impressed by, he could tell wonderous stories with his pencils and brushes.

Here’s a video of his story…