Capturing the Magnificence of the West: The Laumeister Collection of Western & Wildlife Art
Hindman is pleased to present The Laumeister Collection of Western and Wildlife Art from The Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, Vermont in a two-day single-owner auction on August 29-30. With more than 500 lots, the collection was developed over 30 years as a result of The Bennington Center for the Arts co-founder Bruce Laumeister’s and his wife Elizabeth Small’s passion for collecting and celebrating representational artists of North America.
Lot 170 | Charles Pabst (American, b. 1950) | Moran Point - Grand Canyon | Estimate: $10,000 - $15,000
Speaking to the collection, Alexandria Dreas, Specialist, Western Art states “We are incredibly proud to present the Laumeister Collection for auction in August. Mr. Laumeister and his wife Elizabeth championed artists from across the Western and Wildlife categories and amassed an incredible collection that truly showcases the beauty and wonder of the natural world. This is a comprehensive, inclusive group of property that features some of the most important names in Wildlife and Western art.”
Mr. Bruce Laumeister was an engineer, entrepreneur, and an enthusiastic patron of the arts. He and his wife, Ms. Elizabeth Small, co-founded the Bennington Center for the Arts as a place to showcase world-class art, music, and theatre.
Born in Watertown, New York, and raised in Rochester, New York, Mr. Laumeister had a successful career as a corporate executive with Union Carbide, General Electric, and American Optical. He first came to Bennington in 1980 following his purchase of CTC Photographic, which he expanded to serve Vermont, New Hampshire, Upstate New York, and Maine. In 1990, Laumeister married Elizabeth Small after meeting her at her Blackhawk Gallery in Tucson, Arizona.
Upon moving to Vermont, Bruce became a supporter of the local Oldcastle Theater Company at Southern Vermont College and found that there was a need for a larger theater and visual arts center in Southern Vermont that could draw in nationally recognized artists. His interest in collecting Western art also developed during this time, leading him and his wife to establish the Bennington Center for the Arts in 1992 as a place to showcase world-class art, music, and theatre. Over many years Bruce directly supervised the building and development of the center, engaging local craftsmen and contractors from the community to build the largest art center in Southern Vermont. Elizabeth brought her many years of experience as a gallery owner in Arizona and Wyoming to the role of curator and Arts Center Director. The pair presented a broad range of Western and wildlife art to visitors who enjoyed both the art and the unique design and presentation in the Arts Center itself. The center was known to be a hub for the arts and community events and included a Covered Bridge museum, a 315-seat theatre, and numerous galleries designed by architects Brett Laumeister and Timothy Smith.
The collection features a range of paintings and sculptures by important Western and wildlife artists, including Bob Kuhn, Charles Pabst, Joe Velazquez, Stan Davis, Francois Koch, Daniel Smith, Jan Martin McGuire, Justin Prigmore, Carl Brenders, Susan Terpning, and more.
Celebrated Wildlife Artists
A remarkable group of wildlife art, which includes many works by members of the Society of Animal Artists, will be led by Winter Chase (estimate: $10,000-15,000) (pictured at top), a bronze by one of the most renowned wildlife artists of the 20th century, Bob Kuhn. Other works of note include Clam Digging at Low Tide by Morton Solberg (estimate: $6,000-8,000) and Riverbank Refreshment by Dan Smith (estimate: $5,000-7,000). Paintings by Francois Koch and Justin Prigmore are also expected to draw the attention of wildlife art collectors.
Lot 71 | Morton Solberg (American, b. 1935) | Clam Digging at Low Tide | Estimate: $6,000 - $8,000
Western Landscapes
Several beautiful examples of Western landscape paintings will be featured in the auction. Amongst these works are a group of paintings by Charles Pabst, led by his Moran Point – Grand Canyon (estimate: $10,000-15,000). Contemporary Western artist Charles Pabst is best known for his highly detailed, panoramic depictions of the mountains, canyons, and landscapes of the American Southwest. This quintessential Pabst landscape demonstrates the artist’s great talent for capturing the majesty and monumentality of the American West.
Native American Art
The Laumeister Collection also includes several important works depicting Western and Native American history. Joe Velazquez’s Keeper of the Sacred Pipe (estimate: $6,000-8,000) is expected to stir up considerable attention amongst bidders. Other works of note include John Fawcett’s Stranger’s Camp (estimate: $3,000-5,000) and Stan Davis’ Sacred Ritual of the Pipe (estimate: $4,000-6,000).
Lot 126 | John Fawcett (American, b. 1952) | Stranger's Camp | Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000
Bidding for the auction will begin at 10 am MT on August 29th and bidding will be available in-person at Hindman’s Denver saleroom, via absentee and telephone bid, and online via the Digital Bid Room. For the August 30th auction, bidding will be available in a timed-only format via Hindman’s Digital Bid Room. Additional information will be available at HindmanAuctions.com.
Featured Image:
Lot 71 | Morton Solberg (American, b. 1935) | Clam Digging at Low Tide | Estimate: $6,000 - $8,000