Artist Cheryl Long Invited to Santa Fe Objects of Art Show

The time-honored Texan trek to Santa Fe continues this summer, with one of the decade’s most prestigious, museum quality art shows. Ever since Governor Mirabeau B. Lamar began an open trade route there in 1841, Texans have flocked to the desert’s primary cultural mecca. The Objects of Arts Show will be presented with the American Indian Art Show for the first time from Aug. 11-14 to provide visitors with an opportunity to discover one-of-a-kind art pieces, sculpture, textiles and jewelry. Texas’ own Cheryl Long has been invited to show her paintings at El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe, 555 Camino de la Familia/Santa Fe Railyard. An expanded virtual show also offers special exhibitions and lectures that runs through August 31.

Long is the sole female artist from Texas to be invited to Santa Fe. Show producer John Morris, the legendary Head of Production for the Woodstock Music and Art Festival in 1969, called Long to share his excitement that she would be a part of the exhibition. “I asked him what he wanted me to bring and he said, ‘Everything!’” says Long, whose beautifully inviting art gallery has graced Fayetteville’s Square for several years.

Long will show her mixed medium Cloud series and richly textured landscapes as well as Native American jewelry, custom hats and handbags with vintage components. What else? “I just returned from a trip to Yellowstone and have focused on skyscapes inspired by the Grand Tetons and Jenny Lake. I’ve had client requests for some larger abstract landscapes and brilliant sunsets. I’m looking forward to the serenity of the desert, and the opportunity to reconnect with Native American weavers and artists. Fazakas Gallery will present art by sensation Jason Baerg, who is hot off his huge success at Art Toronto.

The show opens Thursday, August 11 from 6-9 p.m. with a celebration and benefit for the Southwest American Indian Association and Indian Market and is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. August 12-14. To see more of Cheryl Long’s art, visit PurewestbyCherylLong on Instagram and CherylLongartist.com website.

Long is excited about the Santa Fe show and remembers her first trip there, shortly after college in the 70s. “I had received a grant to paint and I learned so much from leading western artists,” says Long. Santa Fe was incredible in those days. She plans a strong vintage show at her gallery on the Square in Fayetteville for appointments once she returns to Texas.

Long’s first big show came in 1984, when she was invited by Laguna Gloria to show her work, Apocalyptic Afternoon. “Laguna Gloria was THE major Austin museum and I was in my senior year at the University of Texas. Long was one of 24 artists to be chosen by the Texas Fine Arts Association for the Texas Only show, juried by Fredericka Hunter of Houston. It was such a great honor!

“I was the only one in art class who wore skirts,” she says. “I had a white lab coat that I wore over my dresses, which had full, layered lace underskirts. This was during Ralph Lauren’s prairie dress era.” While there, she assisted in teaching drawing and fashion design to art students while at UT and believes in giving back to her community.

After graduation, Long launched her fashion design career, at the peak of the Urban Cowboy movement. The movie’s Western couture inspired a new craze: the urban cowboy movement. “Soon, everybody was wearing Western-style clothing like finely stitched shirts and pricey cowboy boots, whether or not they had spent any time on a ranch,” she recalls. “The Wranglers, cowboy boots, and leather accessories of inspired by the film provided an authentic and all-American alternative. To many, it was a refreshing change. Bolo ties and cowboy boots were suddenly haute couture.”

Ralph Lauren collections from the early ‘80s boasted thousand-dollar prairie dresses and silver belt buckles generously inlaid with turquoise. Long’s vintage handbags are a nod to a time when women really dressed for events, and a much welcome return after months of WFH.

Long’s collection grew to include her Pure West mixed media photographs, to which she applied a single touch of color. She captured images of working cowboys on the great, sprawling ranches of the West, from Wyoming to Texas. Her pieces were favorites of celebrities from Brad and Kimberly Paisley, Andie McDowell, Jane Seymour and Clint Eastwood. “I met Clint in Texas while he was filming A Perfect World with Kevin Costner and he began collecting my art,” Long says.

She’s been invited to the swank Jackson Hole, Wyoming Western Show and to the inaugural galas of both President George H.W. Bush and his son, where she represented Texas artists. Her work has also been shown at the Fred Segal Gallery at 8500 Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, and in swank boutiques in Denver, Vail and Aspen, Colorado.

“My priority for our new gallery is art,” says Long. “I set art aside for 30 years while building my wholesale fashion company, Pure West. That stated, when I was doing photographic calendar work for the Western Horseman Magazine, a friend who noticed the spirit of my original ranch photographs told me I should put them on T-shirts.

“I copyrighted black and white photos with the one touch of color phenomenon on T-shirts, Pure West was born, and evolved into a full clothing line,” Long says. Clients often ask for these to this day. I think they relate to the importance of documenting historic ranches and those who continue traditional cowboying to this day.”

Long has earned countless honors and awards.

The pandemic found her spending more time talking with her customers and deciding to focus on her painting. She opened Pure Art in October of 2020 in downtown Fayetteville, bringing art to a community rich in Texas history. With a reputation based on warm, personal service and one-of-a-kind collectible works of art, Long’s gallery has become an essential not-to-be missed destination. Although she very much marches to her own muse, she’s fallen into the rhythm of the locals, supporting special events. She has showed at the annual Round Top Antique Show for many years. “My art gallery in Fayetteville is open by chance or appointment,” laughs Long.