Gallery Owner Looks to Increase Arts Awareness in Cheyenne
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Cheyenne is known for its rich frontier history and has no lack of events and destinations that celebrate its past. What is not as evident is the city’s vibrant arts scene‚ but Harvey Deselms is working to change that.
Since opening Deselms Fine Arts and Custom Framing in 1992‚ the former museum employee has been hosting gallery receptions‚ working to put art in public spaces and organizing tours of the town’s notable arts destinations. It’s a labor of love for him and one that is paying off with increased local and national recognition for area artists of all kinds.
“I always say that Cheyenne’s not a ‘hot’ arts scene‚ but a growing one‚” Deselms says. “We have a growing community and the Art in Public Places Committee that gets city money yearly for projects like public sculptures. Things like that really raise awareness‚ and that helps the arts scene overall. We’ve had people travel here from better-known arts towns like Memphis and tell me that they don’t have as much public art there as Cheyenne has.”
Deselms’ gallery might be considered the “ground zero” for the local arts scene‚ and with good reason. In addition to ongoing exhibits in a variety of media and services such as custom matting and framing‚ the gallery itself is a work of art. Housed in a historic 1873 home‚ it’s a natural showcase for the creative types in the area.
“I work with about 80 artists‚ most of whom are local‚ but there’s so much more talent in the area that I can do justice to‚” Deselms says of his space. “I have a lot of sculpture outside; even so‚ there’s art everywhere.”
Often the overflow finds its way to the civic center‚ where Deselms organizes shows for regional artists. Those have two main benefits: Area artists get to display their work‚ and residents and tourists are exposed to new talent.
“My job is to kind of force-feed art to people when I have the opportunity‚” Deselms laughs. “If there’s a performing arts show and they want an exhibit‚ or if there’s an area at the hospital or the depot where they want some work‚ I help to get something in there.”
That kind of artistic backfill helps ensure that Cheyenne’s art community is as much of its tourism draw as anything else‚ he says. And the more work on display around town‚ the more opportunities to provide an “on the fly” art education.
“It starts a lot of conversations. People will see something for $29.95 at Wal-Mart and then find a painting here that’s $3‚000‚ and I try to educate them on why an original is so much better than something that’s been mass-produced. It’s challenging‚ but I’ve been lucky in that between the gallery‚ events like wine tastings‚ artist shows here and elsewhere‚ I’ve gotten art to the people.”
Story by Joe Morris
Photo by Antony Boshier
