Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival comes to a close

Sunday was the final day of the 29th annual Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival. The event draws thousands of artists and collectors each year.

Ian McLennan moved to Jackson five years ago and immediately got involved with the festival. He said local artists encouraged him to start a gallery of his own.

“I actually said, ‘Isn’t there enough galleries already?’ But I soon realized this was such a big art market,” said McLennan.

McLennan’s Grand Teton Gallery is just one of several participating in the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce’s festival.

“In our gallery we’ve had artists working, painting and sculpting,” said McLennan. “We’ve had our artists turn up from all over the countryside.”

One of his artists, Carrie Wild, came to visit Jackson Hole three summers ago, but she never got around to leaving.

“It’s an amazing, inspiring place,” said Wild. “Moose and bison in my yard, you know, tons of inspiration for my art.”

Her work is sold at the gallery year round, but she says the festival is the highlight of her and many other artists’ year.

“We look forward to this and plan for this all year,” said Wild. “It’s a great way to meet people, meet your collectors and just really put the art out there.”

Rip Caswell, another artist featured in McLennan’s gallery, has been sculpting bronze statues throughout the country for more than 20 years, but he sells many of his statues in Jackson.

“I believe it’s probably the number one wildlife market in the United States,” said Caswell.

He gets his inspiration from Grand Teton National Park and the rest of Jackson Hole.

“I think a lot of artists do,” said Caswell. “Probably the top wildlife artists in the United States gather here to show their work.”