The Art of Waugh

Staff Report

Saratoga native Jamie Waugh was announced by the Platte Valley Arts Council (PVAC) as one of six artists selected to create a piece of art as part of the nonprofit's public art display project in a recent press release from the organization.

Waugh has a background in fine arts with work which reflects the harsh terrain, bitter elements, and the undisciplined inhabitants one encounters on the backroads of southern Wyoming.

Waugh will paint an 8 foot by 30 foot mural on the side of the Sage Motel in Saratoga. It will feature a cowboy's torso and arms leaning against a barbed wire fence with an old hat hanging further along the fence line.

"My painting will be heavy in a theme we are all well versed in," Waugh said. "The dedicated inhabitants of the Platte Valley who maintain the slow, hardworking lifestyle we all cherish and strive to protect."

Waugh's mural will also be a nod to the late Chuck Larsen, incorporating a line of his cowboy poetry in the negative space.

"My goal is to create an extremely detailed foreground, while maintaining a simple and vast negative space in the background, mimicking many residents daily lives," Waugh said.  

When complete, Waugh's mural will be an addition to the Platte Valley's public art collection.

PVAC will compensate Waugh and other artists for their talents and the material needed to execute and install the piece of art. Funding for the public art displays comes from grants, business partners, and donations.

The Platte Valley Public Art Project is supported in part by a grant from the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund, Wyoming Community Foundation, the Carbon County Visitors Council, Bridge Street Bargains, and the Wyoming Business Council - Rural Development.

PVAC has identified several locations for the public art displays considering ease of physical access by the public, the willingness of property owners to partner with PVAC for maintenance needs, and the relevance of the artwork to the location.

Once the artists complete their pieces, PVAC will host a Grand Reveal Event at 11am on September 3. A presentation and lunch will be held at the Platte Valley Community Center from 1-4pm. The artists will be available at their pieces to answer questions from the public.

PVAC will also launch a new website highlighting the new public art pieces, existing murals, and other public art in the Platte Valley. The website will include photos, descriptions, artist information, and a map indicating locations. The website will be promoted through the Saratoga - Platte Valley Chamber of Commerce, restaurants and motels, and other public sites. PVAC plans to make the website live by the end of the month.