The SLOPOKE Art of the West Exhibition is getting ready to present its 11th annual show Sept. 24-26 at Flag Is Up Farms, a 100-acre horse ranch in Solvang. The live art show celebrates the American West, its scenery, wildlife, ranch life and history, and offers guests the opportunity to meet the artists.

Renowned sculptor Christopher Slatoff will serve as the guest artist and jurist for the SLOPOKE 2021. Slatoff, best known for monumental sculpture (including at USC, Pepperdine University, and Our Lady of the Angels cathedral in Los Angeles) will participate in a live Duelling Sculptors demonstration with his studio assistant Elisabeth Pollnow, where each artist will sculpt the other.

Dueling Sculptors will be at 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Additional featured artists include Naomi Brown, Tom Burgher, Alexi Fine, Kristen Freeborn, Arsenio Frontela, Errol Gordon, Michael Hansen, Carol Hartman, Kelly Hine, Patty Hughes, Doreen Irwin, Teresa Lynn Johnson, Kasia Kaznocha, Sheryl Knight, Chuck Kovavcic, Dino Mehaffie, Linda Nelson, Amy Rattner, Sharlene Rayl, Pat Roberts, Janice Schultz, Dottie Stanley, Tara Rose Toner, Ami, Lynn Usrey, Phyllis Waltman, Sarah Webber, and Jody Wiggins.

For details about each artist are on the website here.

Awards are given for various categories in art and sculpture. SLOPOKE strives to accommodate the changing tastes and interests of the Central Coast contemporary and Western art market. Awards to be presented this year include Best Figurative Art (sponsored by Western Art Collector Magazine); Best Wildlife Art (sponsored by Art of the West Magazine); and Artists Choice Award (sponsored by Western Art and Architecture Magazine).

Also, the SLOPOKE Silver Belt Buckle Awards will be awarded for Best in Show, Best Sculpture, and Best Painting. New for 2021 is that guests will be able to buy souvenir SLOPOKE silver belt buckles to commemorate this year’s show; details available at the event.

SLOPOKE, an open-air event, will be in compliance with all current county health guidelines. Guests will receive complimentary SLOPOKE souvenir bandanas and a curated art book featuring this year’s art showcase.

Artist receptions and awards ceremonies will be held 5:30-7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24; 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 25; and 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 26. Flag Is Up Farms is at 901 E. Highway 246.

SLOPOKE tickets are on sale now, click here to purchase. For full details and the latest news and event developments, visit www.the-slopoke.com.

To learn how to participate in next year’s show, contact Tom Burgher at [email protected] or 805-570-8088.