See the Leanin’ Tree Museum Collection While You Still Can!
Paintings from Leanin’ Tree Collection to be Auctioned Off in Scottsdale January 2018
The Leanin’ Tree Museum of Western Art will officially close its doors this Sunday, September 3, 2017. The museum and greeting-card factory, both founded by Ed Trumble, are located at 6055 Longbow Drive in Gunbarrel (between Longmont and Boulder.)
If you are an art lover and find yourself anywhere near Boulder, Colorado you owe it to yourself to see the collection all together before it is dispersed through the auction process.
The museum has an extensive collection of both traditional western art and contemporary works. Paintings are mostly oils, but also include casein on paperboard and some acrylics. Subject matter includes humorous cowboy art that we often associate with the Leanin’ Tree greeting card brand. But don’t think that is all to this collection. Gorgeous wildlife paintings, vast landscapes are also in the museum. Works by and of Native Americans are also prominent.
“Beef and Beans” by Charlie Dye.
When I saw this painting at the 1970 Cowboy Artists of America Annual Show, Charlie asked me what I thought of it. I casually replied that the stovepipe looked a bit stiff and artividial in such a homey scene. He laughed in good-natured agreement. A year later I acquired the painting direct from Charlie. When it was delivered I was surprised to find the pipe had been duly bent and rusted and wisps of smoke were venting from tis battered joints. I couldn’t believe such a renowned and important artist would have taken my remark seriously!
~ Ed Trumble
Art collectors and lovers of southwest and western art will be rejoicing at this news: Scottsdale Art Auction has been hired to sell the more than 500 works from the Leanin’ Tree Museum collection.
This is “The Seal Hunter”, by Bob Kuhn
Catalogs will be mailed out beginning in December. If you are interested in more about this collection, follow Scottsdale Art Auction on Facebook
One room features paintings from small to large of trains by Howard Fogg.
“September Snow”, oil by Larry Fanning, who created many wildlife paintings for Leanin’ Tree. Hard to believe with his delicate sense of color that this artist was actually color blind.
“Rainbow Bridge: Miracle in Stone” by John W Hilton is a classic southwest landscape.
“The Prayer” by Jackson Hensley is less obviously southwestern, but upon further inspection the details in the building and clothing reveal that nature.
“Turquoise Window” by Rod Goebel is a landscape that would be at home in any contemporary art collection.
There are so many gorgeous paintings in this collection. Sadly the large book that was published on the works has sold out, with no plans for a reprint.
The museum displays the private art collection of Ed Trumble, founder of Leanin’ Tree Greeting Cards. Beloved by locals and visitors alike, this free museum has been serving the public for over forty years. At age 92, Mr. Trumble feels that his work with the collection is complete and he wants to see his art find new homes with the next generation of families, collectors and museums. Selling the art and closing the museum will have no effect on the ongoing greeting card business, which is a completely separate entity.
SAA is billed as the Southwest’s largest and fastest growing auction house. Auctions occur annually in the spring in Scottsdale since the first sale in 2005. The 2018 annual auction is set for April 7, 2018.
The Leanin’ Tree art collection will have a special auction January 19-20, 2018.
Scottsdale Art Auction, 7176 MAIN STREET • SCOTTSDALE ARIZONA 85251 • www.scottsdaleartauction.com • 480 945-0225
For details about the Leanin’ Tree Museum, visit their website: http://www.leanintreemuseum.com/
Read the entire article in the Denver Post about the closing of the museum, by John Bear.
Photo credits:
Photo of Ed Trumble: Jeremy Papasso, Boulder Daily Camera file
