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March 29, 2024 12:10 am
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Hot and Dusty Art Show in 2nd Week of Featuring Local Artists

By JENNA RHUDE and NICK YAMASHITA

Moapa Valley Progress

Artist Jd Challenger stands next to his sculpture “We the People.” PHOTO BY JENNA RHUDE/Moapa Valley Progress.

The Lost City Museum hosted its second week of the Hot and Dusty Fine Art Invitational with two more Meet the Artist events last weekend. The Invitational event brings together 13 local artists in a single exhibit showing the best of the Moapa Valley arts community. The exhibit is going on at the museum throughout the month of August.

On Saturday, August 10, world-renown western artist Jd Challenger of Overton was present in the main hall of the museum to meet and greet the public. Challenger is an incredible artist whose focus has been on Native American subjects. Challenger said that he can’t recall when he first found interest in painting. As far back as he can remember he has had a brush or pencil in his hand. With no formal art training at all, his art can be found in museums and universities around the world.

Challenger grew up in Oklahoma. He is quick to point out that he has no Native American blood of his own, but his step-grandfather was a full blood Choctaw. He credits his love and respect of Native Americans to his grandfather. Challenger spent his youth running around with his buddies who also exposed him to Native American traditions. His grandfather taught him how to shoot, bought him his first knife and showed him how to whittle. His fondest memories involve his grandfather.

With that fondness for the Native American culture, Jd longed to become a part of it. He went to his friends, who are mostly Native American and showed them his work. After presenting several pieces to the group, he was given “permission” by Native people present to represent them artistically.

“The world didn’t need another non-Native painting their culture.” Jd said. “Receiving their blessing was life changing for me. It is an honor to paint what I do. Everyone that I have painted or sculpted is a real person. They tell me their story and I try to represent it.”

“I have been very lucky in my career,” Jd added. “I never could have dreamed that me and a paintbrush would be able to accomplish so much.”

Jd credits everything he has in life to the Creator and his wife of 42 years, Denise. “She is my best friend, my rock, the best thing that I have ever done,” he said. “She’s the only one that has never given up on me”

Local artist Lynn Rigoni displays her beautiful watercolor painting entitled Mission at Carmel during her Meet the Artist event held on Sunday at the Lost City Museum. PHOTO BY NICK YAMASHITA/Moapa Valley Progress.

On Sunday, local artist Lynn Rigoni was at the museum from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Her watercolor painting, “Mission at Carmel,” is on display in the exhibit. It features the amazing views of the architectural beauty that the Spanish monks created in Carmel, California, including the amazing Carmel Mission Basilica Museum.

Rigoni stated she has been creating art seriously for about 35 years. She loves all media, but prefers painting including watercolor and pastels. Being originally from Southern California and now a 22-year resident of Moapa Valley, she loves the Hispanic culture and art. In fact, Rigoni has taught art in public schools in Mexico. She even still volunteers her time to go in and help instruct students at schools on painting.

Rigoni highlighted how sad the current status of art and music in schools throughout the U.S. “Art is everywhere!” she said. “It is tragic that its being overlooked.”
Rigoni observed that every career and job has some form of art in it. “You don’t have to speak the language to appreciate art,” she said. “Art is truly everywhere.”

The Hot and Dusty Fine Art show continues throughout the month of August. This weekend Heidi Leavitt will be featured on Friday at 2:00 pm, Janet Trobough on Saturday at 12:00 pm, and Ken Kaylor on Sunday at 11:00 am. The public is encouraged to attend and interact with the artists.

All of the events are free with regular museum admission. Admission is $5 for adults and free for children under 17. Family memberships are available which allow members to enter the museum and all of these events for free.

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