Gala / Past Galas



  • Auctioneer Alissa Ford fires up the crowd for Logan Maxwell Hagege’s "Wild and Free," which was the 2017 Gala’s co-top gainer at $12,000.

    Auctioneer Alissa Ford fires up the crowd for Logan Maxwell Hagege’s "Wild and Free," which was the 2017 Gala’s co-top gainer at $12,000.

  • Then-board President Carl Jones with his wife, Lin, and daughter, Jolie, at the 2017 Gala. Carl is now chairman of the board.

    Then-board President Carl Jones with his wife, Lin, and daughter, Jolie, at the 2017 Gala. Carl is now chairman of the board.

  • Arturo Chavez, who contributed works to the 2017 and 2019 auctions, enjoys the Jimmy Stadler Band with wife Patricia Duran.

    Arturo Chavez, who contributed works to the 2017 and 2019 auctions, enjoys the Jimmy Stadler Band with wife Patricia Duran.

  • Victoria Addison and Jim Baker of Addison Rowe Gallery discuss the 2017 auction with Alissa Ford, director of Western Art at Heritage Auctions.

    Victoria Addison and Jim Baker of Addison Rowe Gallery discuss the 2017 auction with Alissa Ford, director of Western Art at Heritage Auctions.

  • Patron Hallie Marcotte, with Board Chairman and Vice President Rich Rinehart in background, peruses the 2017 silent auction. Rich is now president of the Foundation.

    Patron Hallie Marcotte, with Board Chairman and Vice President Rich Rinehart in background, peruses the 2017 silent auction. Rich is now president of the Foundation.

  • From left, Greg Nelson, David Cook, and Nat Owings in the silent auction area. Owings Gallery donated works to the 2017 and 2019 Galas.

    From left, Greg Nelson, David Cook, and Nat Owings in the silent auction area. Owings Gallery donated works to the 2017 and 2019 Galas.

  • Rena Rosequist of Mission Gallery, escorted by her son Nicholas Oppenheimer at the 2017 Gala. After her retirement, Rena sold the historic gallery building to the Foundation for repurposing as a research center.

    Rena Rosequist of Mission Gallery, escorted by her son Nicholas Oppenheimer at the 2017 Gala. After her retirement, Rena sold the historic gallery building to the Foundation for repurposing as a research center.

  • Robert and Sherry Parsons cut a proverbial rug. Parsons Fine Parsons Fine Art was a sponsor of the 2017 Gala and 2019 Gala.

    Robert and Sherry Parsons cut a proverbial rug. Parsons Fine Parsons Fine Art was a sponsor of the 2017 Gala and 2019 Gala.

  • Patron Dean Snyder of Denver, left, talks art with Michael Grauer, McCasland Curator of Cowboy Culture at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

    Patron Dean Snyder of Denver, left, talks art with Michael Grauer, McCasland Curator of Cowboy Culture at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

  • Christy Vezolles of Art Value Appraisal and auction item donor Charles King, King Galleries, enjoy the reception.

    Christy Vezolles of Art Value Appraisal and auction item donor Charles King, King Galleries, enjoy the reception.

  • Virginia Couse Leavitt shares a laugh with auction item donor Mark Bahti.

    Virginia Couse Leavitt shares a laugh with auction item donor Mark Bahti.

  • From left, Nedra Matteucci, Marian Ward, auction item donor Tom Harper (background), and John and Carol Carpenter assemble for the 2017 live auction.

    From left, Nedra Matteucci, Marian Ward, auction item donor Tom Harper (background), and John and Carol Carpenter assemble for the 2017 live auction.

  • Foundation patron Tom Azzari shares a laugh with Tim Newton, chairman of the board of the Salmagundi Club.

    Foundation patron Tom Azzari shares a laugh with Tim Newton, chairman of the board of the Salmagundi Club.

  • Some of the Foundation’s magnificent volunteers check in 2017 Gala guests. From left are Charlene Tamayo, Holly Sievers, Ellen Harper, and Sharon Seay.

    Some of the Foundation’s magnificent volunteers check in 2017 Gala guests. From left are Charlene Tamayo, Holly Sievers, Ellen Harper, and Sharon Seay.

  • Couse Foundation Founder Al Olson and his wife, Carol Ann, chat with Thomas Minckler, author of "In Poetic Silence: The Floral Paintings of Joseph Henry Sharp."

    Couse Foundation Founder Al Olson and his wife, Carol Ann, chat with Thomas Minckler, author of "In Poetic Silence: The Floral Paintings of Joseph Henry Sharp."

  • Board Member Tony Skvarla bids on Ben Pease’s multimedia work "The Other Side of Camp."

    Board Member Tony Skvarla bids on Ben Pease’s multimedia work "The Other Side of Camp."

  • Peter Hassrick, director emeritus and senior scholar at The Buffalo Bill Center of the West, engages the audience with a 2017 lecture on "The Studios of J.H. Sharp” at the Harwood Museum of Art, sponsored by the Foundation.

    Peter Hassrick, director emeritus and senior scholar at The Buffalo Bill Center of the West, engages the audience with a 2017 lecture on "The Studios of J.H. Sharp” at the Harwood Museum of Art, sponsored by the Foundation.

  • Taos Mayor Dan Barrone officially opens the renovated studio and permanent exhibition.

    Taos Mayor Dan Barrone officially opens the renovated studio and permanent exhibition.

  • Couse-Sharp Founders Society member Adele Ward, left, enjoys the reception celebrating the 2017 opening of the restored 1915 Sharp Studio with former Board Member Abigail Hornik-Minckler.

    Couse-Sharp Founders Society member Adele Ward, left, enjoys the reception celebrating the 2017 opening of the restored 1915 Sharp Studio with former Board Member Abigail Hornik-Minckler.

  • Davison Koenig, our Executive Director and Curator, introduces some of the craftsmen who restored the Sharp Studio: from left, Larry Apodaca, Ben Martinez, Mike Freebourn, and James Rannefeld.

    Davison Koenig, our Executive Director and Curator, introduces some of the craftsmen who restored the Sharp Studio: from left, Larry Apodaca, Ben Martinez, Mike Freebourn, and James Rannefeld.

  • Taos Pueblo resident Fred Lujan, Jr., displays an old photo at the 2017 Sharp Studio opening as he describes his family’s long association with the Couse family as models and friends.

    Taos Pueblo resident Fred Lujan, Jr., displays an old photo at the 2017 Sharp Studio opening as he describes his family’s long association with the Couse family as models and friends.

  • 2017 Opening attendees enjoy the restored space and the exhibition "J.H. Sharp Studio: The Life and Work of an American Legend."

    2017 Opening attendees enjoy the restored space and the exhibition "J.H. Sharp Studio: The Life and Work of an American Legend."

  • The crowd files in for the first public viewing of the restored studio and exhibition.

    The crowd files in for the first public viewing of the restored studio and exhibition.

  • Texas patron Phil Woodard, University of Oklahoma intern Chelsea Herr, and Taos Pueblo resident Fred Lujan, Jr. discuss the Sharp exhibition.

    Texas patron Phil Woodard, University of Oklahoma intern Chelsea Herr, and Taos Pueblo resident Fred Lujan, Jr. discuss the Sharp exhibition.

  • Live auction during the Fourth Biennial Gala in 2015.

    Live auction during the Fourth Biennial Gala in 2015.

  • Stephen Zick from Christie’s working the room.

    Stephen Zick from Christie’s working the room.

  • Auctioning of Jerry Jordan’s image, "The Taos Magic."

    Auctioning of Jerry Jordan’s image, "The Taos Magic."

  • The Couse Foundation’s hard working Gala volunteers.

    The Couse Foundation’s hard working Gala volunteers.

  • Dr. Dean Porter presenting his lecture at the Harwood Museum of Art before the 2015 Gala.

    Dr. Dean Porter presenting his lecture at the Harwood Museum of Art before the 2015 Gala.

2019 GALA & ART AUCTION WEEKEND
 

Thank you to all the gala attendees, participating auction artists, board members, and volunteers that made our 2019 gala a fantastic success. More than 200 guests enjoyed an elegant evening at El Monte Sagrado Resort in Taos, including cocktail reception, silent auction, live auction, dinner in a tent on the lawn, and musical entertainment and dancing.

 

Live Auction

We were fortunate to again welcome Alissa Ford from Heritage Auctions as our auctioneer for an impressive selection of  Western and regional art, both historic and contemporary.

Represented artists:
- William Acheff (painting)                 - E. Martin Hennings (print)
- Jozef Bakos (painting)                      - Marie Romero Cash (altar screen)
- Randy LaGro (painting)                   - Cara Romero (photograph)
- Kang Cho (painting)                        - Sheldon Harvey (wood sculpture)
- Glenn Dean (painting)                     - Ira Lujan & Kacey Jones (glass sculpture)
- Logan Maxwell Hagege (painting)     - Brett Allen Johnson (painting)
- Jerry Jordan (painting)                      - Gene Kloss (watercolor)
- Barbara Latham (painting)                - Jivan Lee (painting)
- Nicholas Coleman (painting)            -  Donald Barton (painting)
- Ed Smida (bronze sculpture)

Silent Auction

Included carefully curated items such as smaller paintings, prints, gift certificates, books, Native pottery, and more. 
Represented artists:
- O.E. Berninghaus (paper bas-relief)     - Derek No-Sun Brown (drawing)       
- Arturo Chavez (painting)                   - Geoffrey Lasko (lithograph)
- Angie Coleman (woodblock print)     - Earl Stroh (lithograph)
- Medicine Man Gallery (book)            - Jeremy Landau (photograph)
- Gene Kloss (intaglio)                         - Phil Epp (painting)
- Dustin Leavitt (mixed media)             - McTague Appraisers (appraisal gift certificate)
- Jocelyn Martinez (scratchboard)         - Jody Naranjo (Pueblo pottery)
- Dean Porter (watercolor)                 - C. S. Talley (painting)
- Historic Pueblo pottery                    - Aaron Garlick (portrait gift certificate)
- Carla Bogdanoff (weaving)                - Barbara Sparks (photograph & book)
- Chloe Gaillard (painting)                   - Edward S. Curtis (two photo prints)
- Armond Lara (watercolor study)

Custom Cowboy Hardhats

A special silent auction feature this year was an array of cowboy-hat-style hardhats decorated on commission by Derek No-Sun Brown, John Farnsworth, Susan Folwell, Chloe Gaillard, Jerry Jordan, and Ed Sandoval.

Other Events

Throughout Gala weekend, visitors enjoyed other exciting events:
• Friday, June 14, 5-7 p.m. – Wine and hors d'oeuvres reception with “hardhat tours” of our future museum facility that includes The Lunder Research Center. Book signing events with scholars of the Taos Society of Artists. Opening of temporary exhibition Joseph Henry Sharp's Montana in the 1915 Sharp Studio.

• Saturday, June 15: The morning of  June 15 Dr. Marie Watkins presented “So me for the North and snow!”: Joseph Henry Sharp’s Montana at the Harwood Museum of Art. It was a sold-out lecture and drew rave reviews on both scholarly content and entertainment value.

• Sunday, June 16: Special CSHS open house with book launch of Eanger Irving Couse: The Life and Times of an American Artist, 1866-1936, the definitive biography of Couse by his granddaughter Virginia Couse Leavitt; sneak preview of temporary exhibition Taos Pueblo Portraiture: The Photographic Studies of E. I. Couse in the site’s 1835 Luna Chapel, and the permanent rotating exhibition J. H. Sharp: The Life and Work of an American Legend, refreshed this season with artwork, ephemera, and objects from his personal collection.

Proceeds from all events benefited The Couse Foundation and Couse-Sharp Historic Site.

2017 Couse Foundation celebration weekend drew hundreds

Gala Sponsors | Heritage Hotels | Robert L. Parsons Fine Art | Sotheby's

In June 2017, The Couse Foundation hosted a whirlwind weekend of activities including dedication of a monument thanking our founders and the grand opening of the restored J. H. Sharp Studio, crowned by our Fifth Biennial Gala and Art Auction the evening of June 10.

“We are delighted with the enriching and enjoyable experience we were able to provide to hundreds of art lovers,” said Davison Packard Koenig, the Foundation’s executive director and curator.

“In addition, the Gala proved to be our most successful fundraising event ever. We are deeply grateful to the artists and businesses who made our auctions the talk of the town, to our many dedicated volunteers, and to our generous bidders and donors,” Koenig said.

The public festivities began Friday evening with the preview opening of the J. H. Sharp Studio: The Life and Work of an American Legend, a permanent rotating exhibition in the just-restored 1915 studio. The exhibition covers Sharp’s artistic career and includes works of art, correspondence, and Native American artifacts that he collected and which appeared in his paintings.

Saturday morning, a standing-room-only crowd at the Harwood Museum of Art in Taos enjoyed a lecture on The Studios of J. H. Sharp. Peter Hassrick, director emeritus and senior scholar at The Buffalo Bill Center of the West, regaled attendees with fascinating stories of the artist’s process.

The gala evening of elegance at El Monte Sagrado Resort featured a wine and hors d’oeuvres reception, silent and live auctions, and a gourmet dinner and dancing with music by the Jimmy Stadler Band. More than two dozen participating artists included Tony Abeyta, Maura Allen, Clyde Aspevig, Arturo Chavez, Josh Elliott, Victor Goler, Logan Maxwell Hagege, Jerry Jordan, Ben Pease, Kevin Red Star and Ed Smida. The Couse Foundation was fortunate to have Alissa Ford, director of Western Art at Heritage Auctions, as auctioneer.

On Sunday, Taos Mayor Dan Barrone cut the ribbon for the grand opening of the Sharp Studio. Dozens of guests from the local and regional community had the opportunity to see the new jewel among the many gems of Taos history and art.

Many thanks to Tony Donaldson for donating his time, energy, and expertise as the Foundation's official photographer at the weekend's events. All the photos in the following galleries are credited to Tony Donaldson.

Gala 2017 photo gallery

Lecture and Sharp Studio opening gallery

 

Past Galas

 

The Couse Foundation biennial gala and art auction has been held at El Monte Sagrado in Taos since 2009. In addition, we have hosted prestigious lecturers the same weekend as the gala for the entertainment and edification of our guests. Our speakers have been:

2019 – Marie Watkins, PhD, presented “So me for the North and snow!”: Joseph Henry Sharp’s Montana

2017 - Peter Hassrick, Director Emeritus and Senior Scholar, Buffalo Bill Center of the West, on "The Studios of J.H. Sharp"

2015 - Dean A. Porter, Ph.D., noted researcher, author and painter, on "Taos Society of Artists: the Why and the When"

2013 - Byron Price, Director, Charles M. Russell Center, University of Oklahoma

2011 - Sally King, Curator of Art for the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad

2009 - Stuart Ashman, Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs