H. David Wright Winner of Two Prestigious Eiteljorg Awards

Again this year, Tennessee artist H. David Wright entered three paintings in the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art in Indianapolis "Quest For The West Art Show and Sale". Wright, a celebrated painter of the American west and frontier and Civil War, was among fifty of the country's most famous painters and sculptors participating in the annual show in early September.

It was especially rewarding that the painting that I personally feel is one of my best, “The Captives,” won two coveted awards, the “Victor Higgins Work of Distinction for the Best Individual Work” and the “Patrons’ Choice Award.” Mr. Wright was the only artist who was honored with two awards.

169 exceptional new works of the American west and Native Americans were presented, drawing praise and acclaim from critics, patrons and guests. Record numbers of representatives of famous galleries, museums and collectors from around the world attended this annual show to review the new works and to add them to collections. The Eiteljorg contains one of the finest Native American and western art collections in the world, including traditional and contemporary art by Frederick Remington, Charlie Russell, Thomas Moran, Albert Bierstadt, Georgia O'Keefe, Andy Warhol, Howard Terpning, the Taos Artists, and Mr. Wright.

In the 2007 "Quest" show, Wright was honored with the celebrated "Harrison Eiteljorg Purchase Award" for his painting "Uninvited Visitors." That outstanding oil painting has been on display at the Museum Gund Collection entrance for the last year and is now a part of the permanent collection.

The 36" x 48" oil painting captures a compelling, if horrific, scene where young people have been kidnapped by Native Americans and are being transported to a fateful location. "This is a painting," said Wright, "that is very meaningful to me. It describes a scene that unfortunately often beset settlers during the westward expansion of our country. The conclusion is left to the viewer, but it is ominous. The painting is also one of my personal favorites. As history, the story I tried to depict is dramatic and arresting, as symbolism, it presents a range of involving elements, and as technique, it fulfilled my rigorous objectives. I've tried to draw the viewer into the subject matter in a compelling and lasting way."

The "Quest for the West" show opened to the public on September 7th and will run through October 5th. The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art is located at 500 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, Indiana. Website: Eiteljorg.org.

David Wright's paintings can be seen on his website, David Wright Art.