Before the Myth Makers is a new exhibition of paintings by Flagstaff artist David Lash. Powerfully drawn to wilderness since childhood, David’s career as a wildlife artist has centered around this passion. In his experience, the wild is not something or some place outside of us, but a vital core of our being.

The exhibition opens alongside Local Color 2016, with an opening reception scheduled for Saturday, April 23, 2016. There will be a Preview Reception for Arts Council members on Saturday, April 16, 2016. Before the Myth Makers will be open Tuesday-Saturday 11am-5pm from April 19 through May 28, 2016.

David Lash’s environmentalism, though often practical and politically based, stems from a deep emotional connection that is inseparable from himself. Lash’s mastery of his craft is evident; his paintings are highly detailed and expertly executed, exuding both intensity and delicacy. His work is exclusively based on the dynamic Southwest terrains and its precious and precarious life.

Although Lash admires the animals and landscapes that are his subjects, he holds no naive nostalgia for his beloved places. The beauty of the wilderness, as represented in his works, is in its unpredictable, mercurial, unharnessed nature which has the power to remind us of these forces within our own psyche. Our rhythms become apparent when we are in touch with the natural world, in its fertile creativity and ultimate compassion, and in its decay, death, and indifference. Lash’s paintings express such fundamental experiences through color, representations of seasons, time, and space. He spends most of his time outside, enjoying his environment by kayaking, cycling, fishing, backpacking, and has lived in the Southwest for over 40 years.

Lash was educated in the fine arts at the University of Arizona. He currently lives in Flagstaff Arizona with his wife and three daughters.

Lash’s artworks are usually done using acrylic on masonite—a special board prepped especially for his unique and expressive style. However, Lash sometimes uses oils, airbrush, canvas, and gold-leaf to get the desired look. He has over 35 years of painting experience, beginning with his study of fine art at the University of Arizona.