The Manyik family holds a special place in the Museum’s heart because not only are all three gifted artists, but each has ties to our Koshare program. Jay and Jeremy were Koshare Indian Dancers from age 11 until they graduated from the program at the age of 18. We were able to woo Jeremy back four years ago to serve as the program director and current Museum curator. He has built the Koshare program back to international prominence, having recently toured and performed in Japan. Their mother Sherry was a Koshare “Mom” for the years her sons participated in the program and was employed by the Museum to create the Artist of the Month series many years ago.
This family of gifted artists has been amazing the art world since Jay and Jeremy (twins) started showing their works in grade school. They often won juried prizes in categories high above their age brackets. Both boys credit their mother with teaching them the basics of painting. The rest of their artistry was self-taught although Jeremy did take several art workshops – the most notable being with famed naturalist artist, Robert Bateman. Jeremy paints in acrylic and oil and his subject matter is of portraits and wild life. Jeremy will also be demonstrating his painting technique on stage with one of his new paintings.
Like his twin brother, Jay also perfected his artistic skills from self exploration and practice, starting when he was quite young. Jay works and resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is best known for his portraits and works mostly in charcoal.
Sherry Manyik is well known throughout the Arkansas Valley and credits her early art training to Mary Iliff Pringle. Sherry raised five children in La Junta. Her twin sons inherited her artistic ability and went on to become favored artists for many patrons in the Southwest. Sherry paints mostly in oil and is known for her still life and landscapes.
The Manyik family will display throughout the month of September and the artists will be at the Museum to meet with the public on Sunday, September 9.
In addition to the Manyik opening, the hundreds of oils and drawings donated to the Museum by artist Ernesto Zepeda will be on display in the Kiva through Sunday September 9.
Patrons are given free admission during the showing on September 9. Because of the Labor Day Holiday, the artists show was moved from the first Sunday of the month. For more information about the artist of the month series or the Zepeda collection, please contact Museum staff at 719.384.4411
