THANKS LYNDSAY

Lyndsay, thank you for giving me a start in the art world. I will always appreciate you for that. In December, 2004, Ed and I had a show together at Jackson Street Gallery, owned by Lyndsay McCandless. It was a dream come true for us. We had talked for years about one day having a show together. This was my first. We hosted a series of "Collectors' Salons" over four evenings, inviting friends and Jackson Street Gallery collectors to enjoy wine and hors d'oeuvres, listen to a short program on photography and plein air painting, and see our work. It really was a lot of fun. Lyndsay's gallery is now called Lyndsay McCandless Contemporary. "Collectors' Salons" have evolved into "First Fridays." I wish her continued success. 12/1/04 PLANET JACKSON HOLE, Art Observatory "Riddells host salons, reception at Jackson Street Gallery" by Tammy Christel Jackson Street Gallery features new work by Edward and Lee Riddell and a new way to meet and talk with artists this first week of December. Edward and Lee Riddell are well-known Jacksonites, having been in the valley for over 20 years. Ed's photography has been seen in many venues around the valley, most recently at the National Museum of Wildlife Art. The Jackson Street Gallery will highlight his newest black and white images of the Yellowstone region. These are photographs that have never been shown before. Likewise, Lee's paintings have never been seen in the valley, or anywhere else for that matter. For the last four years she has been immersed in the plein air style of landscape painting, studying with landscape artist Scott Christensen. While adapting his use of a limited palette of colors (all colors are mixed from only three colors), she has acquired a voice of her own. Her landscapes have a contemporary feel with their unique compositions, strong brushstrokes and glowing hues. 12/1/04 JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, STEPPING OUT "Show unveils marriage of complementary hues" by Melanie White Accomplished landscape photographer Edward Riddell will share the limelight with is wife, Lee, in a joint art show this week at Jackson Street Gallery. The show is Lee Riddell's first for her oil paintings, most of which are delicate landscapes and scenes on small canvases. Both will exhibit about 20 pieces in separate rooms, although, as gallery director Lyndsay McCandless said, their work is "very complementary." "I'm showing them together because they are married, but also because both do landscapes, Ed through black and white and Lee through her color," she said. The couple, who have been married for 27 years, usually travel and work together, and so their subjects often overlap. Lee Riddell kept watercolor journals of their travel adventures and whitewater canoe trips until about four years ago, when she switched to oils. She has been plein air oil painting in earnest since then, focusing on local scenes and natural subjects like clouds. "I was a little bit nervous about having a show with Ed. He's quite accomplished," she said. "He's helped me a lot with my work." Edward Riddell is thrilled to see several years of planning with his wife come to fruition. "It is so cool to be doing this with my wife," he said. "Lee and I have always talked about doing a show together. I finally came to the conclusion she was ready to show, and she agreed." The salons are a "new way of presenting work, because being able to talk to the artist makes such a difference in the appreciation of seeing what's there and in understanding the work," McCandless said. "I would like this to become a bigger tradition," McCandless said, "because with artists who are new to Jackson, it's a great opportunity for people to learn more about the art and the artists." Review in "Stepping Out" of the Jackson Hole News&Guide is ©Jackson Hole News&Guide, all rights reserved, used with permission. Review in "ArtObservatory" of Planet Jackson Hole is ©Planet Jackson Hole, all rights reserved, used with permission.