Kevin Kehoe – Heber Valley Life

Art Heals

HVL Staff — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 15:54:08 +0000

Heber’s Kevin Kehoe Simple Beauty Gallery announced it will partner with Liberty Sanctuary, a premier Utah equine non-profit sanctuary, by donating 10 percent of sales made this November to Liberty Sanctuary to support its efforts to save equines from the slaughter pipeline. The collaboration will culminate with an Open Gallery Day on Small Business Saturday, November 25, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with special programming as follows:

Open Gallery Day Schedule

1 p.m. Horsemanship Talk with Trevor Howard, Director of Liberty Sanctuary’s

Training Team

Trevor will share stories about his unique approach to building trusted relationships between human and horse and talk about the success Liberty Sanctuary is having rehabilitating its rescues.

2 p.m. Private studio tour by artist Kevin Kehoe

- Kevin Kehoe will give a tour of his private painting studio which is upstairs from the Simple Beauty Gallery in Heber’s Old Firehouse Building. He’ll share stories about his artistic journey and the relationship between his painting career and fine art photography.

4 p.m. Drawing for Private Sanctuary Experience & Chester Wine’s Sparkling Wine

- All gallery visitors on Small Business Saturday who are over 21 will receive a complimentary entry form to win a private experience at Liberty Sanctuary. The winner and up to five guests will get to watch and learn from Trevor Howard as he works with one of the Sanctuary’s ambassador horses. They will also receive a personalized tour of the Sanctuary, meeting the rest of the Sanctuary’s 28 equine rescues and learn of the progress that has been made since April when the Sanctuary began rescue missions.

Kevin Kehoe Simple Beauty Gallery is located in Heber City at The Old Heber Firehouse, 37 East 100, North.

Artist Kevin Kehoe said, “Liberty Sanctuary and the Simple Beauty Gallery were both founded in 2023 with a reverence for nature and its majestic beauty. We’re proud to partner with Liberty Sanctuary for our first Small Business Saturday. It’s a fitting way to give back to protect these majestic animals that so wonderfully inspire my work.” As part of this November collaboration, Kehoe will make an original oil painting of Heber Valley horses from his personal collection available for purchase. He added, “I’ve never owned a horse, but they’ve always owned me.”

“We are grateful for the outpouring of support we have received from our horse-loving community and are honored to partner with the Kevin Kehoe Simple Beauty Gallery for this special event. Kevin’s beautiful fine art photography highlights the magic we find in nature and in the mountains. Purchasing Kevin’s work creates special moments in the home while supporting Liberty Sanctuary’s mission to rescue, rehabilitate and advocate for America’s Forgotten Equines in the slaughter pipeline,” said Debra West, Founder, Liberty Sanctuary.

In addition, Russian River Vineyards, a family and pet-friendly boutique winery with Utah representation will help sponsor Art Heals. Russian River Vineyards generously offers a percentage of Utah sales to support Utah animal rescues through its Chester Wines label, named for the vineyard’s rescue dog.

That “No Quit” Attitude

HVL Staff — Wed, 24 Nov 2021 17:00:49 +0000

Poem By Waddie Mitchell

While gatherin’ cattle near the ruins of a long abandoned homestead,

In the shadows of the mountains, questions swarmed around my mind

Of the people who had claimed there, most forgotten now and long dead.

Still, I wondered what had prompted them to leave their world behind.

Searching for a life uncertain in a vast and rugged region,

Up and leave their home and kin for opportunity to find,

Taking little more to start with than an idea and a reason

And the dream of their succeeding in a future yet defined.

Soon these queries led to more, like why it is that some folks always

Need to push their borders out beyond the furthest milestone

On some never ending quest to find new ways and trails to blaze

And, in the process, stretch the realm of what is built and done and known.

From the little draw above me, in my pard rides with his findin’s,

Throwing his bunch in with mine now shaded up and settled down.

I could see he’d gone through battle for his pony’s sportin’ lather

But his smile claimed he’d made it in with everything he’d found.

The sweat and dust and brush streaks on that pair done heaps o’ speaking

As he pulled up near, dismounted, loosened latigo a bit.

Said “We jumped ‘em in the roughs and would’ve lost ‘em had we weakened

But, I swear, this here caballo ain’t got one half ounce of quit.”

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KEVIN KEHOE, SIMPLE BEAUTY IMAGES

And that “no quit” phrase speaks volumes on one’s character and makin’s

To the cowboy drawin’ wages ridin’ ranges of the West.

Those who have it, you’ll find, usually conquer most their undertakin’s

For the best in them is drawin out when their spirits’ put to test.

Then I spot my cowdogs brushed up stayin’ well hid from the cattle

Knowin’, with a cue, they’d give all to do anything need done

And I thought, then, how the most of us will opt to shun that battle,

Never knowing fully what we could accomplish or become.

Still I believe, like dogs and horses, we’re all born with resolution,

And, like muscles and good habits, it needs use and exercise.

If left dormant it’s in jeopardy of loss to evolution

For eventually it shrivels up in atrophy and dies.

But, when flexed, it blossoms heroes and a source of inspiration

For we recognize the virtues in that “no quit” attitude.

And it proves its attributes in competition and vocation

Which evokes appreciation and a show of gratitude.

And since mankind started walking it’s been swifter, higher, stronger

As if pushed by some deep need to keep their limits unconfined.

Almost thriving, always striving for things bigger, better, longer

In an unrelenting pursuit of perfection redefined.

And, in this world of soft complacence, there’s still a few among the masses

Who will readily give all to see a job or dream fulfilled.

It’s a trait that’s void of prejudice towards races, sex or classes

Just demanding its possessor be of valor and strong willed.

Then, as we point our cattle homeward, letting dogs bring up the rear,

And we leave what’s left of, once, somebody’s hopes and dreams behind,

I’m convinced that “no quit” attitude will always persevere

And that’s the essence and the promise and the crown of humankind.