The first time premier western artist Fred Oldfield created successful art came in the summer of 1934. As retold in Joella Oldfield’s book, Better Than I Deserve, sixteen year old Fred was lying on his bunk after a long day herding cattle, and he began to sketch. First, he drew a bull thistle on the wall and liked it so he followed that by drawing a frame around it, a nail above it and a chain to hang it on.
Soon his brother Dick came in and said, “Why the hell would you waste your time drawing a bull thistle?” Fred was thrilled! Dick recognized the subject. He had validated Fred’s talent. It was the first success of what would become nearly a century of acclaim and love for the work of this homegrown artist.
On June 25, The Fred Oldfeld Western Heritage Center in Puyallup will celebrate twenty years of bringing Oldfield’s art to the community, along with art lessons for children and adults and an astonishing array of activities aimed at building an old west style community in a twenty-first century setting.
Fred Oldfield was born on the Yakama Indian Reservation in 1918, one of nine surviving children born to William and Sophie Oldfield. He came into the world at the time that America was changing from rural to urban, and as he would find out when he drew the thistle, he was born with the ability to capture that change.
Fred was cast in the mold of an “aw shucks, Ma’am” cowboy hero. Think John Wayne with a paint box instead of six guns. Growing up on the Yakama reservation, he had strong ties with the people living there. His paintings of tribal people are often heartbreakingly tender.
His adolescent years were far from idyllic. He wrote of riding the rails with thirty or forty men from the hobo jungles that were common in those days. Fred and big brother Dick jumped on a freight, Fred wrote. “A ‘railroad bull’ (railroad security) riding on the top of the train pulled his coattails back and pulled out and pulled out a pair of six-shooters, and said, ‘Don’t catch’er boys or I’ll shoot.’
“I was remembering all the tales the men had told and I expected to be shot at any minute.” He wasn’t, though. Fred also survived brushes with the “reven’ooers” over bootleg alcohol and other misunderstandings with the law and danger. These stories, mostly documented, are always a shock to those who knew Fred Oldfield. The artist was the epitome of the honest, hard working cowboy, but those were tough times for growing up.
The Fred Oldfield Western Heritage Center is a combination museum and activity Center.
Director Joella Oldfield is anxious to welcome every guest personally, to show exhibits from various stages of Fred’s life. For the 20th Anniversary celebration, there’s a day of free fun and family activities followed by the evening gala: 20 Years of Tunes, Tales and Togetherness. June 25, 5:00 to 8:30 pm in the VIP Tent on the Washington State Fairgrounds at www.fredoldfieldcenter.org.
Part Two, coming soon: Fred Oldfield Makes His First Sale and Wins World War II.
Thank you for providing this interesting portrait of an artist from a bygone era.
I am always pleased to be reminded of this special little corner in Puyallup at the fairgrounds. I remember moving to Tacoma in 1960 and stopping in a little cafe in Fife where I was fascinated with their mural done by a Fred Oldfield. Little did I know then the extent of his talent.
Over the years, one of the musts when going to the fair, has been stopping in at their corner. Then I discovered the annual Wildlife Art Show they put on and have tried to always attend.
This past year, we went and my husband purchased a painting I admired from a talented artist which I now display in my living room. Not only do I enjoy this painting, but it brings up all the memories of the Fred Oldfield place.
It displays many local tribe artifacts. ,as well as gives local artists a chance to share their talent with those of us who only wish we could produce visions of the west.
JoAnn, thank you for your reminiscence about The Fair. It was always fun to go. I used to go every year to demonstrate calligraphy in the Hobby Hall and see what my fellow calligraphers were showing: cards, books, framed pieces, sculptures – all were wonderful. I always enjoyed visiting the Fred Oldfield Museum as well as the fruit and veggie displays, and, always, I visited the pottery and weaving display. I love the Fair and miss the opportunity to go.
Peg Doman
Coming from a farming background, I can relate to the life Mr. Oldfield lived.
When you make your living from the dirt, you’re actually part of it – closer than any urban environmentalist can ever hope to be.
There’s not the luxury of time to ponder such things as gender fluidity or any such fantasy.
A woman does a man’s work but she’s still a woman. A man, well he just works.
The honesty comes out of the fact that there’s no room for the alternative.
I’m sure glad guys like Fred Oldfield captured that way of life so we have a map to get back there.
With modern science and technology handy for emergencies, there’s never been a better time to live a simple rugged life.
Signing-off from the mountains of New Mexico, with my Samsung smart phone.
JoAnn, thank you for your reminiscences about The Fair. It was always fun to go. As a kid, I’d catch the bus out and meet my friends there. One year, I bought a copy of the Blue Boy by Gainsborough, on canvas! I loved it. I was about in 6th grade.
As an adult, I would go to demonstrate calligraphy in the Hobby Hall and see what my fellow calligraphers were showing: cards, books, framed pieces, sculptures – all were wonderful no matter what the level of talent was. The first year I entered a piece, Kathleen Merryman commented in the TNT about its simplicity.
I always enjoyed visiting the Fred Oldfield Museum as well as the flower, fruit and veggie displays, and, always, I visited the pottery and weaving display/workshop near where the Museum is now. I loved the Fair and miss the opportunity to go.
Peg Doman
Dorothy,
Another example of your writing prowess with the series of articles. I look forward to seeing the third installation. You show a warm and generous man and his talent and his growing up. Thank you and keep up the great writing.