Look Out Jackson Town

I'm back in San Fran after a long four days in Jackson, WY that were both utterly exhausting and totally inspiring. I've been assisting on an interior design project there, and it's getting a bit closer to completion after months of work. I'm so proud of the project - it has really come together so well! But more than this, I cannot stop thinking about the incredible scenery and charming atmosphere of western Americana that is all around Jackson.

While some of the town's galleries are better than others (as is the case in any tourist town,) the art and antique vendors we worked with were infinite sources of lore, history, craftsmanship, and heritage. I loved learning about Navajo blankets, silver saddles, and vintage rodeo posters. I've always been fascinated with tales from the "old west", and this is one of the best places to go to learn the real stories.

Plus, the town of Jackson is just the cutest thing; everything is named "antler", "cowboy", "roundup", "teton", "bear", "moose", or some other type of western theme word. In classic old-west style, everything is quaintly appointed in wood and stone, but with a few mid-century accents in neon lighting.

Of course, the famous elk antler arches around the Jackson town square are definitely something to see. You almost wouldn't think so, but when you actually take a look, they're overwhelming. Given my love of movies, I fell completely in love with the little Teton Theatre - a short little structure in plain stone and a small marquee, with the ticket booth nestled between the two entrance doors. It's something out of another time. I wanted to put it in my pocket and take it home.

Then, there's the overwhelming beauty of the Teton range. After driving the Moose-Wilson road between the Teton Village and the town of Jackson for a few days, I'm still thinking about the wide-open greenery and sublime nature that composes the view in every direction. One of my favorite daily scenes was a large herd of steer grazing in the high green grass; sometimes they were right near the road, other times so far away that you could hardly see them but for their dots of lush fur in black and caramel. Everywhere you look is a photograph or a painting.

Blue October by Jared Sanders, at Altamira Fine Art

Wyoming is only a few degrees further north than San Francisco, but the light is a whole new world. Every time I went outside I felt the relentless glare of the sunlight - everything is incredibly bright and vivid all around. The air is its own vintage of wine too; pure, sweet, clean-smelling air - they should bottle this air and sell it in New York City. It's absolute ambrosia.

Some of my favorite sights were the many cattle ranches throughout the valley. I love the simple font of classic ranch signs, which lend themselves to the look of graphic branding irons. Someone should write a book on the "fonts of the old west" or something.

Top Side by Duke Beardsley, at Altamira Fine Art.

Jackson is right near the Snake River and many lakes, all the way up to Yellowstone National Park. This makes it the prime location for fly fishing - something I'd love to learn how to do at some point. The Four Seasons had an amazing drift boat waiting at its front door - which is a whole other product I need to learn about! Apparently, companies like Montana Boatbuilders hand craft wooden drift boats which are designed for the very peaceful, zen-like sport of fly fishing. (Okay, so my image of fly fishing is that it's peaceful & zen-like, I could be wrong...) I'm entranced by the beauty and craftsmanship in these boats. You see them being pulled behind trucks all throughout Jackson Hole, so there must be more than a few boat afficionados around there. It's a whole different world of artistry that I'm sure I can appreciate!

It would be nice to know that I could go back to Jackson every so often, just to take in the wild nature, and retro old-west style that's at every turn. Given the way things are up there, I'd like to think that things change only slightly as the years go by. At least I hope so! I simply cannot wait to get back!