Joseph Henry Sharp (American, 1859-1953)
Ditch Workers, oil on canvas, signed JH Sharp (lower left)
20 x 24 inches

This is a depiction of the “arroyo”, or sand wash that was one of the main thoroughfares from Taos Pueblo to the town of Taos. This location is directly behind art patroness and cultural influencer, Mabel Dodge Luhan’s house, and not more than a half mile from Sharps’ home and studio. Sharp’s title “Ditch Workers” is perhaps a reference to the pace of life at the Pueblo in stark comparison to the Anglo drive of commercial progress, and/or perhaps it is a reference to the limited options available to many folks during the Great Depression. Long shadows of morning light give depth to the sage, chamisa and Taos Pueblo people with Taos Mountain in the distance rising to meet the passing clouds. Sharp’s masterful brushworks records a scene of every day life in Taos, now lost to us save for his canvas.

-Davison Koenig, Executive Director/Curator The Couse-Sharp Historic Site Taos, New Mexico

Appears in overall good condition, with some surface dirt throughout. Blacklight reveals no areas of repair or inpainting.

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Maron Hindman

Vice Chair

[email protected]303.825.1855

Maron Hindman is Vice Chair of the Southwest Region at Hindman.

Ms. Hindman meets daily with clients to evaluate personal property and assess current market demand for a range of collecting categories including but not limited to Native American art, artifacts and jewelry, western paintings and bronzes, American and European art, and furniture and decorative arts. She coordinates consignments from individuals, private collections, estates and museums throughout the west and southwest region. She started her auction career at Hindman’s Chicago office, handling bids and client services, eventually serving as the Director of Marketing. Additionally, she is one of the principle auctioneers. After her time at the Chicago branch, Ms. Hindman went on to open the regional auction saleroom in Denver in 2012, expanding the firm’s presence in the West. For over 25 years she has been active and participates as an auctioneer in numerous charity auction events including the U.S. Fund for Unicef, USO, Children’s Home and Aid Society, Easter Seals Greater Chicago, Wellness House and the Brookfield Zoo, Easters Seals Colorado, Up with People, Porter Hospital to name a few.

Katherine Hlavin

Consultant, Fine Art

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Ms. Hlavin joined the firm in June 2017 as Director of Business Development, Western Region, at the Denver location and became a department specialist in 2020. Under her leadership, the Western Art sales in Denver established several sale records. Before joining the firm, she spent seven years working with galleries in Jackson Hole, Scottsdale and Denver. Most recently, she was Gallery Director of Visions West Contemporary in Denver and Jackson Hole. Prior to that, Ms. Hlavin was Director of American & Western Paintings at Altamira Fine Art.

Alexandria Dreas

Specialist, Head of Sale, Western and Contemporary Native American Art

[email protected]303.825.1855

Alex has been working in the Fine Art industry for more than 12 years, including time spent at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Minneapolis Institute of the Arts, and the Denver Art Museum. She has been with Freeman's since 2019 and has headed the Western and Contemporary Native American Fine art Sales since 2021.

Maron Hindman is Vice Chair of the Southwest Region at Hindman.

Arts of the American West

Ditch Workers

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