Running wild

Mesteño takes gallery reins from Claude Steelman

Claude Steelman, local photographer, author and gallery owner of Wildshots Gallery, loves being in the wilderness. Unfortunately, the time it takes to run a photography emporium keeps him close to the pavement. By his own admission, Steelman feels more at home in the field on long wilderness treks, scouting vistas and capturing wildlife on film than he does selling his coffee-table books and photos.

His conundrum evolved six years after he gave up being represented by the Open Shutter Gallery to start a gallery of his own. It wasn’t the first time he tried; in 1989 he rented a tiny space above Gardenswartz Sporting Goods store. To his dismay, a gallery located above, rather than on Main Avenue, left much to be desired and it ultimately proved to be a premature career move.

His second attempt came 20 years later, but by that time it was on the street level of Main Avenue and as it turned out, directly across from the Open Shutter Gallery. Wildshots Gallery first occupied what is now “Sticks and Stones” craft and gift store. According to Steelman, it quickly exceeded expectations and before long, he took over the adjoining space so he could display his larger works and also have a studio in the back where he could do his framing and mounting.           

“I did better than I could have imagined,” he says of the gallery’s success. Yet, ironically, within six years, he was ready to move on. “I couldn’t keep up with it,” is how he describes the work load, “Seven days a week; I was burned out.”

Exhibiting, selling and processing an inventory of prints, in some cases up to 900 of the most popular pieces, left him with little time to go into the field and create new work. It’s no surprise then that a year ago he began to think of getting back to what he loves: being in the wilderness among the wildlife and beautiful landscapes that he captures so well.

Putting the word out, asking people he knew, and even some he didn’t, Steelman sought a buyer for the gallery; someone willing to represent him as the exclusive photographer while allowing him to leave the day-to-day behind.

As luck would have it, the answer was right outside his door – quite literally.

Several years ago, Talia Agleppo and her husband, Thom Tamburello, serendipitously met Steelman during a Fiesta Days Parade on Main Avenue. The three discovered a mutual love of wild horses and natural settings. Tamburello, an L.A. filmmaker, screenwriter and actor, first discovered Durango in 1995 on a tour of the Southwest and lived here briefly in 1999. He eventually found the frustrating world of filmdom weighing too heavily on him, and in 2010 the couple decided to move to Durango permanently.

Long after that first chance meeting, Steelman spotted Agleppo outside Wildshots Gallery and got into a conversation about his desire to get back to nature. As if by divine intervention, both she and Tamburello were looking for a business venture, and as of Jan. 1, they became the new owners.        

While neither have experience in the gallery business, they are lovers of art and wildlife. Tamburillo also once owned a thriving business that sold collector vehicles, which could easily be considered art. Agleppo expects her jewelry sales experience to segue into the retailing of various forms of art. Steelman thinks she will be a true asset, “Talia is very personable and is good with people,” he remarked. 

Although they liked the gallery’s original name, the two California transplants wanted to make it their own without straying too far from the concept of “Western” and “wild.” The two settled on “Mesteño” – a word of Mexican origin meaning “mustang” – because of its exotic sound and innate meaning.

Agleppo said she and her husband are thrilled by the synchronistic turn of events. “We feel pretty honored to be associated with Claude,” she said.

In addition to Steelman’s well-regarded photography, Mesteño will showcase a mix of mediums, and the couple plans to display wood and iron work along with jewelry, all in a Southwestern theme. They also are seeking other regional artisans to represent. As for Steelman, he will maintain a presence at the new gallery, but is already planning his much-missed photographic journeys. First up will be the National Wildlife Refuge at Bosque del Apache in New Mexico and then, one of his favorite venues, Yellowstone National Park.

For Durango it is heartening to know we have not lost Steelman as part of the art scene but have gained two advocates of the West and the local business community. Mesteño plans to hold its first exhibit in early spring.