The opera follows a circle of bohemian-like artists and friends while they traverse life and love.

One of the artists, Marcello, is a temperamental painter struggling to find success during a cold winter in 1830s Paris.

During one scene, Marcello is painting his vision of the Red Sea onto a canvas. These paintings are typically props during productions of “La Boheme,” but in the case of the Western Plains Opera’s production, the paintings are real and unique.

Dr. Emerson Eads, assistant professor of music and director of Choral Activities at Minot State University, knew he wanted to collaborate with Piehl the moment he saw his work.

These two paintings by artist Walter Piehl will be on stage during the Western Plains Opera’s production of “La Boheme” as props for a starving artist character.

“Walter’s stuff touched me, so I’ve been after him yearly,” Eads said about pursuing Piehl for a collaboration with the Western Plains Opera.

Eads asked Piehl if he would be willing to supply real paintings for the production of “La Boheme” and explained to Piehl the character Marcello’s biblical allusion, of which the paintings were to be based around.

“I said, ‘Yeah, well, I can do something like that. But then I got to thinking about it, and wondered if he would let me do something that had sort of a Western Americana look,” Piehl said about Eads’ request.

Piehl’s work can be described as contemporary Western art, and Piehl himself has been credited as a founding artist of the contemporary cowboy art movement.

“So I said how ’bout instead of the children of Israel fleeing the Egyptian army and the chariots, how ’bout I do a cowgirl running away,” Piehl said. The cowgirl Piehl described was riding horseback away from a red wave about to crash down on her.

Walter Piehl speaks about the Western Americana twist he gave the subject matter of the paintings for the upcoming “La Boheme” opera production.

“He thought it was a good idea. So I started and I did a sketch for him and I started painting. Then my wife, Becky, said, ‘Well you know, you really should have barrels behind her. She should be a barrel racer,'” Piehl said. “I said, ‘Man, that’s a stretch but it’s good.'”

Piehl asked Eads what he thought about a barrel racing cowgirl riding away from the Red Sea and Eads thought the idea was fantastic.

“I really found out something about opera people. They’re not stuffy,” Piehl said. Piehl gave the Western Plains Opera credit for being accepting and enthusiastic of his wild ideas.

“I would like to do three or four more. I might get a good handle on really what to do, but it was a bit of an experiment on my part as well,” Piehl said.

The paintings were unveiled at the Encounters with Opera event held Wednesday at MSU’s Hartnett Hall, with Piehl in attendance. Cast members of “La Boheme” performed a few select pieces from the opera and answered questions about the upcoming production.

Audin Rhodes/MDN Walter Piehl, left, gives Dr. Emerson Eads the framed sketch he made before creating the larger paintings for “La Boheme.” The sketch is a gift from Piehl to Eads in honor of their collaboration.

Piel’s paintings will be on stage for the two performances of “La Boheme” at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 6 and 7, in Ann Nicole Nelson Hall at MSU.