WINTER/SPRING 2016 VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 1
Jackson Sundown Nez Perce Broncho Buster
A QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION FOR MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL COWBOY & WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM ®
IMAGE COURTESY OF DICKINSON RESEARCH CENTER
Jackson Sundown
Nez Perce Broncho Buster
By Kim Roblin, Curator of Archival and Photographic Collections, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
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tereotypes often plague the American West. Outlaws and lawmen. War bonnets and Winchesters. Cattle drives and wagon trains. None, however, is more engrained than cowboys & Indians. For decades, they have dueled on the pages of books, the big and small screens of cinema and television, and in backyards and Jackson Sundown, ca. 1910. schoolyards across the United States and beyond. But this common phrase and theme promotes a false distinction. They were not always at odds, and cowboys and American Indians were not, and are not, mutually exclusive terms. The truth is far more complex and diverse than imagination or mythology would suggest. Let’s look to the Museum’s logo at the right for an example. At first glance it seems straightforward. Punctuated with a hat, bandana, buckle and chaps, the cowboy stands in the foreground with the mountains and sky rising behind. Most visitors do not realize a real person inspired this image. Even fewer know he was Jackson Sundown was the inspiration for the Museum’s logo. Jackson Sundown, the famous Nez Perce broncho buster. Born in the 1860s, Sundown spent his childhood on and around horses. As a young adult, he saw the conflict between his tribe and the federal government erupt in the Nez Perce War of 1877. Surviving the Battle of Big Hole, despite his wounds, he lived for a time in Canada before returning and settling on the Flathead Reservation in Montana. He quickly gained a reputation for his riding skills and began competing locally until trying his hand at the Pendleton RoundUp. Although already in his late 40s, he bested many of the younger entrants and reportedly rode some broncs until they surrendered into complete standstills. This talent, combined with his showmanship and orange, angora chaps, made him a crowd favorite and endeared him to his competitors. Yakima Canutt called him a great man—well respected, friendly, proud and intelligent. With grit and determination, he rode at Pendleton year after year, coming close but never winning the coveted title. Finally in 1916, somewhere in his 50s, Sundown rode Casey Jones, Wiggles and Angel to victory and became the first Native American Broncho Buster of the World. He accepted the prize saddle and announced his retirement. The world champion spent his later years teaching his skill to children on the reservation, while also posing for artists and photographers. The barrier he broke in 1916 still resonates today. In celebration of Native American Heritage Month and the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, we remember Jackson Sundown. He challenged the perceptions and definitions of identity. He demonstrated that people are multi-faceted and not one dimensional. He was not a Nez Perce or a cowboy. He was a Nez Perce and a cowboy.
Explore the West Experience the West and explore it’s people, places, and history. Scan the QR code at left or visit www.nationalcowboymuseum.org/explore-the-west
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY CAROLYN SEELEN
Welcome! Dear Museum Member, We are pleased to introduce to you the newest informational piece created specifically for our Museum members. Formerly known as Traditions/Transitions, we hope you will see in Find Your West an easier look and layout, one that lends itself to a clearer understanding of the Museum through short vignettes on some of our storied collections, a calendar of events regarding an expanding exhibition and programmatic lineup, and information on exclusive member offerings specific to The Museum Store, educational opportunities, and more. As the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum strives to meet a broader visitor expectation, it is our loyal membership base who guide us most in our efforts to provide new and exciting ways to see the West — a place of tremendous beauty, history, culture, and innovation. We hope that this new “look” will help you find the West you always knew and, hopefully, one you’ve just discovered. Thank you so much for your continued support of this great institution! All the best, Steven M. Karr, Ph.D., President and CEO National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
Museum Partners
E.L. and Thelma Gaylord FOUNDATION
Major Support
Community Partners
The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is a participating member of the Museums West Consortium
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IMAGE COURTESY OF DICKINSON RESEARCH CENTER
Visit Us
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum ®
1700 Northeast 63rd Street • Oklahoma City, OK 73111 • Free Parking (405) 478-2250 • www.nationalcowboymuseum.org
Museum Hours
Open daily 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day
Admission
Adults $12.50 • Seniors (62+) $9.75 • Student with valid ID $9.75 Children (6-12) $5.75 • Children (5 and under) Free
Museum Store Open Daily 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. The Museum Store has something for everyone. From books and bronzes, to toys and children’s apparel, to Native American jewelry and Western Wear, you are sure to find something for everyone on your list! Visit or shop online today: www.store.nationalcowboymuseum.org.
Facility Rentals
The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is the perfect site for any special event. You and your guests can enjoy a day or evening in one of the Nation’s premier museums. Whether in the Sam Noble Special Events Center, the S.B. “Burk” Burnett Board Room, Prosperity Junction, Richardson Theater or on the Western States Plaza, a beautiful outdoor setting, the Museum provides an atmosphere that is second to none. For more information, please contact Elizabeth Latta at (405) 478-2250 ext. 256 or elatta@nationalcowboymuseum.org. 4
CLASSES for Adults & Children The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum® offers educational opportunities for all levels of learning in different media. The Museum’s goal is to encourage and instruct a broad audience, to give them the tools and information to elevate their expectations and achieve their dreams. For reservations, see descriptions below. January 9 • Saturdays for Kids: Bolo Ties 10:00 a.m. – Noon Did you know the State of Oklahoma issued a proclamation stating October 2015 – May 2016 is to be Bolo Tie Days? Bolo ties represent the casual and somewhat rugged nature of the West. Traditionally thought of as Cowboy attire, Native American jewelers brought creativity to this art form. Come out and make your own bolo tie in preparation for the opening of Native American Bolo Ties: Vintage and Contemporary Artistry which celebrates and explores the history of the bolo! Free for children and accompanying adults. Reservations are requested by noon, January 8; call (405) 478-2250 ext. 264.
February 6 • Saturdays for Kids: African American History 10:00 a.m. – Noon Take part in a program focusing on the accomplishments and contributions of African Americans in the American West. A gallery guide will be provided to seek out interactive educational stations where you will be able to learn additional information about African American Western figures and take part in a project. Free for children and accompanying adults. Reservations are requested by noon, February 5; call (405) 478-2250 ext. 264.
February 9 – 12 • Rawhide Braiding 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. In cooperation with the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association, the Museum presents a hands-on workshop providing many practical solutions for rawhide braiding. Instructors: TCAA members Nate Wald and Leland Hensley Skill level: Beginner to intermediate Tuition: $400, Museum Members $380, supply list provided. Advance reservations required; call (405) 478-2250 ext. 277.
February 9 – May 3 • Tuesday Tours 2:00 p.m. Every Tuesday through May 5, the Museum hosts gallery tours of select exhibitions. These gallery tours begin at 2:00 p.m. and are approximately 45 minutes in length. Tours meet at Canyon Princess (the marble cougar in the west hallway) and proceed into the gallery. Free with Museum admission.
February 13 – May 7 • Saturday Tours 10:30 a.m. Every Saturday through May 7, the Museum hosts gallery tours of select exhibitions. These gallery tours begin at 10:30 a.m. and are approximately 45 minutes in length. Tours meet at Canyon Princess (the marble cougar in the west hallway) and proceed into the gallery. Free with Museum admission.
March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 (Tuesdays) • Still Life Painting in Oils 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. With still life as the subject matter, this course focuses on painting in the chiaroscuro tradition by way of “alla prima,” or working wet into wet. The focus will be to achieve the maximum amount of depth and brilliancy of light, maintain rich color and achieve a sense of air in the painting. A look at the masters of chiaroscuro painting, both past and present, will allow for discussions on effective design. Students will work on a new painting every two weeks. Instructor: Museum Small Works, Great Wonders artist Kelli Folsom Skill level: Beginner to advanced painters Tuition: $100, Museum Members $90, supply list provided. Advance reservations required; call (405) 478-2250 ext. 277. ®
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March 5 • Saturdays for Kids: Silhouette Collage 10:00 a.m. – Noon Pay respect to the important women who have helped shape children’s lives by doing a photographic silhouette collage in their honor. Bring copies of photographs of the women who are important to you to create a personal piece of art. If you do not have photographs, images of notable women throughout history will be available for use. Free for children and accompanying adults. Reservations are requested by noon, March 4; call (405) 478-2250 ext. 264.
March 14 – 15 • Weaving Demonstration 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Navajo weaver Rose Blue Eyes will return for a limited engagement to demonstrate her woven works of art. Rose carries on a family legacy of creating beautiful weavings in the Two Grey Hills tradition. Free with Museum admission.
March 14 – 18 • Spring Break Activities 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. It’s spring break for Oklahoma schools! Youth visiting the Museum can enjoy a make-and-take activity (while supplies last). Free with Museum admission.
EVENTS & EXHIBITIONS
For reservations, where noted, please contact the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum at (405) 478-2250 ext. 219, or visit www.nationalcowboymuseum.org.
Through May 8, 2016 • Revision: Contemporary Navajo Weavings from the Pam Parrish Collection This exhibition showcases 22 of the more than 60 major Navajo weavings donated to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum over the past three years by Pam Parrish. Represented in the exhibition are examples of Two Grey Hills, Teec Nos Pos, Yei, Storm Pattern, Wide Ruin, Ganado and Sampler weavings by some of the top contemporary weavers of the late 20th century including Edith John, Nora Shorty, Rena Begay and Larry Nathaniel. Location: Kerr Gallery
February 5 – May 8 • Native American Bolo Ties: Vintage & Contemporary Artistry
COURTESY OF THE HEARD MUSEUM
Arizona’s official state neckwear, the bolo tie, has reappeared from its exile in grandpa’s dresser drawer to enjoy a fashion comeback. Explore this uniquely Western sartorial adornment’s history and revival in a wonderful and fun new exhibit. The bolo ties included come from the Heard’s permanent collection of more than 170 bolo ties and from the promised gift of Chicago collector Norman L. Sandfield. His collection consists of more than 1,000 bolo ties, scarf slides and ephemera, many of which will be on display. Location: Kerr Gallery This exhibition was made possible by the Virginia M. Ullman Foundation, and organized by the Heard Museum, Phoenix, Arizona.
February 5 – May 8 • Riding the Whirlwind: Weather in the West The continued discussion of the Western drought in the media has brought about a heightened awareness of the importance of weather in our lives and in this unique environment. This highly interactive exhibit will focus upon the way the rugged weather conditions of the Western U.S. has influenced and shaped — and continues to shape — Western heritage. The often brutal environment of this region with its dramatic blizzards, violent thunderstorms, floods, droughts, tornadoes and hurricanes, has shaped the history of the West. Location: Kerr Gallery
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National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
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January February March 2016
February 5 – May 8 • The Cowboy Returns: Photographs by Bank and John Langmore The Cowboy Returns: Photographs by Bank and John Langmore is a nationally traveling exhibition organized by the Briscoe Western Art Museum. The exhibit shows an intimate view of the cowboy over two generations in a collection of 100 black-and-white plus color photographs. The images depict the iconic cowboy’s gritty reality of working and living in the American West. The exhibit includes select work from Bank Langmore—considered a preeminent photographer of the American cowboy in the 1970s — and his son, John Langmore, a celebrated artist in his own right, who spent the last three years photographing many of the same people and ranches his father documented over 40 years ago. Location: West Hallway
February 19 – May 8 • Philip R. Goodwin: America’s Sporting & Wildlife Artist, A Private Collection Philip R. Goodwin was a precocious child, painting and drawing from a young age, and by 11, had sold his first illustrated story to Collier’s. He studied at the Rhode Island School of Design, the Art Students League in New York City, the Drexel Institute in Philadelphia, as well as under famed illustrator Howard Pyle at the Howard Pyle School. At the age of 22 he illustrated Jack London’s Call of the Wild as well as posters, calendars, and other advertisements. He was an avid sportsman and outdoorsman and befriended Charles Russell, N.C. Wyeth, Carl Rungius, Theodore Roosevelt, Will Rogers and Ernest Seton Thompson. Rungius taught Goodwin an appreciation for hunting in order to become closer to wildlife subjects. Traveling on many sketching expeditions together, Goodwin influenced Russell’s painting techniques and use of color. Location: Kerr Gallery
Save The Date
Mark your calendar for these upcoming events and exhibits:
Western Heritage Awards®
April 15 − 16, 2016
Annual Chuck Wagon Festival
May 28 − 29, 2016
Prix de West® Invitational Art Exhibition and Sale
June 10 − 11, 2016
National Day of the American Cowboy
July 23, 2016
Attend An Event For complete Museum calendar, scan this QR Code or visit www.nationalcowboymuseum.org/calendar
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MEMBER-ONLY PROGRAMS: Experience the Museum with exclusive access
We encourage members to take part in an array of new programming options exclusively available for them, including special gallery talks, lectures and exhibit previews. Space for each event is limited. For reservations, please contact Trent Riley at (405) 478-2250 ext. 251 or triley@nationalcowboymuseum.
January 12 • Curator Talk: Spiro Mounds 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. The Spiro Mounds, located on the bend of the Arkansas River in Eastern Oklahoma, is the only prehistoric, Native American archaeological site in Oklahoma open to the public. From the site, the prehistoric Spiro people created a sophisticated cultural epicenter that housed an extensive trade network, a highly developed religious center and a political system which controlled the entire region. Yet much of the Spiro culture is still a mystery, as well as the reasons for the decline and abandonment of the site. Join the Museum’s Curator of Ethnology Eric Singleton for a lecture where he will discuss the prehistoric site and the people who once called it home. This offering will be capped at 40 members and RSVPs will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Location: Dub & Mozelle Richardson Theater
February 4 • Exhibition Preview and Reception 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. In what promises to be an unprecedented year of thought provoking and awe inspiring temporary exhibitions, members are invited to join Museum staff and Board Members for an exclusive preview of three distinct yet equally powerful representations of the West. The impressive lineup of shows, Native American Bolo Ties: Vintage and Contemporary Artistry, The Cowboy Returns: Photographs by Bank and John Langmore, and Riding the Whirlwind: Weather In The West, is already receiving much attention for their unique views of life in the past, present and future of the American West and Museum members have the chance to view them all in one special night. Join us for this unique celebration and preview these three great exhibitions before they open to the general public. Location: Kerr Gallery
March 8 • Film: Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (Western Heritage Award® Winner, 2008) 1:00 – 3:30 p.m. The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Western Heritage Awards were established to honor and encourage the legacy of those whose works in literature, music, film and television reflect the significant stories of the American West. In anticipation of the 2016 ceremonies, join the Museum for a viewing of the 2008 Western Heritage Award winning film Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. Based on a book by the same title, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee chronicles the displacement of the American Indian as the U.S. expanded West. This offering will be capped at 50 members and RSVPs will be taken on a first come, first-served basis. Location: Dub & Mozelle Richardson Theater
Join & Give To learn how to become a Museum member, scan the QR code at right or visit www.nationalcowboymuseum.org/join-give/ become-member/
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The Rodeo Historical Society (RHS) is a long-standing support organization of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum速 in Oklahoma City and its members play a significant role in the preservation of professional rodeo history. Established
R od e o Ha l l of Fa me
in the early 1960s, this group welcomes rodeo enthusiasts from around the world to support a myriad of rodeo programs with annual membership dues, donations and participation at major events.
Learn more about RHS and become a member by visiting
New Year New You Start fresh this year with new items at The Museum Store
www.store.nationalcowboymuseum.org
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Keep up with all of the Museum happenings, scan the QR code above to go to the Museum social media center or visit www.nationalcowboymuseum.org/connect
Stay Connected
A QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION FOR MEMBERS OF 速 THE NATIONAL COWBOY & WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM
1700 Northeast 63rd Street Oklahoma City, OK 73111
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Desert Timeline by Steve Kestrel, 2014 Prix de West 速 Purchase Award Winner