TRADITIONS
transitions
Autumn 2015 Volume 3 Issue 3
Quarterly Communication for Members of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
www.nationalcowboymuseum.org
President's Message
PHOTOGRAPHY BY CAROLYN SEELEN
Welcome! Autumn brings with it great change and anticipation for the Museum staff and many of its patrons — new exhibitions, the beginning of the school year and student tours, important annual events, and much more. In this issue of Traditions/Transitions you will see some changes, too, with an evolving layout, member information, and, significantly, a newly placed Museum calendar. Please spend some time to learn more about the compelling things that lay ahead in the ensuing months. We are pleased to now have on exhibition Revision: Contemporary Navajo Weavings from the Pam Parrish Collection, on display through May, in October, the much anticipated 50th anniversary Cowboy Artists of America show and sale, in consort with the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association, the annual Annie Oakley Society Luncheon, and the always enjoyable Small Works, Great Wonders® Winter Art Sale. We remain grateful for your continued support of our institution and always hopeful that you will find here at the Museum a part of the West most meaningful to you. Steven M. Karr, Ph.D., President National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
Museum News Sharing the Resources PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF JOHN SPENCER
By Mike Leslie, Assistant Director The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is among the institutions that loan items to other museums for specific projects which meet certain professional standards and criteria. It is a way for museums to share their historical, cultural and artistic resources with a much broader public.
Northern Influence on the West
by Carolyn Seelen, Traffic & Graphics Assitant Manager After traveling to Oklahoma City in April to receive their Wrangler at the Museum's Western Heritage Awards, cast members for AMC's "Hell on Wheels" got a reciprocal visit in August to Alberta, Canada. Museum videographers John Spencer and Grant Leatherwood, accompanied by Museum Board member and TCAA officer Mike Nicola, headed north to get a behindthe-scenes look at an episode filming. Besides the opportunity to interview actors Anson Mount and Tim Guinee, they captured footage with the show's producers, costume designer and property master. A visit to the Canadian National Historic Site Bar U Ranch gave them the opportunity to interview the Ranch's former manager, Ken Pigeon, learning about the Ranch's rich history, receiving a tour of the headquarters and a small portion of its 367 acres. Later that same day, TCAA artist Scott Hardy opened his home and studio giving them a firsthand lesson in silver smithing.
From the Arthur and Shifra Silberman Collection, 35 works on paper went to the Maryhill Museum in Goldendale, Washington, for a four-month exhibit, American Indian Painting: Twentieth Century Masters. An additional nine prints from the collection are currently on loan to the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art at the University of Oklahoma for their exhibition Enter the Matrix: Indigenous Printmakers.
On the cover: Looking at Life Through Rose Colored Glasses by Loren Entz, Oil on canvas panel, 16" x 12" Featured in Cowboy Artists of America 50th Annual Sale & Exhibition, October 8, 2015 — Januray 3, 2016
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF DICKINSON RESEARCH CENTER
Mike Nicola, Grant Leatherwood, Anson Mount, John Spencer and Scott Hardy on the set of "Hell On Wheels" in Alberta, Canada.
In the past two years the Museum has received requests for collections being utilized in eight different major exhibitions. A rare 1850s Comanche silver bridle given to the Museum by the Reynolds Cattle Company was included in the Nelson Atkins Museum’s exhibition The Plains Indians: Artists of Earth and Sky, which traveled to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and musée du quai Branly. In addition, the Solon Borglum sculpture Lassoing Wild Horses, donated by M. Knoedler & Co., was exhibited in The American West in Bronze curated by the Denver Art Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Lassoing Wild Horses by Solon Borglum, Bronze
Visit Us
PHOTOGRAPHY BY CAROLYN SEELEN
Museum Partners
E.L. and Thelma Gaylord FOUNDATION
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
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Admission Adults $12.50 • Seniors (62+) $9.75 • Student with valid ID $9.75 Children (6-12) $5.75 • Children (5 and under) Free
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Community Partners
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.
Museum Café Open Daily 11:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Menu items range in price from a delicious soup to a full plated meal, plus a generous buffet to children’s menu. High Tea Trays are available daily.
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.
www.nationalcowboymuseum.org
Museum Calendar October - November - December 2015
CLASSES for Adults & Children
The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum offers educational opportunities for all levels of learning in different mediums. 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.
Saturdays for Kids: Día de los Muertos October 3 10:00 a.m. – Noon
End of the Trail: Popular Icon, Powerful Image October 15 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Take in educational activities in honor of the upcoming holiday, Día de los Muertos, or “Day of the Dead.” Create beautiful papel picados, sugar skulls and Catrinas while learning about the traditions families carry on to remember their loved ones. Free for children and accompanying adults. Reservations requested by noon, October 2.
Celebrate the unique history of this seminal sculpture on the 100th anniversary of its creation. This presentation looks at American artist James Earle Fraser and the stylistic development of the sculpture as well as its impact on popular culture. Visitors have an opportunity to visit the exhibit, End of the Trail: A Centennial Celebration before it closes.
Saturdays for Kids: Native American Heritage Month* November 7 10:00 a.m. – Noon Celebrate Native American Heritage with the Museum by creating authentic crafts, tasting traditional food and more. Free for children and accompanying adults. Reservations requested by noon, November 6.
Christmas Saturdays for Kids* December 5 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Start the day with the Museum’s annual, old-fashioned ornament making. Children will make old favorites such as pine cone birdfeeders as well as new projects for your family tree. Complete a scavenger hunt through select exhibit galleries; meet Western historical figures such as Teddy Roosevelt, Sacagawea and Annie Oakley; sample frontier food; learn about critters found on the Western frontier; enjoy holiday facepainting and more. Bring your Christmas wish list, Santa will be here too! Reservations requested by noon, December 4.
Advanced Inlay and Metal Finishing Techniques** October 6-9 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. In cooperation with the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association, the Museum presents a workshop led by TCAA bit and spur maker John C. Ennis. In-class instruction includes demonstrations and hands-on activities. Students will work on a small project which addresses several silver inlay techniques: wire, sheet, flush and raised inlay. Metal finishing processes including the use of stones also will be covered. Skill level: Intermediate to advanced. Tuition: Members $380; Nonmembers $400. Supply list provided. Advance reservations required.
Still Life Painting in Oils** October 6, 13, 20, 27 6:00 p.m. – 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 is 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: Small Works, Great Wonders® artist Kelli Folsom. Skill level: Beginner to advanced. Tuition: Members $90; Nonmembers $100. Supply list provided. Advance reservations required.
Color-Mixing 101 in Oils** October 16 – 18 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Eradicate your fears of color-mixing! This workshop develops the needed understanding to mix all those challenging colors. Students learn color theory, grid technique for image transfer, how to use plotting points, effective use of art tools and easy palette making. Design elements such as line, shape, value, color and texture will all be explored. Each student completes one painting from start to finish by learning to mix colors on the pallet and canvas using palette knives and/or brushes. You will never look at color the same way! Instructor: Kathryn Walker Richardson. Skill level: Beginner to advanced. Tuition: Members $300; Nonmembers $325. All supplies provided. Advance reservations required.
Basket Weaving: Double-wall Basket** October 31 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Students create a double-wall, two-color basket approximately 9 inches in diameter and 5 inches high. Instructor: Marcia Balleweg. Skill level: Beginner to intermediate. Tuition: Members $45; Nonmembers $50. All supplies provided. Advance reservations required.
Navajo Weavings Gallery Tour October 14 & November 18 2:00 p.m. Join the Museum's Curator of Ethnology Eric Singleton for a special tour of the Museum's newest exhibit Navajo Weavings from the Pam Parrish Collection. This interpretative tour gives Museum visitors a chance to see the exhibition through the eyes of the exhibition's curator. Free to all guests.
Holiday Wine-Down** December 15 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Relax from the holiday stress! Enjoy a Holiday Wine-Down one-night painting class with instruction from Wine & Palette. Guests will create a lovely landscape that brings back memories of spring. While you are here, get a jump on your holiday shopping in a relaxed environment in The Museum Store. Members: $40, Nonmembers: $45. All supplies provided. Advance reservations required.
* = For reservations call (405) 478-2250 ext. 264 ** = For reservations call (405) 478-2250 ext. 277
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.
Remembering Chris LeDoux Through October 18
The Annie Oakley Society Luncheon November 12 11:30 a.m.
The Museum pays tribute to Chris LeDoux (1948-2005) through an exhibition of his personal memorabilia, most never before displayed publically. LeDoux was inducted into the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum’s Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2006 after a career as a PRCA world champion bareback rider. A decade after cancer took his life, his legacy endures through his success as a cowboy, music entertainer, songwriter and artist.
The Annie Oakley Society is proud to honor U.S. Navy Admiral Michelle Howard as the Annie Oakley Society Award recipient and Josephine Freede as the Lifetime Achievement Award honoree at the fifth annual luncheon on November 12. The Society gathers annually to celebrate women who demonstrate leadership and entrepreneurial spirit of the Great American West. Past Annie Oakley Society Award Honorees include Sandra Day O’Connor, Reba McEntire, Nadia Comaneci and Kristin Chenoweth. Open to the public; reservations requested by November 6. To learn more about Annie Oakley Society membership call (405) 478-2250 ext. 233 or visit www.nationalcowboymuseum.org.
End of the Trail: A Centennial Celebration Through October 18 Celebrating the unique history of this seminal sculpture on the 100th anniversary of its creation, the exhibition draws from the archives of the Museum’s Dickinson Research Center. End of the Trail will provide an overview from the famous sculpture’s creation by American artist James Earle Fraser and display at the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco, to its life at Mooney Grove Park in Visalia, California, and to its eventual home at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
Revision: Contemporary Navajo Weavings from the Pam Parrish Collection Through May 8, 2016 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 Gray 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.
Cowboy Artists of America 50th Annual Sale & Exhibition Traditional Cowboy Arts Association 17th Annual Exhibition & Sale October 10, 2015 – January 3, 2016 These two special exhibitions will create what promises to be a bucket list event for 2015. The Cowboy Artists of America celebrate their 50th anniversary. Representing the vanguard of the Western art revival that began in the 1960s, they continue to set the mark for those who carry on the legacy. More than 100 paintings, drawings and sculptures will be on display and available for purchase. The Traditional Cowboy Arts Association provides a unique blend of artistic expression. Throughout the history of Western horsemanship, there has been a special appreciation for the makers of gear who combine superb function with exquisite form. The TCAA exhibition showcases more than 50 works comprising saddlemaking, bit and spur making, silversmithing and rawhide braiding artistry from the exclusive membership of the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association. Reservations requested by October 2.
Small Works, Great Wonders® Winter Art Sale November 13 7:00 p.m. Enjoy this National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum reception and fundraiser featuring more than 200 works from Prix de West and other selected artists. With smaller sizes and prices, it gives the opportunity to begin or enhance your Western art collection. With both new and experienced art collectors in mind, this event features a variety of style, subject matter and medium in paintings and sculptures by well-known as well as up-andcoming artists. Reservations requested by November 6.
Michael Martin Murphey's Cowboy Christmas Ball December 18 7:00 p.m. This 21st annual yuletide dance, presented by Express Employment Professionals, features Michael Martin Murphey headlining an evening of entertainment for the entire family. Includes buffet and a visit from Santa. Reservations requested by December 11.
SAVE THE DATE
Mark your calendar for these upcoming exhibits in 2016
Riding The Whirlwind: Weather In The West February 5 Native American Bolo Ties: Vintage and Contemporary Artistry February 5 The Cowboy Returns: Photographs by Bank and John Langmore February 5 Philip R. Goodwin: America’s Sporting and Wildlife Artist February 19
www.nationalcowboymuseum.org
Member-Only Programs October - November - December 2015
MEMBER-ONLY PROGRAMS: Experience the Museum with exclusive access We encourage members to take part in an array of new programming options that will be 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.
Cowboy Crossings Artist Talk & Exhibit Viewing October 14 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Christmas Kickoff: An Exclusive Member Shopping Event December 1 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Join artist and member of the Cowboy Artists of America, Paul Moore and the Museum’s Curator and McCasland Chair of Cowboy Culture, Don Reeves, for a talk and exhibit viewing in which they provide members with inside information on the art featured in these two great exhibitions. Due to space restrictions, this offering will be capped at 30 members and RSVPs will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis.
From Western apparel and artwork to décor and toys, you are sure to find something truly unique in The Museum Store for everyone on your “nice” list this year! In addition to the 10% discount on your entire purchase, Museum Members will enjoy a special 25% discount off one item (some restrictions apply). Do not forget to enter your name for the chance to win a beautiful holiday gift basket. Enjoy light refreshments and hot cider while you shop. Free gift wrapping available. Every purchase at The Museum Store supports the preservation of Western culture and history at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
Small Works, Great Wonders® Artist Talk November 10 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Small Works, Great Wonders features paintings and sculptures by Prix de West and other specially invited artists, designed with both new and experienced art collectors in mind. Before the show and sale opens to the public, join artists Kelli Folsom, Merlin Little Thunder and Derek Penix for a panel discussion on their featured works. This offering will be capped at 40 members and RSVPs will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis.
Buried Treasures: The Glenn D. Shirley Western Americana Collection December 1 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Between 1910 and 1940, the re-emergence of Native American identity was manifested in the advent of a new form of artistic and cultural expression found in the Native American watercolorists’ movement. Join the Museum’s Assistant Director, Mike Leslie, for a gallery talk on how the work of artists like Bert Phillips and Ernest Blumenschein created new social and economic outlets that reshaped longheld views of Native Americans among Euro-American populations. This offering will be capped at 15 members and RSVPs will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOE OWNBEY
When famed Western author Glenn Shirley began writing, he also began collecting — a pursuit that eventually led him to purchase a second four-bedroom home he used as an archive/library work space. Join the Museum’s Librarian, Karen Spilman, for a lunch and lecture as she shares the story of how the Glenn Shirley Collection came to reside at the Museum. The program will be capped at 40 members and RSVPs will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis.
Curator Gallery Talk December 8 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Again in 2015, the Museum is participating in the Blue Star Museums program. This means members of the United States military and their families can enjoy free admission on Veterans Day, Wednesday November 11, for up to six people. It’s not uncommon for 2,000 military guests to enjoy all the Museum has to offer through this program made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts and Art Works. For more details visit www.arts.gov/national/blue-star-museums.
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www.store.nationalcowboymuseum.org www.store.nationalcowboymuseum.org
From the Rodeo Historical Society
The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, along with the Rodeo Historical Society, is staffing a membership outreach booth at the new South Hall location. Find us in Rodeo Way at the NFR Cowboy Christmas Gift Show inside the Las Vegas Convention Center from December 3 − 12. This year’s theme Remembering Chris LeDoux will showcase personal photos, memorabilia and videos. Stop by to visit and become a member of the Rodeo Historical Society. Under the website promotion www.LoveRodeo.org, the RHS outreach efforts are part of an ongoing campaign to broaden the organization’s exposure to rodeo enthusiasts. In addition, this is the fourth consecutive year RHS is a co-sponsor of Boyd Gaming’s “National Finals Tonight®” and Gary Leffew’s Legendary Buck n’ Ball in its new location, The Orleans Hotel and Casino. Hosted by Don Gay and Joe Beaver, “National Finals Tonight®” is a nightly talk show held after the rodeo. The show is broadcast live on the web at www.nfr.boydgaming.com.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF DICKINSON RESEARCH CENTER
From the Dickinson Research Center
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CAPITOL RECORDS
Come See Us in Vegas!
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Chris LeDoux
Dickinson Discoveries
John Wayne had a special relationship with the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Wayne’s involvement with the Museum began in 1961 when he visited the construction site on Persimmon Hill to observe building progress. Four years later, he led the parade procession for the grand opening of the Museum on June 26, 1965. The parade began in downtown Oklahoma
City and concluded at the Museum and was a celebration of the pillars of the West. It showcased the diverse people, landscape and stories found throughout Western heritage. Wayne also hosted the 1965 Western Heritage Awards. The Museum is home to the John Wayne Collection which contains artifacts and ephemera from his life and career.
On June 26, 1965, Parade Marshall John Wayne led the procession through downtown Oklahoma City to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum for its opening ceremonies.
www.nationalcowboymuseum.org
1700 Northeast 63rd Street Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73111 www.nationalcowboymuseum.org
Give the gift of an experience this holiday season When you purchase a gift membership for friends, neighbors, colleagues or relatives, you are giving an experience that will last all year. Not only do gifts of membership support the Museum's mission, they also provide recipients with a full year of entertainment, education and special privileges exclusive to our members.
PHOTOGRAPH BY ED MUNO
Museum membership is not only a unique gift your recipient will love, but it is also a great economical way for you to give. Beginning October 1, 2015, and running through the end of the year, Museum members can purchase gifts of membership for $10 off the regular price! Instead of giving the usual gift this season, give the gift of membership and help your friends and loved ones find their West!
Scan the QR code at left to visit the Museum social media center or visit www.nationalcowboymuseum.org/connect
Autumn 2015