SPRING/SUMMER 2016 VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 2
Your guide to Museum programs, exhibits and events.
A QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER AND CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL COWBOY & WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM ®
Prix de West
Profile of the West’s Premier Art Exhibition and Sale By Susan Patterson, Curator of Special Exhibits
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t’s springtime, which means preparations for the annual Prix de West® Invitational Art Exhibition and Sale — scheduled for June 10 and 11, 2016 — are underway at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum®. Images of artwork slated for the exhibition have started to appear, and crates filled with paintings and sculptures will soon materialize en masse. In 1973, the National Academy of Western Art (NAWA) hosted 34 artists showcasing 92 works of art. Santa Fé artist Clark Hulings (1922 – 2011) received top honors as the inaugural Prix de West Purchase Award winner for his oil painting Grand Canyon, Kaibab Trail. The National Cowboy Museum (then known as the Cowboy Hall of Fame) subsequently purchased the piece, beginning the time-honored tradition that would build the Museum’s contemporary Prix de West collection. In addition to the Museum’s purchase of his painting, Hulings received $18,000 in prize money, an all-expense-paid European vacation, Western clothing for two, and a silver trophy. Fast forward to 2016: The name has changed and the size has tripled, but the quality and standing of the exhibition have remained constant. The prize money is smaller, but the prestige of winning one of the eight awards presented remains coveted throughout the art world. Glenn Dean and Z.S. Liang will join Prix de West as guest artists this year. Dean’s exposure to the California and Western landscape painters of the early 20th century influenced and directed the course of his career. Intrigued by the relationship between man and his surroundings, today he focuses more on the figure within the landscape. Liang, born in China, moved to the United States in 1982 to further his art education at Boston University. Inspired while studying and painting the Wampanoag Indian culture of Massachusetts, he began to focus his work primarily on Native American cultures and their traditional ways of life. Ross Matteson has created this year’s Prix de West collector’s bolo (right), which features a California quail motif. A 24-year Prix de West veteran, Matteson brings his signature style of grace and elegance to this wearable work of art. To see the American West through the eyes of today’s most renowned artists is an experience as grand as the West itself. Each artist bringing their personal viewpoint, whether historical or contemporary, through landscape, wildlife and illustrative scenes, all are synonymous with Prix de West.
On the cover: Logan Maxwell Hagege, Grand Canyon, Quiet Soul, Oil on linen, 30" x 30" This page: Ross Matteson, 2016 Prix de West Collectors Bolo Tie, Bronze, 2 1/4" dia.
Explore the West
Play Video Click here to learn more about the Prix de West Invitational Art Exhibition and Sale, or visit
www.nationalcowboymuseum.org/ attend-an-event/prix-de-west 2
Welcome! PHOTOGRAPHY BY CAROLYN SEELEN
Dear Museum Member,
The spring and summer months provide a tremendous opportunity to find your West here at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum®. A wide variety of programs and educational offerings buttress a robust selection of exhibitions currently installed. In their breadth and scope these exhibitions represent the Museum’s efforts to better engage our members and contextualize a region, and our nation, in new and meaningful ways — from “Cowboy” photography, to Native American made bolo ties, to illustrations of outdoor life, and an interactive way to look at weather in the West — we continue to help define both individual and collective understandings of history, art, and culture.
New and broadened programmatic offerings help us reach out to greater audiences. With more guided gallery tours, artist and curator lectures, family activities, adult classes, and other member-exclusives, we seek to bring even more value to our most valued supporters. Please remember, too, the cornerstone annual events that have become foundations for so many. Beginning with April’s Western Heritage Awards™, the Annual Chuck Wagon Festival, and the nationally recognized Prix de West® Art Exhibition and Sale round out a season of exciting activities. Please come visit us again and take the time to remember why the West and all it encompasses is a part of you. All the best, Steven M. Karr, Ph.D., President and CEO National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOE OWNBEY
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
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The Museum Grill Open Tuesday – Sunday, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (405) 478-2250 ext. 239
Museum Facility Rentals (405) 478-2250 ext. 256 or elatta@nationalcowboymuseum.org
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MUSEUM EVENTS April 16 • Navajo Rug Silent Auction 10:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Third-generation trader Jackson Clark II, owner of the respected Toh-Atin Gallery in Durango, Colorado, showcases more than 100 contemporary and antique weavings ranging in value from $100 to $10,000. During this silent auction, individuals may purchase a rug at 20 percent over the minimum if it does not have an earlier bid. No advanced registration required. Location: Dub and Mozelle Richardson Theater. Free with day-of registration at the door. 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. Members-Only Preview Sale 10:30 a.m. Public Opening 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Evaluations: Bring your weaving (or a good photo of it) and learn more about it during this one-on-one educational evaluation. Appraisals are not provided. Noon – 4:00 p.m. Demonstration: Navajo weaver Rose Blue Eyes carries on a family legacy of creating beautiful weavings in the Two Grey Hills tradition. Stop by, watch, linger, and talk with the artist. 1:00 p.m. Lecture: Jackson Clark II discusses the history and creation of Navajo weavings. 2:00 p.m. Exhibition Tour: Revision: Contemporary Navajo Weavings from the Pam Parrish Collection. Curator Eric Singleton shares his favorite weavings in the exhibition. 4:00 p.m. Bids Close April 15 − 16 • Western Heritage Awards® Honoring the legacy of those whose works in literature, music, film, and television reflect the significant stories of the American West. This annual awards program recognizes inductees into the prestigious Hall of Great Westerners and the Hall of Great Western Performers, as well as the recipient of the Chester A. Reynolds Memorial Award, named in honor of the Museum’s founder. Each honoree receives a Wrangler, a bronze sculpture of a cowboy on horseback. Dinner: $185, $155 Museum members; Reception: $50, $40 Museum members. Location: Sam Noble Special Events Center May 8 • Mother’s Day Brunch by Petroleum Club of Oklahoma City 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Adults, $28.00 per person, includes tax, gratuity, and Museum admission Children ages 5-10, half price; Ages 4 & under, no charge Reservations required. Call Downtown Petroleum Club, (405) 232-1184 Location: Sam Noble Special Events Center
Featured Event
June 10 − 11 • Prix de West® Invitational Art Exhibition & Sale Opening Weekend The Museum hosts its prestigious invitational art exhibition and sale of more than 300 paintings and sculptures by the finest contemporary Western artists in the nation. Works range from historical pieces reflecting the early West, to contemporary and impressionistic works of art, patrons and art buyers are sure to enjoy this year’s opening weekend demonstrations, receptions, awards, and celebrations. Premium Package Enjoy all opening event activities; seminars, artist demonstrations, exclusive Prix de West preview party and awards dinner, fixedprice draw for art, live auction and closing celebration and collector’s bolo and catalog. Complimentary cocktails served at both evening events. $450; $360 Museum members
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Len Chmiel, Sprawling Spring Sycamores, Oil, 22" x 35"
THE 43RD ANNUAL
INVITATIONAL AR T EXHIBITION AND SALE
June 10 • Prix de West Preview Party & Awards Dinner Mix and mingle with Prix de West artists and fellow collectors at this exclusive event. Dinner follows the presentation of five awards; Frederic Remington Painting Award, Major General and Mrs. Don D. Pittman Wildlife Award, James Earle Fraser Sculpture Award, Express Ranches Great American Cowboy Award, and Donald Teague Memorial Award. Exclusive to Premium Package Only June 10 − 11 • Seminar Package Enjoy two days of art related presentations by Prix de West artists and invited scholars. Included are book signings, Tim Cherry, River Mates, Bronze, 48" H x 48" W x 12" D continental breakfasts, luncheons and the collector’s bolo created this year by Ross Matteson. Saturday’s luncheon is followed by the announcement of the Prix de West Purchase Award and Robert Lougheed Memorial Award. Speakers and panelists include Carolyn Anderson, Daniel F. Gerhartz, Michael Grauer, David A. Leffel, Dean Mitchell, Sherrie McGraw, Andrew Peters, Harvey Pratt, Morgan Weistling, and William Whitaker. $185; $135 Museum members June 11 • Prix de West Artist Demonstrations Spend the afternoon with two Prix de West artists Doug Hyde and Susan Lyon, engaging visitors with their demonstrations. Hyde will demonstrate his stone carving process while Lyon will reveal her methods in figurative painting. Free to members or with Museum admission. June 11 • Sale, Live Auction & Closing Celebration Package Enjoy the fixed-price draw for art, live auction and closing celebration; includes ballot book, catalog, complimentary cocktails, food stations and live entertainment. Don’t miss this year’s closing festivities following the fixed-price draw for art. The celebration begins with the presentation of the Jackie L. Coles Buyers’ Choice Award followed by a live auction including work by William Acheff, Gerald Balciar, Logan Maxwell Hagege, Jeremy Lipking, Dean Mitchell, Kyle Polzin, Tim Solliday, and Morgan Weistling. $210; $160 Museum members
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Cast and crew of AMC Television’s Hell On Wheels at the Museum’s annual Western Heritage Awards ®
MAY Tuesday
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2:00 p.m. Exhibit Tour
Sunday
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Revision: Contemporary Navajo Weavings from the Pam Parrish Collection
Tuesday Thursday
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Saturday
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Noon – 1:00 p.m. Brown Bag Lecture Series Wild Weather
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Mother’s Day Brunch Sam Noble Special Events Center
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Member Exclusive Event Museum Gardens Tour
Saturday
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Annual Chuck Wagon Festival
Sunday
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Annual Chuck Wagon Festival
10:00 a.m. – noon Saturdays for Kids Culture Quests in the West
10:30 a.m. Final Exhibit Tour Native American Bolo Ties: Vintage and Contemporary Artistry
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11:30 a.m. Final Exhibit Tour Riding the Whirlwind: Weather in the West
12:30 p.m. Final Exhibit Tour The Cowboy Returns: Photographs by Bank and John Langmore
1:30 p.m. Final Exhibit Tour Philip R. Goodwin: America’s Sporting & Wildlife Artist, A Private Collection
2:30 p.m. Final Exhibit Tour Revision: Contemporary Navajo Weavings from the Pam Parrish Collection
Stay Connected
Keep up with all of the Museum happenings at the social media center by clicking here or by visiting
www.nationalcowboymuseum.org/connect 6
#mywest
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum®
Calendar of Events Spring/Summer 2016 JUNE Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Prix de West® Artist Workshop
Monday
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Bruce R. Greene’s Sculpting with Purpose*
Tuesday
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Prix de West Artist Workshop
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Bruce R. Greene’s Sculpting with Purpose*
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Prix de West Artist Workshop Loren Entz’s Painting the Spirit of the Horse*
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Prix de West Artist Workshop Loren Entz’s Painting the Spirit of the Horse*
5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Member Exclusive Event
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Prix de West Artist Workshop
Prix de West Artist Demonstration
Bruce R. Greene’s Sculpting with Purpose*
Wednesday
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9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Prix de West Artist Workshop Bruce R. Greene’s Sculpting with Purpose*
Thursday
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8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Prix de West Seminars* Noon – 1:00 p.m. Book signings
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Prix de West Artist Workshop Loren Entz’s Painting the Spirit of the Horse*
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Prix de West Artist Workshop Loren Entz’s Painting the Spirit of the Horse*
*Advanced Payment Required
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Trunk Show at The Museum Store 6:00 p.m. Prix de West Preview Party and Awards Dinner* Saturday
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8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Prix de West Seminars* 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Author and Artists Book Signing 12:30 – 3:00 p.m. Prix de West Artists Demonstrations 5:30 p.m. Prix de West Fixed Price Sale*
Attend An Event
For complete Museum calendar, click here or visit
www.nationalcowboymuseum.org/calendar 7
MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS, PROGRAMS & TOURS EXHIBITIONS Through May 8 • Revision: Contemporary Navajo Weavings from the Pam Parrish Collection This exhibition showcases 22 of the more than 60 weavings donated to the Museum by Pam Parrish. Represented are examples of traditional weaving by some of the top weavers of the late 20th century. Play Video Location: Silberman Gallery Through May 8 • Native American Bolo Ties: Vintage and Contemporary Artistry Explore this Western adornment’s history and revival in a fun exhibition organized by the Heard Museum with the support of the Virginia M. Ullman Foundation. The more than 330 bolos featured in this exhibit come from the Heard Museum and the promised gift of collector Norman L. Sandfield. Play Video Location: Kerr Gallery Through May 8 • Riding the Whirlwind: Weather in the West Created for kids of all ages, this interactive exhibition focuses on the often brutal environment of the American West and how it shaped history, and offers a glimpse of today’s weather technology. Play Video Location: Kerr Gallery
John Langmore, Ken Saucier, Diamond A Ranch – Seligman, Arizona, 2013. Gelatin silver print. Collection of the artist.
Through May 8 • The Cowboy Returns: Photographs by Bank and John Langmore Organized by the Briscoe Western Art Museum, this exhibition includes select work from Bank Langmore, a preeminent photographer of the American cowboy in the 1970s, and his son John Langmore, a celebrated artist in his own right. Play Video Location: West Hallway Through May 8 • Philip R. Goodwin: America’s Sporting & Wildlife Artist, A Private Collection Organized by the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, this exhibition features the work of Philip R. Goodwin, a premier painter and illustrator of wildlife, fishing, hunting, and the outdoors. Location: Kerr Gallery Play Video June 10 – August 7 • 43rd Annual Prix de West Invitational Art Exhibition & Sale The Museum hosts its prestigious invitational art exhibition and sale of more than 300 paintings and sculptures by the finest contemporary Western artists in the nation. Play Video Location: Kerr and Silberman Galleries and West Hallway
EXHIBITION PROGRAMS & TOURS Through May 7 • Guided Tours Every Tuesday and Saturday the Museum hosts docentled gallery tours of select exhibitions. Each tour is approximately 45 minutes in length and meets at Canyon Princess (the marble cougar in the west hallway). Free to members or with Museum admission. Saturday Tours 10:30 a.m. Refer to April calendar listings on page 7. May 7 • Last Call Saturday! Refer to May calendar listings on page 8.
Gerald Balciar (1942), Canyon Princess, 1995, Colorado Yule marble, 180 in. x 72 in. x 48 in. Gift of Gerald Balciar, 1995.34
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Tuesday Tours 2:00 p.m. Refer to April and May calendars listings on pages 7 and 8.
Brown Bag Lecture Series Noon – 1:00 p.m. Join us in the Museum’s Dub and Mozelle Richardson Theater for these casual conversations with experts about the Museum’s current exhibitions. Bring your lunch or purchase one at The Museum Grill. Lectures are open to the public and include free admission to the theater and The Museum Grill. Members are encouraged to invite a friend. Reservations are not required. April 7 • Sporting and Wildlife Art Join Michael Grauer for a conversation on the exhibition Philip R Goodwin: America’s Sporting & Wildlife Artist, A Private Collection. Grauer is curator of art and oversees the weapons, sports, and collections at the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum.
Featured Exhibition Program
April 12 • An Evening with Evelyn Browning-Garriss Evelyn Browning-Garriss, historical climatologist and author of The Browning Newsletter/ Browning World Climate Bulletin, has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Business News Network, and numerous other media outlets, earning her titles such as “The Weather Lady” and “The Weather Whisperer.” In conjunction with the exhibition Riding the Whirlwind: Weather in the West, she looks at natural factors of the weather to determine future patterns. 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. Exclusive Members-Only Meet and Greet 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Public Presentation 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. Exhibit Tour
April 21 • Awesome Bolo Ties Collector and author Norman L. Sandfield shares stories about the history of bolo ties as featured in the Museum’s exhibit Native American Bolo Ties: Vintage and Contemporary Artistry. April 28 • Ranches Across the West Join photographer John Langmore for a discussion on the Museum’s exhibition The Cowboy Returns: Photographs by Bank and John Langmore.
Bolo by Julius Keyonnie (2009), silver, gold and turquoise, collection of Norman Sandfield. Photograph courtesy of the Heard Museum.
May 5 • Wild Weather in the West – A Native American Perspective Heather Ahtone, James T. Bialac Associate Curator of Native American and Non-Western Art at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, shares a Native American perspective on the weather found in the West.
June 11 • Prix de West Artists Demonstrations 12:30 – 3:00 p.m. Marvel at the talents of Prix de West artists Doug Hyde and Susan Lyon. Hyde will demonstrate his process in stone carving while Lyon will reveal her methods in figurative painting. Open to the public, reservations are not required.
Doug Hyde
Susan Lyon
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FAMILY FUN & CLASSES FAMILY FUN April 2 • Saturdays for Kids: Earth Day Weavings 10:00 a.m. – Noon Reduce, reuse, recycle … into art! Working with recycled plastic bags, create weavings to take home. Explore the textiles on view in the new exhibition Revision: Contemporary Navajo Weavings from the Pam Parrish Collection. Designed for children ages 4 to 12. Free for children and accompanying adults. Reservations are requested by noon on the Friday before the program.* May 7 • Saturdays for Kids: Culture Quests in the West 10:00 a.m. – Noon Celebrate the closing of five wonderful exhibitions with special related activities including a Culture Quests in the West scavenger hunt. Designed for children ages 4 to 12 and adults. Reservations are requested by noon on the Friday before the program.*
Featured Family Program
May 28 to 29 • Annual Chuck Wagon Festival 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Don’t miss this family-friendly weekend! Sample authentic chuck wagon food, entertainment and hands-on activities in the galleries and outdoor gardens: try roping and leatherwork, see a medicine show, come into the Silver Dollar Saloon for real sarsaparilla, and more! The Dogwood Foundation returns as presenting sponsor for the two-day, fun-filled event. Admission Purchased at the Door: $15 (free for children 12 and under); Free for Museum members!
CLASSES FOR ADULTS April 23 • Master Class: Basket Weaving – Twill Bowl 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Create an elegant woven bowl approximately 11 inches in diameter and four inches high. Instructor: Marcia Balleweg. Skill level: Adults, intermediate Tuition: $50; $45 Museum members. All supplies provided.** June 6 to 9 • Prix de West® Sculpture Workshop: Sculpting with Purpose 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. From concept to finished surface, there is a purpose in the process of sculpting. It starts with a strong idea and continues with an effective design, anatomical accuracy and surface that best realizes a personal vision. This workshop is best for students with prior experience who are striving to expand their skills to the exceptional. Subjects will be live models. Instructor: Prix de West artist Bruce R. Greene. Skill level: Adults, intermediate to advanced Tuition: $400; $380 Museum members. Advanced reservations required.** June 13 to 16 • Prix de West Art Workshop: Painting the Spirit of the Horse 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. This workshop addresses the physical anatomy of horses and learning to see and understand their energy. Through keen observation and knowledge of the subject, participants will discern the animal’s body language, resulting in paintings that reflect the inner spirit and life of the horses they paint. Instructor: Prix de West artist Loren Entz. Skill level: Adults, intermediate to advanced Tuition: $400; $380 Museum members. Advanced reservations required.**
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* = For reservations call (405) 478-2250 ext. 264 ** = For reservations call (405) 478-2250 ext. 277
MEMBER-EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMS We encourage Museum 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.org. April 12 • Meet and Greet with Evelyn Browning-Garriss 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. Members are invited to join Museum staff in welcoming renowned historical climatologist and author of The Browning Newsletter/Browning World Climate Bulletin, Evelyn BrowningGarriss. This exclusive meet and greet will be immediately followed by Browning-Garriss’ highly anticipated 6:00 p.m. presentation and 7:00 p.m. tour of the exhibition Riding the Whirlwind: Weather in the West. Location: Dub and Mozelle Richardson Theater April 16 • Navajo Rug Show Preview and Early Sale 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. Be one of the first to see this fantastic, one-day show and sale of more than 100 contemporary and antique weavings. Members are invited to preview and purchase weavings from thirdgeneration trader Jackson Clark II and the internationally recognized Toh-Atin Gallery in Durango, Colorado. Featured works will value from $100 to $10,000, making this an excellent opportunity for new and established collectors alike. No advanced registration required. Location: Dub and Mozelle Richardson Theater
Featured Member Exclusive
May 10 • Garden Gallery Tour with Tom McBride 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. Essentially an outdoor gallery, the Museum’s gardens feature a plethora of plants and flowers native to the American West. The Garden Gallery offers visitors a chance to connect with and learn more about the land in which the story of the West is rooted. Before you plant your spring garden this year, join Museum Grounds Manager Tom McBride for an exclusive member tour of the gardens, where he will provide members with tips for establishing their spring beds and the opportunity to ask a professional horticulturalist questions. This offering will be capped at 20 members, and RSVPs will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Location: Garden Gallery, members meet at the Western States Plaza
June 14 • Demonstration by Prix de West artist Loren Entz 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Have you ever wanted to see how the best Western artists in the world make it into a show like Prix de West? Join the Museum for a fun-filled evening featuring a member-only viewing of the Prix de West Invitational Art Exhibition & Sale followed by a demonstration by Prix de West artist Loren Entz. Entz has been honored with numerous awards and has also been featured in several magazines including Western Horseman and Art of the West. This offering will be capped at 30 members, and RSVPs will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Location: Dub and Mozelle Richardson Theater Loren Entz
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A QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER AND CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL COWBOY & WESTERN 速 HERITAGE MUSEUM
www.nationalcowboymuseum.org
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Major Support
E.L. and Thelma Gaylord FOUNDATION
The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is a participating member of the Museums West Consortium.
Museum members receive 15% off merchandise in The Museum Store.
www.store.nationalcowboymuseum.org I Could Have Danced All Night, by native Oklahoma gourd artist Judy Kelley