Prix de West Invitational Art Exhibition Through September 9

The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum hosts the annual Prix de West Invitational Art Exhibition each summer to showcase the work of the country's finest contemporary western artists. Approximately 275 works of art, by more than 90 artists, are featured in the exhibition.

The exhibiting artists bring a diversity of styles to this prestigious exhibition. Works range from historical pieces that reflect the early days of the West, to more contemporary and impressionist works of art. Landscapes, wildlife, and illustrative scenes are always highlighted in the exhibition.

Among the awards presented at each show are:

· The Prix de West Award, given to a work of art that is purchased by the Museum to enhance its Prix de West art collection.

· The Frederic Remington Painting Award, a cash award of $3,000 for exceptional artistic merit, sponsored by Russ and Dortha Sadler.

· The James Earle Fraser Sculpture Award, a cash award of $3,000 for exceptional artistic merit, sponsored by the Museum.

· The Robert Lougheed Memorial Award, a cash award of $1,000 for the best display of three or more works. The award is chosen by the exhibiting artists and is sponsored by the Robert S. and Grayce B. Kerr Foundation, Inc.

· The Wildlife Award, a cash award of $3,000 for the best painting or sculpture relating to wildlife, sponsored by Major General and Mrs. Don D. Pittman.

· The Nona Jean Hulsey Rumsey Buyers' Choice Award, a cash award of $1,000 for the most popular work of art as chosen by the patrons attending the opening night of the Prix de West Invitational.

Among sculptors who exhibit in the show are Gerald Balciar, Sandy Scott, Ken Bunn, Edward J. Fraughton, Mehl Lawson, Ross Matteson, Tim Cherry, Sherry Salari Sander, Kent Ullberg, Michael Coleman, Shirley Thomson-Smith, Cynthia Rigden, Doug Hyde, Oreland Joe, and Grant Speed.

Among painters participating are Martin Grelle, Curt Walters, Wayne Wolfe, Ray Swanson, Len Chmiel, Sonya Terpening, Daniel Gerhartz, Ken Riley, Tucker Smith, Jim Wilcox, Bob Kuhn, Paul Calle, and John and Terri Kelly Moyers.

The 2001 event was held June 8-9 and featured two days of seminars on art-related topics and art demonstrations. The weekend was highlighted by a fixed-price sale of all artwork in the show, and a black-tie optional dinner and awards banquet June 9. The show will continue through September 9, 2001.

To order an exhibition catalogue, call the Museum Store at Ext. 228.

Traditional Cowboy Arts Association

The Traditional Cowboy Arts Association is a non - profit organization dedicated to the perpetuation and promotion of the traditions, skills, and heritage of western saddle making, bit and spur making, rawhide braiding, and silver smithing. The association currently has a membership of 14 gear makers from the western United States and Canada. The TCAA holds an annual exhibition and sale the last weekend in September at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.

TCAA members support an internship program to aid aspiring gear makers in their respective trades and present a symposium on western gear related subjects at the exhibition each fall. Annually, week-long workshops are offered by the TCAA members in the Nona Jean Hulsey-Rumsey Art Education Center at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. This September 24-27; Scott Hardy will be presenting a workshop on western silver smithing. For information call 405/478 2250 Ext. 280.

The dates for the 2001 TCAA Exhibition and Sale are September 28 through December 2, 2001. The third exhibition will be hosted once again by the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in the Eldridge Gallery. A symposium by TCAA members will be held from 10 A.M. until 3 P.M. on September 28 with the sale that evening. Reception begins at 7:00 P.M. A color catalogue of the exhibition will be published. Copies of past TCAA exhibition catalogues are available from the museum store.