Museum of Western Art (Kerrville, Texas)

The Museum of Western Art in Kerrville, Texas, is an art museum dedicated to the painting and sculpture of living artists of the American West who follow in the tradition of Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell. In addition to the rotating collection, the museum also has an art library and teaching facilities.[1] The museum uses the motto "Where the Legend Lives Forever".

Museum of Western Art
Museum of Western Art
Location within Texas
Museum of Western Art
Museum of Western Art (the United States)
Established1983
Location1550 Bandera Highway
Kerrville, Texas
Coordinates30.0244°N 99.1371°W / 30.0244; -99.1371
TypeArt museum
Websitemuseumofwesternart.com

History

The museum opened on April 23, 1983 as the Cowboy Artists of America Museum, intended to serve as the headquarters of the Cowboy Artists of America.[2][3]

However, a subsequent dispute led to the dissolution of formal ties between the museum and the association, and the museum changed its name to the National Center for American Western Art and then to the Museum of Western Art in 2003.[4] Disputes arose concerning the future of the museum as well as a proposed new museum to be established in San Antonio. The parties subsequently reached a settlement of their dispute.[5][6]

Facility

The museum building was designed by the late O'Neil Ford, a pioneer in the Southwestern style of architecture. The exterior of the museum resembles a fortressed hacienda. Outside are life-sized bronzes. Inside the collection is spread throughout the available 14,000 square feet (1,300 m2). The floors are of mesquite and Saltillo tile and are polished to accent the artwork. In 2004, the Masel S. Quinn Pavilion of the Western Art Academy was completed for use in the education program.[3]

Collection

The art focuses on cowboys, Native Americans, pioneer settlers, women in the West, law-enforcement officers, ranchers, and mountain men. Much of the art was influenced by W. Herbert Dunton, Bert Geer Phillips (1868–1956), and Oscar E. Berninghaus of the Taos art colony in Taos, New Mexico.[7]

Modern artists whose works have been displayed at the Kerrville facility include:

  • Calvin Bary, "Trespassing on Sacred Grounds", bronze, 2005
  • Barbie Eason, "Partners in Crime", bronze, 2007
  • Matthew Harris, "Cowboy and Steer", painting, 2006
  • E.E. "Bud" Helbig, "Telling It Like It Was", painting, 1984; "Wishful Thinking", painting, 1989; "Almost Smell the Coffee", painting, 1990
  • Kristen Matthews, "Wild Bill", painting, 2006
  • William Moyers, "Crowding the Gate", painting, 1996; "Time for a Thaw", watercolor, 2001
  • Wes Woodell, "Landscape", painting, 2005

See also
  • Museums in Texas
  • Museums in Central Texas

References
  1. Texas Transportation Commission, 2008 State Travel Guide, p. 92
  2. "Cowboy Artists of America Museum" at Handbook of Texas Online (retrieved July 13, 2009).
  3. "Welcome to the Museum of Western Art". museumofwesternart.com. Retrieved July 7, 2009.
  4. "New Kerrville museum changes Western art emphasis", Fort Worth Star-Telegram, August 13, 2003 (pay site).
  5. "Old Hertzberg museum could go from clowns to cowboys", San Antonio Express-News, August 23, 2007 (retrieved July 13, 2009).
  6. "MuseumGroups Settle Legal Feud", San Antonio Express-News, February 21, 2008 (retrieved July 13, 2009).
  7. Review of art exhibits, Western Museum of Art, Kerrville, Texas, summer 2008
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