OKLAHOMA CITY.- The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum hosts its prestigious invitational art exhibit of nearly 300 Western paintings and sculpture by the finest contemporary Western artists in the nation with art seminars, receptions and awards banquet. Reservations required for opening activities. This annual exhibition kicks off June 9 with two days of seminars on art-related topics and art demonstrations. The weekend culminates with a fixed-price sale of all the exhibition pieces. For more information, contact the Museum. The exhibit remains on display through September 10.
The exhibiting artists bring a diversity of styles to this prestigious art 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 Purchase Award, given to a work of art that is purchased by the Museum to enhance its Prix de West art collection. The 2006 award includes a medal and $5,000 and is sponsored by the late George O. Argall Jr. .
• The Frederic Remington Painting Award, a cash award of $3,000 for exceptional artistic merit, sponsored by Roberta M.Eldridge Miller.
• The James Earle Fraser Sculpture Award, a cash award of $3,000 for exceptional artistic merit, sponsored by Rob and Suzy Schaefer.
• Express Ranches the Great American Cowboy Award, best portrayal of the American Cowboy, chosen by the museum's Prix de West Committee for exceptional artistic merit. The award includes a medal and $3,000. Sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Bob Funk and Express Ranches.
• The Robert Lougheed Memorial Award, a cash award of $3,000 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.
• Major General and Mrs. Don D. Pittman Wildlife Art Award, a cash award of $3,000 for Exceptional Artistic Merit for a Wildlife Painting of Sculpture. Sponsored by Major General and Mrs. Don D. Pittman.
• The Nona Jean Hulsey Rumsey Buyers' Choice Award, a cash award of $3,000 for the most popular work of art as chosen by the patrons attending the opening night of the Prix de West Invitational. Sponsored by Joe Rumsey.
Among sculptors who exhibit in the show are Gerald Balciar, Ken Bunn, George Carlson, Edward J. Fraughton, Richard Greeves, Kent Ulberg, Hollis Williford, Tony Angell, Blair Buswell, Tim Cherry, Glenna Goodacre, Harold T. Holden, Doug Hyde, Oreland C. Joe Sr., Steve Kestrel, Mehl Lawson, Richard Loffler, Walter T. Matia, Ross Matteson, Herb Mignery, Sherry Salari Sander, Sandy Scott, and Shirley Thomson-Smith.
Among painters participating are William Acheff, Clyde Aspevig, James Bama, Scott L. Christensen, Martin Grelle, Bob Kuhn, Morris Rippel, Lowell Ellsworth Smith, Tucker Smith, Morgan Weistling, Jim Wilcox, Wayne Wolfe, Cyrus Afsary, Roy Andersen, Bill Anton, Christopher Blossom, Joseph Bohler, Harley Brown, Duane Bryers, Paul Calle, Ken Carlson, Len Chmiel, Tim Cox, Don Crowley, Pino Dangelico, John O. Encinias, Charles Fritz, Daniel F. Gerhartz, Walt Gonske, Thomas William Jones, William J. Kalwick Jr., Ramon Kelley, James Kramer, David Leffel, Sherrie McGraw, David Mann, Jim Morgan, John Moyers, Terri Kelly Moyers, Bill Owen, Thomas Quinn, William Reese, R.S. Riddick, Matt Smith, Don Spaulding, Sonya Terpening, Curt Walters and William Whitaker.
