The Lessons of Our Fathers: How Western Art Stays Relevant

The Sons of Charlie Russell: Cowboy Artists of America casts a spotlight on the history and significance of the Cowboy Artists of America and its efforts to maintain and evolve the style and subject matter of traditional Western art. The Briscoe is hosting a panel discussion on the importance of maintaining the traditions of Western art, as well as the necessity for those traditions to evolve in order to remain relevant in a changing world. The discussion will also examine the CAA’s level of success at executing its mission: to authentically preserve and perpetuate the culture of Western life in fine art.

Panelists include:

Michael Grauer, the McCasland Chair of Cowboy Culture and the Curator of Cowboy Collections and Western Art at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City;
Seth Hopkins, the Executive Director of the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville, Georgia;
Author and Western art scholar Byron Price. Price’s book “The Sons of Charlie Russell”, commemorates 50 years of the Cowboy Artists of America and inspired the title of the Briscoe’s summer exhibition. Now retired after more than 25 years in the museum profession, Price was the Charles Marion Russell Memorial Chair and Director of Charles M. Russell Center for the Study of Art of the American West at the University of Oklahoma and served as director of the university’s Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art.

The panel will be moderated by Emily Wilson, Curator of Art for the Briscoe Western Art Museum and the curator of The Sons of Charlie Russell. The event will feature light bites and refreshments. Seating is limited and pre-registration is recommended.  Registration for the panel discussion is included in museum general admission on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2 – 4 p.m.