Join us for a Saturday of Family Fun!

The Booth Museum has a Saturday of events planned for cowboys and girls of all ages. Join us on Saturday, January 12th for Children’s Saturday, and for museum members, a Meet the Artist Reception and an Evening Lecture entitled Grandeur in Western Art: Then and Now.

Children’s Saturday, a workshop held for children monthly, will begin at 10:00 a.m. and last until noon. Come learn about the art of horses with If Picasso was a Cowboy- Horse Artwork and Horse Trivia day featuring the work of artist George Gogas. Children may also gather for storytelling with “What’s the Most Beautiful Thing you know about Horses?” where they will discover interesting facts about horses and create an art project to take home.

Children's Saturday is an educational program for children ages 4 to 12 and their parents, and is usually offered the second Saturday of each month. Programs relate to the Museum's permanent and traveling collection and focus on teaching children about the American West through art, literature, entertainment, teaching and hands-on activities. A nominal fee for materials is charged.

Members are invited to view four new exhibitions and meet the artists. New exhibits include, 21st Century Regionalists: Art of the New West; Dancing Ground of the Sun: New Mexico Paintings by Lynne Friedman; As Mother Earth Spins, She Speaks: Pueblo Pottery by Alvina Yepa; and Letter Paintings: Illustrated Envelopes and Letters by Al Napoletano.

At 7:00 pm, 21st Century Regionalists guest curator James Burns will lead a discussion of the exhibition with visiting artists in the Booth Theatre. Refreshments will be served in the café.

Like Father, Like Son

Beginning in January, come see the exhibit “Like Father, Like Son: The Western Art of Paul and Chris Calle,” held in the Booth Museum’s Theatre Lobby Gallery from January 8 to March 30. This exhibition includes more than 20 works of art by famed Western artist Paul Calle and his talented son Chris.

Paul’s depictions of mountain men in both oil and pencil are highly prized by collectors. His depictions of explorers of new frontiers extend from high elevations to space travel. He is a celebrated visual historian whose award-winning illustrations have chronicled America’s heritage. As a master painter and draftsman, he has documented the exploration of space in NASA’s fine art program and in 1969, he was commissioned by the United States Postal Service to create a stamp honoring the moon landing. Two paintings commemorating the 25th anniversary of this event are also among his 37 memorable stamp designs. His work has been exhibited nationally and abroad at the National Gallery of Art, the National Air and Space Museum, the U.S. Department of the Interior, and in museums in Russia and Poland. Two books have been written about him and his work: The Pencil and Paul Calle: An Artist’s Journey.

Chris has followed in his father’s footsteps by drawing mountain men, but has also made a name for himself as a designer of postage stamps with more than 200 stamps in circulation. He became interested in wildlife at a very early age and often went with his father to observe and sketch nature. Early on in his career, he decided to begin a series of original lithographs on endangered species that was prompted by his concern for the environment and the unfortunate destiny of the many species disappearing from the earth. Chris's wildlife art is exhibited widely and has done many assignments for the National Wildlife Federation, Reader's Digest, and NASA. Following in his father’s footsteps, Chris designed the stamp design for the 20th Anniversary of the first landing on the moon. He and his father also worked together on the 25th Anniversary of the Moon Landing stamp design.

In addition to work by each artist, collaborative projects will also be on display.
The Calles will serve as the Featured Artists for the 5th Annual Southeastern Cowboy Gathering, March 6 – 9, and will provide the keynote lecture on the evening of March 6.

© Paul Calle, Beyond the Ridge, oil on canvas, 2003, 30.25 x 47.5"

What's New in the Borderlands Gallery

Come see what the Borderlands Gallery has to offer!

The Borderlands Gallery, located on the lower level of the Booth Museum, houses a variety of exhibitions by Southern and Eastern artists whose work reflects the American West. This 800 square foot gallery is hosting three exciting exhibits for you to explore from now until February.

Letter Paintings: Illustrated Envelopes and Letters by Al Napoletano

For more than 10 years artist Al Napoletano and collector Bill Zigrang have traded letters and small gifts. Many of the envelopes and letters sent by Napoletano have included small drawings or paintings, done in a style similar to the famous letters of artist Charlie Russell. This exhibition showcases more than 20 examples drawn from Zigrang’s private collection.

Al Martin Napoletano, a native of San Francisco Calif., is an illustrator who’s talents have have contributed much to our knowledge, images and interpretations of the Old West down through the years.

As Mother Earth Spins, She Speaks: Pueblo Pottery by Alvina Yepa


This exhibit features pottery by Alvina Yepa, who hails from the Jemez Pueblo, just west of the Rio Grande in northern New Mexico. She employs traditional coiling and firing methods to create pottery that ranges from simple melon bowls to elaborately polished and engraved wedding vases. Known for its symmetry and fluidity, Yepa’s work reflects the centuries-old traditions of the Jemez people.

Alvina Yepa was born in 1954 and grew up at Jemez Pueblo. Her mother, Felipita Yepa, taught her pottery, using traditional methods of forming and firing the local clays. Known for her redware with intricate sgraffito designs, Alvina has been an active potter since about 1982. She has exhibited and won awards at shows including Santa Fe Indian Market, the Eight Northern Indian Pueblo Show and the Heard Museum Indian Fair and Market.

Please join us for a meet the artist reception with Alvina Yepa on Saturday, January 12, 2008, from 5-9 p.m.

Dancing Ground of the Sun: Paintings of New Mexico by Lynne Friedman


This exhibit features vibrant Southwestern landscapes by artist Lynne Friedman. Utilizing vivid color and rich texture, Friedman saturates her canvases with the light and warmth of the desert sun. Her use of intense colors creates emotionally charged paintings full of vivacity and expressiveness.

Artist Statement:
Friedman seeks the dramatic and poetic grandeur of nature in paintings inspired by the Hudson Valley and such varied terrains such as the Arizona desert, coast of Cornwall, England and the High Sierras. Her process incorporates exacting essence from a location by seeking to explore its emotive properties, personal responses and exploring the formal concerns of light, color, and the tactility of paint.

Please join us for a meet the artist reception with Lynne Friedman on Satuday, January 12, 2008, from 5-9 p.m.For more information on the work of Lynne Friedman, visit http://www.mountaincloud.com/.

© Alvina Yepa, Flat pot with sgraffito design
© Lynne Friedman, Wild River I , oil on panel, 8 x 10"

Come See 21st Century Regionalists: Art of the New West

The Booth Museum invites you to see our newest temporary exhibition“21st Century Regionalists: Art of the New West” which will be on display until April 13. The exhibition features 70 pieces of art by more than a dozen of today’s most well known Western artists who use a variety of mediums and artistic styles to portray the modern West of today.

“21st Century Regionalists: Art of the New West” is the Booth Museum’s first invitational art exhibition. After requesting and reviewing the portfolios of nearly 100 artists, 14 men and women were chosen to be featured in the exhibition. The artists include sculptors Rebecca Tobey, Mark Yale Harris and Josh Tobey, as well as painters Trish Booth, Josh Elliott, Woody Gwyn, Elaine Holien, Tricia Higgins Hurt, Louisa McElwain, Howard Post, Ed Sandoval, Doug Smith, Gary Earnest Smith, and Jim Vogel.

The artists highlighted in the exhibition have their roots in regionalist tradition, but also have created their own distinctive works using a modernistic style. Like the regionalists of the mid-20th century, they celebrate rural life, ordinary people, and simplicity.

“The exhibit is organized around a central theme, it questions who is a Western artist, what is Western art, and what do the terms regionalism and contemporary mean for us today,” said Booth Museum Executive Director Seth Hopkins. “It highlights artists whose work has its roots in the Regionalist traditions of the 1930s but also employ a contemporary style.”

For more information on the “21st Century Regionalists: Art of the New West” exhibit, please contact the Booth Museum at 770-387-1300 or visit http://www.boothmuseum.org/.

© Gary Ernest Smith, Tractor with Purple Barn, oil on linen, 2006, 24x36"

© Howard Post, Outbound, oil on canvas, 2006, 18x36"

© Josh Elliott, Wilsall Highrise, oil on canvas, 2007, 24x30"

4th Annual Kids Cowboy Up Art Exhibition, Nov. 20-Dec. 16

Visit the Booth Museum now through December 16 to see the 4th Annual Kids Cowboy Up Art Exhibition on display in the Borderlands Gallery. Artwork by members of the Cartersville Boys and Girls Club and the Hands of Christ after school program are currently being displayed. Come see artwork ranging from paintings to sculptures created by the children.

On November 29, the museum will host these young artists for a Meet the Artists Reception from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Come to meet and speak with the children as they present their artwork. Refreshments will be served adjacent to the Borderlands Gallery.

Come see Native American violinist Arvel Bird perform with the band One Nation!

The Booth Western Art Museum will host famed Native American violinist Arvel Bird with the band One Nation as well as traditional Native American dancers, November 16 at 7:00 p.m. at the Grand Theatre in downtown Cartersville. Drawing on his mixed heritage, Arvel uses lively Celtic fiddle tunes to honor his Scottish ancestry, creating a truly multi-cultural experience for all audiences. Tickets are $12 for Booth members, $15 for non-members and $10 for students.

Bird, raised in Utah and Arizona, began his 11 years of classical violin training when he was nine years old. He attended Arizona State University and the University of Illinois-Champaign/Urbana where he learned to compose and improvise, learning to play bluegrass, Celtic, folk, country and old-time music.

He is undoubtedly the best-known Native American violinist touring today and was named Artist of the Year at the 2007 Native American Music Awards. Bird has shared the stage with other big names in mainstream music such as the Gatlin Brothers, Shenandoah, and Highway 101. For many years, Bird toured with Glen Campbell, Louise Mandrell, Tom T. Hall, Loretta Lynn and other. Today, he regularly tours the country with drummer John LoneEagle and the band One Nation, all of whom will be part of his show.

The One Nation Band includes the traditional Native American percussionist, John LoneEagle, popular Omaha guitarist, Vlasis, and keyboardist / vocalist Chris James. Together, One Nation creates music that reflects their multi-cultural background: Native American, Scottish, Greek, and Irish.

The show will also feature a four-member traditional Native American dance troupe that includes Bronson Haywahe, Georgena Haywahe, Mike Ziegler, and Jackie Ross. Dressed in traditional regalia, the group will be interpreting traditional dances to contemporary music.

To reserve tickets, call the Booth Museum at 770-387-1300.

**Make sure to check out Arvel Bird's November 15 interview with Wes Sarginson at the Booth on the 11 Alive News Web site: http://www.11alive.com/news/local/wes_side/

It’s a Day at the Movies…Booth Style!

Join us for this month’s Western Movie Day! Saturday, November 11, the Booth Museum will host November’s Western Movie Day featuring The Sons of Katie Elder at 1:00 p.m. and Comes a Horseman at 3:00 p.m.

The movies will be shown in the Booth Museum Theatre and is included with Museum admission.

The Sons of Katie Elder is a 1965 western film directed by Henry Hathaway and starring John Wayne and Dean Martin. Ranch owner Katie Elder's four sons are determined to avenge the murder of their father and the swindling of their mother in this action-packed film.

In Comes a Horseman, Jane Fonda stars as Ella Connors, a widow who gets pressured to sell her failing cattle farm to her corrupt ex, Jacob Ewing. She asks for help from her neighbor, Frank Athearn. As Ella and Frank fight back through stampedes, jealousy, betrayal, and sabotage...they eventually find love. The film, directed by Alan J. Pakula, also stars Jason Robards and James Caan.

For more information on Western Movie Day, contact the Booth Museum at 770-387-1300.

Come celebrate election month with the Booth!

On November 10, the Booth Museum will host its monthly Children’s Saturday in honor of election month, so come out for a Saturday afternoon of fun!

How many Presidents have served our country? Which one kept a pet alligator in the East Room of the White House? Which President donated his presidential salary to charity? Visit the Booth Museum to find the answers to these questions and more. Pick your favorite President and make a campaign button to take home!
Children's Saturday is an educational program for children ages 4 to 12 and their parents, and is usually offered the second Saturday of each month from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm. Programs relate to the Museum's permanent and traveling collection and focus on teaching children about the American West through art, literature, entertainment, teaching and hands-on activities.

5th Annual Cowboy Festival and Symposium a Success!

The Booth Museum celebrated another successful Cowboy Festival and Symposium last weekend that drew over 4,000 visitors!
The weekend kicked-off early with a Thursday night talk by featured artist William Matthews and continued with a Friday night concert featuring KG and the Ranger, and a Saturday night concert featuring Riders in the Sky.

Saturday and Sunday showcased a marketplace that included handcrafted jewelry, art and even homemade root beer. Crowds gathered around the main stage to see Native American dances, re-enactments of the gunfight at the O.K. Corral and much more!

The weekend proved to be an event for the whole family and The Booth Museum would like to thank all visitors, sponsors and volunteers for helping make this year’s Festival and Symposium a memorable one.

Booth Museum Art Academy: Western American Art History 101

Come learn about more about the West Without Leaving the South!

The Booth Museum’s Booth Art Academy is underway! Artists of every skill level have flocked “back to school” to learn about various art techniques ranging from pottery to drawing taught by many well-known and talented instructors.

Come hear Seth Hopkins as he discusses the valuable history of Western Art in the Booth Academy’s Western American Art History 101 class.
Images of the American frontier have captivated audiences for nearly 200 years with the earliest of these images serving as the foundation for today’s Western art. Contemporary Western artists are influenced by those who came before, leading them to either perpetuate traditions, or break the mold and provide unique perspectives on the Western experience. In this course, learn the basic history of Western art from Catlin and Bodmer, through Remington and Russell, including the art colonies of Taos and Santa Fe, and the living masters of today. Class time includes interactive classroom discussions and gallery walks through the Booth Museum.

About the Instructor:
Seth Hopkins is the Executive Director of the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville, Georgia, a position he has held since 2000. He holds an undergraduate degree in journalism from Syracuse University and a Master’s degree in Museum Studies from the University of Oklahoma. Well respected for his expertise and knowledge of artists and works of art of the American West, Hopkins has served as the curator for several exhibits and had articles published in American Art Review and Persimmon Hill.

The class meets four Thursdays during November; Nov. 1, 8, 15, and 29 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The class fee is $65 for Museum members and $80 for non-members. The class will be held at the Booth Museum.

To register, call central scheduling at 770-607-3686. Click HERE for more information about the classes available through the Booth Art Academy.

KG & The Ranger

The Booth Western Art Museum invites the whole family out for a night of entertainment that is not just for the kids!

KG and the Ranger, an award-winning Western duo, will perform on Friday night at the Grand Theatre in downtown Cartersville. Their performance will be one of many exciting acts that will include Eli Barsi and Doc Stovall and the Tumbleweed Cowboy Band.

KG & The Ranger add their own infectious humor and entertaining stories classic Western music. Ranger Rick's fascinating trick rope-spinning is reminiscent of Will Rogers, and their colorful western costumes will bring back fond memories of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. Their extensive repertoire, accompanied on guitar, banjo and harmonica, includes the western classics plus songs they have discovered in western movies and on old 78's.

The Friday concert, part of this year’s Cowboy Festival and Symposium, will begin at 7:00 p.m. and tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for Booth Museum members and $10 for students. A CD signing and reception will follow the show in the Encore Room adjacent to the Theatre.
Tickets can be purchased at the Booth Museum, Grand Theatre Box Office, or by calling 770-607-3686.

William Matthews: Featured Artist for Cowboy Festival and Symposium

We are a little over a week away from celebrating the 5th Annual Cowboy Festival and Symposium! As the countdown continues, here is some more information about this year's featured artist, William Matthews.

Born in New York City and raised in San Francisco, William Matthews, an American watercolorist, received his formal art training at the San Francisco Art Institute. After graduation, he spent several years designing and illustrating album covers for major record labels in Los Angeles. The artist soon developed a case of wanderlust, however, and headed out for Europe.

Matthews returned to the United States in 1980 to run a graphic design business as well as to pursue a fine art career.

A major turning point in his career came in 1985 when he visited the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nev. It was there he first encountered the cowboys of the Great Basin.
To Matthews, these cowboys, living a hard life and earning little more than the satisfaction of knowing they have done a good job, are among the few remnants of the true American spirit. He paints these hearty souls as they are, struggling against the elements, not romanticized or glamorized. He generally shields their faces, or gives the viewer only a sideways glance at the subject.

"I prefer mystery," said Matthews, "I don't want to paint someone straight on. I don't want to tell the whole story."

Matthews' paintings are part of the permanent collections of the museums nationwide including: the Museum of the American West (Autry National Center), Los Angeles, Calif.; the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Cody, Wyo.; the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City, Okla.; Denver Art Museum, Denver, Colo.; Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, Okla.; Joslyn Museum, Omaha, Neb.; Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson, Ariz.; and the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, Indianapolis, Ind.

The Booth Western Art Museum owns two of Matthews's paintings, El Charro and Kingfisher, both acquired in October of 2000, around the time ground was broken for the museum.
While Matthews credits some contemporary artists such as George Carlson with influencing his career, it is the work of 19th century British watercolor painters and American artists such as John Singer Sargent and Winslow Homer that most powerfully informs his artistry.

Despite these varied influences, Matthews' work remains unique in an ever more crowded Western art landscape. Less consumed by detail and narrative than many artists, his work presents a true picture of life on the range through atmosphere, minimalist surroundings and limited use of color.

Matthews has also built his reputation on more than just paintings of Western scenes. He is also known for his painted landscapes.

Among Matthews' career highlights was his selection by the United States Postal Service to create a painting of Canyon de Chelly for use on a postcard in 1994. He also supplied original artwork for the Pulitzer Prize winning book Close Range: Wyoming Stories by Annie Proulx, from which the movie Brokeback Mountain was drawn. Proulx returns the favor in the new book : William Matthews: Working the West by providing an essay that sheds light on both ranching and the art-making life.

As the festival's featured artist, guests will be able to meet and learn from this talented artist throughout the weekend at the following events:

Matthews will present a lecture on his artistic style and career highlights in the Booth Theatre on Thursday, October 25 at 7:00 p.m. Following the lecture, Matthews will be available to sign copies of the official Festival & Symposium poster and his new book in the Museum Store.

An artist's workshop led by Matthews will be held Friday, October 26 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Booth Museum. The cost is $100 for members and $150 for not-yet-members. There is a limited class size so call 770-607-3686 for reservations and/or more information.

Western Quartet Riders In The Sky Comes to Cartersville

Get ready for a night of Western fun!

This year’s Cowboy Festival and Symposium Saturday night concert will be a night of fun for the entire family! Riders In The Sky, a classic cowboy quartet, have performed more than 5,000 concerts around the world, provided music for Toy Story 2 and Monsters Inc., and are members of the Grand Ole Opry. The group has been performing for more than 30 years and continues to travel the nation, performing for audiences of all ages.

In their first 25 years, they have performed in over 5200 live performances, almost 300 national television appearances, over 200 public radio shows, 700 Grand Ole Opry appearances, three television series (including a 1991-92 CBS Saturday morning show), an appearance on a Duck Dodgers cartoon on the Cartoon Network and more than 30 albums.

In 1982, Riders In The Sky became the first, and to date only, exclusively Western music artist to join the Grand Ole Opry, the longest running radio show in history. In 1988, they recorded comedy skits for the album "Riders Radio Theatre" and launched the long-running international weekly radio show of the same name on public radio. In 2006, "Ranger Doug's Classic Cowboy Corral" debuted on XM Satellite Radio, heard weekly on Channel 10.

The group includes: Ranger Doug ("The Idol of American Youth"), Woody Paul ("King of the Cowboy Fiddlers"), Too Slim ("a Righteous Tater"/"The Man of a Thousand Hats"), and Joey ("the Cowpolka King").

Riders in the Sky will be performing at The Grand Theatre in historic, downtown Cartersville at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Tickets for the 2:00 p.m. matinee show are $5 for children (16 years and younger), $25 for adults and $20 for Booth Museum members.

Tickets for the 7:00 p.m. show are $20 for children (16 years and younger), $25 for adults and $20 for Booth members.

Previous concerts have sold out well before event date, so to guarantee your seat, we recommend you purchase your tickets prior to the event.

Concert tickets are available by calling Booth Museum at 770-387-1300 or stop by the Museum Circle Desk.

October's Western Movie Day

Join us for a day of Western fun and entertainment!

The Booth Museum will be hosting its monthly Western Movie Day on October 14. Abilene Town will be featured at 1:00 p.m. and Blue Steel will begin at 3:00 p.m.

The movies will be shown in the Booth Museum Theater and are free to museum members and included in the price of admission for not-yet-members.

Abilene Town
In the years following the Civil War, the town of Abilene, Kansas is poised on the brink of an explosive confrontation. A line has been drawn down the center of the town where the homesteaders and the cattlemen have come to a very uneasy truce. The delicate peace is inadvertently shattered when a group of new homesteaders lay down their stakes on the cattlemen's side of town, upsetting the delicate balance that had existed thus far and sparking an all-out war between the farmers and the cowboys. (from Internet Movie Database)

Directed by Edwin L. Marin, the Abilene Town cast features Dan Mitchell, Ann Dvorak and Edgar Buchanan.

Blue Steel
John Carruthers, played by actor John Wayne, reveals that there is gold to mine in the hills in order to save a small town from distinction, much to the displeasure of an outlaw gang already aware of the secret. Carruthers goes undercover to unmask the crooked speculators who intend to buy up the supposedly worthless town that actually stands on top of a huge load of gold. (from Internet Movie Database)

Directed by Robert Bradbury, the Blue Steel cast features John Wayne, Eleanor Hunt and George 'Gabby' Hayes.

Modern Day Mavericks and Western Icons: Paintings by Carrie Fell

Come see the Booth Museum's current featured exhibit now through October 14. Modern Day Mavericks and Western Icons: Paintings by Carrie Fell features Denver, Colo. artist Carrie Fell's distinctive cowboys and other Western icons. Bold and edgy, yet simple and fluid, Fell's work gives traditional icons of the West a modern twist.

Fell's work uses dramatic color and line to give life to her faceless subjects. Her work tells the traditional stories of Western art and tells them through a wide-range of subjects. She began her career in art in 1985. She studied interior design in college and the drawing style of design as well as her use of color and negative space can be seen reflected in her work.

Her works can be seen in numerous galleries and exhibitions across the nation and Fell remains active in charitable causes through her donations and time. In 1996, she established Significance of Self, an educational program that helps young people express themselves using paint and other media.

Carrie led one of the Booth Museum’s featured Artist Workshops on Friday, September 21. She worked with approximately 15 participants, teaching and encouraging various painting and artistic techniques. She also signed autographs and demonstrated painting techniques for the class.

The next Artist Workshop will feature painter William Matthews on Friday, October 26. For more information on how you can sign up to participate in this day long Plein air painting workshop, contact Darlene Gunn at 770-607-3686 or visit http://www.boothmuseum.org/artworkshops.htm

To learn more about Carrie Fell and her work, visit http://www.carriefell.com/ or visit our Web site at http://www.boothmuseum.org/.

Getting Ready for the 5th Annual Cowboy Festival and Symposium

It is that time of year again!

Join us as we celebrate the 5th Annual Southeastern Cowboy Festival and Symposium, October 25-28 at the Booth Western Art Museum!

Bring the whole family out for a weekend of Western fun with special guests Riders In The Sky, Eli Barsi, KG and the Ranger, Doc Stovall and the Tumbleweed Cowboy Band, and artist William Matthews.

Indulge your inner cowboy or cowgirl with Western music and poetry, re-enactments of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, living history encampments, traditional Indian dances, a Western marketplace, and much much more!

For more information on the Southeastern Cowboy Festival and Symposium, call the Booth Museum at 770-387-1300 or visit boothmuseum.org.

Schedule of Events

Thursday, Oct. 25

5:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Doc Stovall and the Tumbleweed Cowboy Band will perform in the Museum Atrium.

5:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Meet the Artist Reception in the Borderlands and Theatre Lobby Galleries. View the exhibits William Matthews: Watercolors of the West and First Light: Native American Paintings by Jack Morris Jones and meet the artists. Refreshments served adjacent to the Borderlands Gallery.

7:00 pm: Featured Artist Presentation: William Matthews, from Denver, Colo., will present a lecture on his artistic style and career
highlights in the Booth Theatre. Matthews will be available to sign copies of the official Festival & Symposium poster and his new book in the Museum Store following the lecture.

Friday, Oct. 26

9:00 am - 4:00 pm: Artist’s Workshop with William Matthews, featured artist for the Festival and Symposium. Cost is $100 for members and $150 for non-members, limited class size, call 770-607-3686 for reservations.

10:00 am - 4:00 pm: Art History Lectures in the Booth Theatre. Join top scholars as they present their research on a variety of Western art topics.

Throughout the day: School Programs, Western entertainers will present cowboy music and poetry at several local schools. Call 770-387-1265 for availability.

7:00 pm: Western Concert in the Grand Theatre: featuring Western entertainers from around the country, including the award winning Doc Stovall and the Tumbleweed Cowboy Band, Eli Barsi and KG and the Ranger. A CD signing will follow in the Encore Room adjacent to the Theatre.

Saturday, Oct. 27

9:00 am - 5:00 pm: Cowboy Festival and Western Marketplace on the grounds of the Museum. Sample the wares of vendors ranging from Western art to collectibles. Western music, poetry, and old fashioned medicine shows throughout the day on two stages, plus fast draw competitions, three performances of the Re-enactment of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and three demonstrations of traditional Indian dances by the Big Mountain Family. Plus, living history encampments with demonstrations of pioneer skills from bygone days.

2:00 and 7:00 pm: Riders In The Sky in the Grand Theatre. Riders In The Sky have performed more than 5,000 concerts around the world, provided music for Toy Story 2 and Monsters Inc., and are members of the Grand Ole Opry. Join them for a family matinee performance at 2:00 pm or the evening show at 7:00 pm

Sunday, October 29

11:00 am: Cowboy Church. A non-denominational service featuring cowboy prayers and Western spiritual music.

Noon to 5:00 pm: Cowboy Festival and Western Marketplace on the grounds of the Museum.

Booth Art Academy Fused Glass Class

A touch of class…with glass!

The Booth Museum’s Booth Art Academy is underway! Artists of every skill level have flocked “back to school” to learn about various art techniques ranging from pottery to drawing taught by many well-known and talented instructors.

Licha Nicholson will be instructing a fused glass class that will be held from October 16 through the 18. In this class, each member will learn the secrets behind creating beautiful pieces of fused glass and will have two completed pieces to take home.

About the Instructor:
Licha Nicholson has created glass art, first stained and later, fused glass since 1983. She is a graduate of the famous Pilchuck Glass School founded by glass artist Dale Chihuly and patrons in 1971. She is currently the owner of Sundance Glass in Marietta, Georgia where she creates her beautiful one of a kind works of art. In the Spring of 2007, an exhibit of her work was on display at the Booth Western Art Museum.

The class meets October 16-18 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The class fee is $80 for Museum members and $100 for non-members. This fee includes supplies and firing in the kiln. The class will be held at the Resource Center building at 1 North Gilmer Street.

To register, call central scheduling at 770-607-3686. Click HERE for more information about the classes available through the Booth Art Academy.

The Booth Museum will host “Art for Lunch” on October 3 at 12:15 p.m.

It’s all about the leather!

“Art for Lunch” is your chance to learn how the stunning leather and beadwork objects in the exhibition Beautiful Utility: Decorated Objects from Cowboy and Indian Culture are made. Master leather and bead artisans will join Director of Special Projects Jim Dunham as he facilitates an interactive session that will include examples of work and short demonstrations.

Among those scheduled to participate are saddle-maker Rod Kibler, Karla VanHorn of Purdy Leather, and Alan Soellner of Chisholm’s Trail Old West Leather.

So visit us each month for a special lunch hour with the Booth Museum! “Art for Lunch” takes place on the first Wednesday of each month. Lectures by artists and historians coincide with current exhibits in the museum. Everyone is invited to learn more about the exhibits featured in our museum. Admission is free for members and included with Museum admission for not-yet members.

Photograph (upper right):

© Heiser of Denver, CO, Carved,
and Silver Mounted Saddle with Tapadaros, ca.1920,
Formally Owned by Boxing Promoter Tex Rickard (1871-1929)
Winchester Woodfire Grill and Gallery, Canton, GA collection R.L. Glosson, owner

Trails Plowed Under

Last night concluded our summer third Thursday evening entertainment. The entertainment featured our very own Jim Dunham and Doc Stovall in a show called Trails Plowed Under. Jim and Doc have performed this show for a number of groups but this was one of the rare times they actually performed it at the museum for the general public.
The show combines cowboy poetry and music with first person narrative from famed Western artist Charlie Russell. Jim Dunham takes on the persona of Charlie Russell and, before the audiences eyes recreates one of Russell's works. Last night, Jim recreated Indian With His Wincehester, which is currently in the museum's Faces Gallery. Jim paints for awhile and then he puts down his brush to talk to the audience. As Charlie Russell, he relates tales from Russell's life as told in the book "Trails Plowed Under." Some of the tales were humorous and some were serious, but they were all entertaining and provided a little insight into the life and times of Charlie Russell. While Jim worked on his painting, Doc entertained the audience with songs and poems - some about Charlie Russell and some relating more to the tale just told by "Charlie Russell."
The whole show last just over an hour and at the end the painting created by Jim was raffled off to a lucky member of the audience. Overall, Trails Plowed Under was a hit with the audience. If you weren't able to make it last night, keep your eyes open for the next time Trails Plowed Under shows at the museum.

New Art and Western Adventures at the August Art for Lunch

Today's Art for Lunch featured Booth Western Art Museum executive director Seth Hopkins who spoke on the new art in the galleries and the 2 recent member trips out West.

Regular visitors to the museum may have noticed a change in the galleries in the last couple of weeks. Fourteen new art peices are now on exhibit throughout the museum. Many of these pieces are not actually new to the museum. Some have been in the museum's possession for while waiting for just the right time to make their appearance while others have only recently arrived. Here is a quick summary of the newest additions to the galleries:

• "At the Base of Elephant Head" by Barbara Hill
• "No-O-Mun-Nee, Walks in the Rain, a Warrior" and "Smoking the Shield" by George Catlin
• "Barak, Young Buckaroon" by Carrie Ballentyne
• "Holding the Line" by Jim Fawcett
• "Passing Times" by Veryl Goodnight
• "Rodeo Dance" by Allan Mardon
• "A Whole New World" by Jim Colbert
• "From Dusk to Dawn" by Billy Schenck
• "Princess, Cheyenne Crow, & Buffalo Robe Bead Strip" by Ed Morgan
• "Times Remembered" by Clyde Burnette
• "Battle of Little Big Horn" by Kim Wiggins
• "Cowgirls, We Were Always There" by Burl Washington
• "Rattlesnake" by Lindsay Holt

Guests lucky enough to attend the Art for Lunch learned interesting facts and insights about the each of the artists and their work as well as the significance of the piece in the collection. If you haven't yet had a chance to view these works, be sure to make time to see them. Some will only be here for short time. Just a warning though - Lindsay Holt's rattlesnake painting is very lifelike and very large.

After running through the new additions to the galleries, the entire theatre took a little trip out west through photographs taken on the member trips this summer. The summer of 2007 gave members of the Booth Western Art Museum 2 opportunities to travel. One trip took a group of about 12 people to New Mexico where members had the opportunity to visit with a number of artists and visit artists' homes and studios. The other trip went to Oklahoma where approximately 20 members toured Woolarock, the Gilrease, and Philbrook. They also went to the Prix de West art sale at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. The pictures were great. Everyone on the trips looked like they were having a good time and the scenery was just beautiful. It was enough to make anyone who wasn't able to go jealous. :)

Sounds of Appalachia

We are so excited to have the Sounds of Appalachia String Band coming back to perform at the Museum on July 19. They first performed here back in March at our 4th Annual Southeast Cowboy Gathering during the Dutch oven cooking contest and they were wonderful. Despite the usually hot March weather, they played all afternoon under a canopy at the back of a chuck wagon and the seats in front of them had people in them all day long. The band has a great energy and enthusiasm that seems to spread to their audience. You can tell they genuinely have fun with what they do.

Belive it or not, the Sounds of Appalachia String Band is not a formal band. One member, Dr. Danny Byrd, describes them as a "get together" band. That is, they "get together" and play about once a week. Of the nine members in the group, only about 5 - 7 of them acutally "get together" at any given time. Their conflicting schedules seem to keep them from all getting together at the same time. Afterall, this is just a hobby for them.

That's right - this is a hobby band. The members come from all walks of life and have been playing thier respective musical instruments for varying lengths of time. What brought them together is a love of music and chance meetings that began about three years ago. Perhaps this is what gives them that fresh feel and explains why they appear to thoroughly enjoy what they do in front of a crowd.

March marked their first public performance as a band, and this month will be their second public performance. Of course, they all appear to be seasoned professionals. You'd never would have guessed back in March that this group had never performed in front of an audience before.

With a names like the Sounds of Appalachia, you can probably guess what type of music they play - bluegrass of course! Dr. Byrd describes it as more of a pre-bluegrass. In an interview, Dr. Byrd said that this music is made for dancing and typically has "more rhythm and than tune." The songs and music played by the Sounds of Appalachia come from the mountain areas of Virgina and North Carolina. You may find that many of the songs are familiar but have a slightly different sound that you are accustomed to hearing and there's actually a reason why. This style of music originated in England, Ireland and Scotland and made its way to the United States when people immigrated here. They songs and music were never written down, but were instead passed down orally through the generations. As the immigrants spread across the county and passed songs down through their familes, the songs began to take on different sounds in different areas of the country.

If you find yourself in the Cartersville, GA area on July 19, don't miss this show. It's sure to be a good time for all who attend.

Inventing America - A look at the Founding Fathers

Quick quiz - Who is Thomas Jefferson and what role did he play in American history?

Give up? Thomas Jefferson was the third President of the United States. He served from 1801 - 1809. Prior to his presidency, Jefferson was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, which officially declared the thirteen colonies free (independent) from England. And it is this declaration of freedom which we celebrate on July 4 every year.

To help children better understand the significance of the July 4 holiday, July's Children's Saturday program will focus on Thomas Jefferson and other men who helped to create and shape our nation. Children will gather in the Carolyn & James Millar Presidential Gallery on the upper level of the Museum near the bronze statue of Thomas Jefferson (which happens to show him penning the famous document). There they will learn about Jefferson and a few of his many achievements (there are so many to choose from).

Childre will also hear the story "President Adam's Alligator and other White House Pets" by Peter Barnes, Betty Shepard, and Lisa Pinnell and illustrated by Cheryl Shaw Barnes. (That's right, John Quincy Adams kept an alligator in the White House.) Children can then vote on their favorite White House pet.

And no Children's Saturday would be complete without an art activity. This time children will complete a sketching activity withe Jefferson bronze as their model.

This is definitely a Children's Saturday not to be missed. Who knew there we so many interesting things to know about our Presidents!

*Children's Saturday programs are generally geared towards children 12 years old and younger. The only cost to participate is a $1 materials fee for the art activity. Adults are charged standard Museum admission, which is $8 (free for Museum members). Children's Saturday runs from 10:00 am - Noon. No reservations required.

Beautiful Utility: Decorated Objects of Cowboy and Indian Country

"Beautiful Utility: Decorated Objects of Cowboy and Indian Country" has only been open a few weeks, but it has already proven to be a successful exhibtion. With over 150 objects spanning approximately 200 years of history, the exhibition brings a different form of art to the Booth Museum. The idea behind the exhibition it that people throughout history have enjoyed being surrounded by art in all aspects of their lives, from the everyday, routine stuff to the special occasions. "Beautiful Utlity" shows s a number of ojects from Indians of the American West and Cowboys that demonstrate the ways in which they surrounded themselves by art - even 200 years ago. You can even see the ways in which people choose to surround themselves with decorative Western items today - items that fall outside the realm of paintings, drawings and sculpture.

"Beautiful Utility" was curated by the Booth Museum's very own Jim Dunham. Jim's role at the Museum is typical Director of Special Projects. He is also the Museum's resident historian, gunslinger, and an artist, so curating this show was a natural fit for him. When Jim was first asked to curate the show, he was challenged with the task of trying to find items for exhibtion from the North Georgia area. Jim was skeptical at first, but that soon changed. Surprisingly, all the items in "Beautiful Utility" came from 14 families who live within 50 miles of the Booth Museum. Who knew such wonderful peices could be found right here in North Georgia.

"Beautiful Utility: Decorated Objects of Cowboy and Indian Culture" is on exhibit until September 16, 2007. Don't miss this opportunity to see these beautiful objects while they are here at the Museum.

Explore the West Without Leaving the South!

Looking for something different to do this summer? Then visit the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville, Georgia. Located just 40 miles northwest of Atlanta and roughly 60 miles south of Chattanooga, Tennessee, the Booth Western Art Museum provides visitors the opportunity to explore the west without leaving the South. The core of the Museum's permanent collection focuses on Western artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. Artists represented in the collection include Howard Terpning, Donna Howell-Sickles, Roy Anderson, Thom Ross, Maynard Dixon, Andy Warhol, Carrie Ballantyne, Carrie Fell, Steve Penley, Kim Wiggins, Carrie Fell and many more.

The Booth Western Art Museum collection also includes a Western illustration gallery and a gallery of Western movie posters. In addition to the Western art, the Booth Western Art Museum has contemporary Civil War art and the Carolyn & James Millar Presidential Gallery containing an original signed letter from every President.

Throughout the year, the Booth Western Art Museum hosts a number of exhibitions. Over the past year, exhibitions have included photographs by Jay Dusard, Steve Fitch, and Gene Peach; Native American baskets from the Lauren Rodgers Museum of Art; Native American rugs from the Teecs Nos Pos Trading Post in Arizona; art of the Taos and Santa Fe art colonies collected by Billy Schenck as well as Billy Schenck's own artwork; and ponies from the Trail of Painted Ponies. The Museum has also host exhibtions by other artist from around the Southeast who work in the field of Western art.

The Booth Western Art Museum is a great place to bring the family. Children and adults alike can learn about Western art and American history in a fun environment. If you bring the kids, be sure to visit Sagebrush Ranch. This interactive gallery lets children learn about art and history through a number of hands on activities. They can ride in a rocking stage coach, play at a child size chuck wagon, play checkers in the farm house, read a book in the bunk house, and dress up like a cowgirl or cowboy and then draw themselves while looking in a mirror. They can also learn about light, color, and composition in artwork.