World Premiere: An Artist at Work

The Booth Museum is pleased to announce the opening of the Kenneth M. Freeman Exhibition: An Artist at Work. Located in the Temporary Exhibition Gallery, the show consists of fifty oil paintings and sculptures that feature working cowboys and cowgirls, rodeo heroes, Native American elders and children, mountain men, Western landscapes, and Buffalo Soldiers.

In addition to the 50 paintings and sculptures of Kenneth Freeman, the exhibition also incorporates a re-creation of his studio complete with easel and artifacts which show the process Freeman used to create his artwork. There is also a section on Freeman, the illustrator, showcasing a display of book covers and posters including ‘Fallon’ by Louis L’Amour, and a special section on the Buffalo Soldiers.

On January 16, a Members Only Reception will be held at the Museum. Members may view An Artist at Work and enjoy refreshments in the Café. At 7:00 p.m., Curator Bonnie Adams will present a lecture on Freeman's artistic career in the Booth Theatre.

Be one of the first to see this World Premiere!

Booth Expansion Now Open

It's been quite some time since the last post. Things have been busy at the Booth Museum with the opening of our new 40,000 square foot expansion. Now 120,000 square feet, the Booth Western Art Museum is the second largest art museum in Georgia, and houses the largest permanent exhibition of Western art in America. Doubling the museum's exhibition space, the new wing houses Western art, an expanded Civil War art gallery, two-story sculpture court, more than 100 Native American artifacts, and a 250 seat banquet hall.

With the expansion also came the opportunity to exhibit loaned works from the 19th and early 20th century. Allowing visitors to explore the first 100 years of Western art will give people a more complete view of the Western art traditions that still influence living artists today. Among the works on long term loan to the Booth are examples by Frederic Remington, Charles M. Russell, George Catlin, and many others. This historic overview provides the perfect jumping off point to explore the museum’s premier collection of work by living artists including Howard Terpning, Ken Riley, Martin Grelle and others, as well as contemporary trendsetters Thom Ross, Nelson Boren, Billy Scheck, Donna Howell-Sickles, and many more.

Even if you have visited the Booth Museum in the past, another trip is a must. Visitors will be amazed at how much the galleries have evolved, and how much the collection has expanded.

Happy May!

It's the first of May and things are bustling here at the Museum as usual. Activities for May are slowing down just slightly as school winds down for the year, but the staff is busy preparing for everything that will be going on this summer. And no doubt you are starting to make your plans for the summer too. Be sure to check our calendar of events for the lastest on what's happening at the Museum this summer, and don't forget to sign up for an art class at the Booth Art Academy. The Art Academy also summer day camps kids, so there's no reason for them to be bored this summer. Summer also means the return of the Third Thursday Enterainment series - Jim Dunham and Doc Stovall will present Bullets and Ballads in June, Drivetrain will perform for us in July, and Jim Dunham will do a program on the Roosevelts in August. We hope you make plans to join us!

"Natural Flow"

The Booth Western Art Museum just received a new sculpture. The 14-foot bronze sculpture named, “Natural Flow” honors Native American Indians and their bond with the land. Artist Nick Wilson, a wildlife artist in Tubac, Arizona dreamed of doing a piece of this size for seven years and has been working hard with our museum for almost three years to make that dream come true. "It’s a tribute to Native Americans and their connection to the natural earth and its wildlife through time," Wilson said. “Indians and animals have a closer relationship together than the white man does. The cascading water moving from the mountain lion to the pool where the warriors kneel highlights that connection as well as its life-giving importance to both man and animal. Man and animal were separate equals relying on the same resource. Water is a necessary element for survival that brought them together.”

This 2500 lb, 8ft wide and 7ft in depth sculpture took a total of three days to install at the Booth Western Art Museum. With the help of many, the sculpture now stands in our museum’s lobby. Nick Wilson is a successful wildlife artist, and we are thrilled to add his sculpture to our permanent collection. Its arrival also happened to coincide with the recent opening of our new temporary exhibition, Wild at Heart: Selections from the National Museum of Wildlife Art. Come experience this massive, breathtaking sculpture for yourself at the Booth Western Art Museum. Below is a slide show displaying the hard work everyone did in getting “Natural Flow” into the museum.

2009 Summer Camp Programs

Come let your children experience learning and creativity at the Booth Western Art Museum’s 2009 Summer Camps. As summer is fast approaching, many parents are busy looking for fun and educational activities for their children. If you find yourself in that category, consider enrolling your children in Art Camp at the Booth this summer. They will be able to try a variety of art projects that include: painting, 3-D sculpting, pottery and much more. The Education Department at the Museum has planned exciting and fun-filled summer camps just for kids. To find out more go to summer camp programs listed on the Booth Museum website.


Mixed Media Fun (Ages 7 - 12)
Try it all! There will be all kinds of different art-making materials and techniques in this fun-filled art camp. Explore the fabulous art collection of the Booth Western Art Museum, work with a professional artist, and try your hand at a variety of art projects including drawing, painting, printmaking and mixed media.
Instructor: Peggy Cline
Tuesday - Friday, June 16 - 19
9:00 am - Noon

3-D Sculpture (Ages 7 - 12)
Move from the 2 dimensional world of paper and canvas into the third dimension of sculpture. Discover the 3-D world of art production using model magic, polymer clay, paper, wire and found objects as you take your artistic skills to the next level.
Instructor: Peggy Cline
Tuesday - Friday, June 23 - 26
9:00 am - Noon


Jr. Pottery ~ Hand Building (Ages 7 and Up)
Come play in the clay! Get your hands muddy while you learn hand-building techniques like pinch pots, coil and slab building. This program is for all levels of clay enthusiasts.
Instructor: Peggy Cline
Tuesday - Friday, June 2 - 5
9:00 am – Noon

Drawing and Cartooning (Ages 7 - 12)
Do you love to draw? Do you enjoy cartoons and comic books? Then this is the camp for you! We will be drawing animals, people, imaginary landscapes and explore perspective and shading.
Instructor: Peggy Cline
Tuesday - Friday, July 14 - 17
1:00 - 4:00 pm

Art Bugs (Ages 4 - 6)
Bring a rainbow of color to your summer! Explore different types of art media with all new activities. Make masterpieces, paint, and get your hands dirty in this artistic adventure.
Instructor: Cheri Perkins
Tuesday - Thursday, June 9 – 11
9:00 am - 11:00 am

Jr. Pottery ~ Wheel and Hand-building (Ages 7 and Up)
Summers not quite over yet, so pack in the muddy fun before school starts! In this pottery class there will be all new hand-building projects, and plenty of time to work on the potter’s wheel. This program is for all levels of clay enthusiasts.
Instructor: Jayme Layne
Monday - Friday, July 20 - 24
9:00 am - Noon

Wild at Heart

Beginning in April, come see the Wild at Heart: Selections from the National Museum of Wildlife Art exhibit, located at the Booth Western Art Museum from April 11-July 19. The exhibit is drawn from the collection of the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, featuring paintings and sculptures by the greatest wildlife artists of the 19th and 20th century. Artists represented include deceased masters such as Albert Bierstadt, George Catlin and Charles Russell, along with contemporary masters like Tucker Smith, Bob Kuhn and Robert Bateman.

At this spectacular exhibit, come see the diverse wildlife art as it depicts the natural world and the creatures that inhabit it. Through the Wild at Heart artwork, one can see how art began with prehistoric cave paintings and evolved into the modern art of today. Whether it is through the naturalist standpoint or the humanist vision, both show their relations to animals and their appreciation between humans and nature. The exhibit offers fun and excitement for people of all ages that enjoy wildlife and its natural environment.

The Black West and Cowboy Gathering Wrap-up

The Booth Museum’s The Black West: Black Cowboys Buffalo Soldiers, and Untold Stories exhibit and the 6th Annual Southeastern Cowboy Gathering both had great success. The Black West exhibit brought people in from all over the country; we had visitors from twenty nine different states stop by and explore the exhibit and the museum itself. We were honored to be a part of such an educational exhibit that explored some lesser known stories about how the West was developed.

The 6th Annual Southeastern Cowboy Gathering also turned out to be a great, exciting event. Even with the rainy, cold weather, we had great attendance – our largest attendance for this event yet! Guests seemed to really get into the cowboy spirit by entering one of the many contests we held, enjoying a chuck wagon lunch, participating in the cowboy poetry workshop, enjoying the entertainment, and filling the atmosphere with true excitement. We just want to thank everyone who came to the Gathering and also thank all those who had a hand in putting everything together. This great event definitely wouldn’t be possible without you.

Only two days left!

The 6th Annual Cowboy Gathering begins this Thursday! If you haven't had a chance to visit our website yet for the schedule events, it's all right here. You can also visit our website for more information.

Thursday, March 12
10:00 am – 8:00 pm: Museum Open

5:00 – 7:00 pm: Meet the Artists Reception and Western Music. In the Theatre Lobby Gallery, meet artist John Nieto and view Contemporary Visions of the West: The Art of John Nieto while Doc Stovall and the Tumbleweed Cowboy Band perform Western music in the Atrium.

7:00 pm: Featured Artists Presentation in the Booth Theatre. John Nieto will discuss his career and show examples of his work. Following the presentation, Nieto will be available to sign copies of the official Gathering poster in the Museum Store.

Friday, March 13
10:00 am – 6:30 pm: Museum Open

9:00 am - 1:45 pm: School Programs. Several entertainers in town for the Gathering will perform at local schools. Call Doc Stovall at 770-387-1265 for details and availability.

7:00 pm: End of Trail Supper and Concert among the chuck wagons gathered on the Museum festival grounds. Dinner will be served at 6:00pm. (In case of inclement weather this event will be held in the Booth Theatre.)

Saturday, March 14
10:00 am – 6:30 pm: Museum Open

8:00 am –Noon: Southeastern Chuck Wagon Cook-off on the Museum festival grounds. Teams of cooks will prepare beans, meat, potatoes, bread and desserts just as they did on the cattle drives of the 1800s. Ticket holders will be served at Noon. Tickets are $12 and should be purchased in advance at the Museum. Winners will be announced at 2:00 pm.

10:00 am – 3:30 pm: Open Fiddle, Mandolin, Guitar, and Banjo Contests at the Grand Theatre. Top musicians from around the Southeast compete for cash prizes and bragging rights; mandolin begins at 10:00 am, banjo at 11:00 am, guitar (flat-picking) at noon, junior fiddle division (under 18) at 1:00 pm, and open fiddle division at 2:00 pm. Participation is limited; contestants should register in advance by calling Doc Stovall at 770-387-1265. (Regular Museum admission will be charged to the public for this event; $3 for Booth members, and $1 for children 12 and under.)

10:00 am - 4:00 pm: Western movies in the Booth Theatre

10:30 am - 3:00 pm: Continuous family entertainment on the Museum Festival Grounds

10:30 am - Noon: Adult Cowboy Poetry Workshop in the Booth Training Room led by Jerry Warren.

11:00 am – 4:00 pm: Children’s Saturday Activities, hands-on activities where children can make their own Western art masterpieces offered at stations throughout the Museum.

7:00 pm, Western Concert in the Grand Theatre featuring R.W. Hampton

Sunday, March 9
11:00 am – 5:00 pm: Museum Open

11:00 am: Cowboy Church in the Booth Theatre – A non-denominational church service with a Western flair.

Noon – 4:30 pm: Dutch Oven Cooking Contest & Bluegrass music on the Museum festival grounds. Top cooks will compete for prizes and bragging rights in three categories: bread, main dish and dessert. Teams will turn food into the judges beginning at 1:00 pm and serve samples to the public. Winners will be announced at 4:00 p.m.

Noon – 4:00 pm: Children’s Activities, hands-on activities where children can make their own Western art masterpieces offered at stations throughout the Museum.

12:30 - 4:30 pm: Georgia Youth Poetry Contest Finals in the Booth Theatre

Cowboy Gathering Count Down!

With only a week to go, we are anxiously getting the last minute details together for the 6th Annual Cowboy Gathering here at the Booth Western Art Museum. In order to make this a truly unique experience, everyone is working hard as we prepare for what is going to be an unbelievable weekend filled with the End of the Trail Supper and Concert amongst the chuck wagons, Dutch Oven Cooking, fiddle contest and many more activities the whole family can enjoy. Our featured artist John Nieto, and featured entertainer, R.W. Hampton, are sure to bring excitement to this year’s Cowboy Gathering as they share with us their many talents. Everything is almost done and now all we need is you to share in the fun. Come and be apart of the 6th Annual Cowboy Gathering, March 12-15.

Children's Saturday

Here at the Booth Western Art Museum, we strive to educate children in a fun, positive atmosphere. Once a month we have what we call, “Children’s Saturday” where we have special exhibits open for children to tour and learn new and interesting facts. Our next “Children’s Saturday” will be on February 14, 2009, from 10:00am-Noon. On this day children will get a chance to explore the history of the 9th and 10th U.S. Cavalry, and discover why the Native Americans called them Buffalo Soldiers. Learn about the vital role they played during the Indian Wars and in escorting settlers headed west. At 11:00am, Ms. Keven Lynch and two storytellers will perform “What is a Buffalo Soldier?” based on Ms. Lynch’s book. Go to our website, http://www.boothmuseum.org/, and look at our calendar to get the date and times of our upcoming Children’s Saturday. Don’t forget to visit Sagebrush Ranch where children can explore the West while having fun!

Presidential Inauguration

The Booth Western Art Museum is known for showcasing Western art of various kinds. If you have not been to the Booth Museum, what you may not know is that we have a whole exhibit dedicated to our United States Presidents. In the Carolyn and James Millar Presidential Gallery, you can learn about the history of our nation and interesting facts about each President. For each President, you’ll see a portrait, an original letter written by that President, and fun facts about them and their time in office. Since it is the week of inauguration, we thought this would be a perfect time to introduce this exhibit for those who have not seen it and re-introduce it to those who have. Soon we will be putting up a portrait, a letter, and fun new facts about our 44th president, Barack Obama. This could not be a better time to have our Black West exhibit, which presents blacks of the West, since we are now making history once again by introducing the United States’ first black president. Please check with the Booth Museum in February as we hope to be able to unveil the portrait and letter from President Barack Obama on or around Presidents’ Day.

The Black West Exhibitions

On January 16, we had the great honor of having co-curator of The Black West: Buffalo Soldiers, Black Cowboys, and Untold Stories, “Cowboy” Mike Searles, come in and tour Museum staff, volunteers, and docents through the exhibit and talk about its many paintings and sculpture. There are so many wonderful, unheard stories told in each work of art about the roles and contributions of Blacks in the West that “Cowboy Mike” brings to life. Stories of Stage Coach Mary, Bill Pickett and Lieutenant Flipper are just a few mentioned in The Black West exhibit.

Bernard Williams is one of the 16 artists featured in The Black West exhibit. As you enter the exhibit his first painting, “African Cowboy” located on the left wall, illustrates the corruption of tradition of the W. African “herdsmen” to the American cow “boy”. The Figures in the painting symbolize the settlement of America and the role of African culture in its language.

Please come and experience The Black West for yourself - you are guaranteed to learn something new and fascinating! The exhibit will be here until March 22, 2009, so hurry!