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!