Staff Chili Cook-Off

The Booth Museum "spiced" things up a bit this week with a friendly chili competition for the staff. Overall, we had seven different chilies entered in the competition with over 30 votes submitted. It came down to a mere ONE vote, but in the end, the Booth Cafe came away victorious!

The Cafe Staff is pictured here: Manager Debra Abernathy, Manesa Short, Juana Clark and Amy Ong.


The winning chili: (well, what was left!)

Several people on staff commented how interesting it was that each chili could taste SO very different! Though they were all delicious, we had quite the variety: cinnamon spiced, ground beef and kielbasa, vegetarian, hot and spicy, and more. It was a wonderful variation of chilies and we even had some delicious side items and desserts to go along. Here are a few snap shots:

Tickets Now on Sale for Sweethearts in Carhartts and Red Steagall

HEAR YE, HEAR YE! Tickets are now on sale for the Friday and Saturday night concerts of the 7th Annual Southeastern Cowboy Gathering.

On the evening of Friday, March 12, guests are invited to a special concert in the Booth Ballroom with musical guests Sweethearts in Carhartts. Comprised of Western poets, singers and songwriters Jean Prescott, Yvonne Hollenbeck and Liz Masterson, Sweethearts in Carhartts showcases the talent of these three amazing musicians while also paying tribute to the women of the West. Tickets are $15 for Booth members and $18 for not-yet-members.

Saturday evening’s concert, held at the Grand Theatre, features famed Western singer, songwriter, poet, and guitarist Red Steagall. A native of Texas, Steagall has entertained audiences all around the world and has been called “a singing scholar of the old West” by James Earl Jones and “the best of the best” by Rex Allen. In 2006, Steagall was named Poet Laureate for the state of Texas making him the first “cowboy” poet laureate for the state. Tickets for Steagall’s performance are $25 for not-yet-members, $20 for Booth members and $10 for students.

Each performance will allow guests to experience a taste of the Western way of living. Sweethearts in Carharrts and Steagall intertwine their poetic lyrics with Western musical instruments – each reminiscent of gathering ‘round the Chuck wagon after a long day. Be sure to purchase your tickets before it's too late!

In addition to the concerts on Friday and Saturday night, the 7th Annual Southeastern Cowboy Gathering will include chuck wagon and Dutch oven cooking contests; mandolin, fiddle, guitar and banjo contests; children’s activities; and an evening lecture with featured artist Nelson Boren.

For more information on the 7th Annual Southeastern Cowboy Gathering, or to purchase tickets, call 770-387-1300.

Boys & Girls Club Tour the Modern West

Throughout the year, children from the local Boys & Girls Club and Hands of Christ After School Programs frequent the Booth Western Art Museum. Staff members from the Museum provide guided tours for the children and use the Museum’s collection to inspire them both about art and the American West.

This week, the outreach program brought students from the Boys & Girls Club to the Booth Museum. The students participated in the Cowboys, Indians and Art tour, which mostly took place in the new Modern West gallery. Designed for young art lovers, this hands-on program introduces children to basic art concepts such as line, shape and color while enhancing their observation skills through developmentally appropriate activities designed around the Museum’s collection.

Snow Day at the Booth Museum

While we have yet to see our Western snowmen friends ride in, the staff and visitors of the Booth Museum are enjoying the beautiful snow falling on the museum grounds today.

Booth Art Academy Open House a Great Success!

This past Tuesday, February 9, Booth Art Academy hosted an Open House and Artist Demonstrations for those interested in learning more about BAA and the classes scheduled for the Spring semester. Approximately 45 people braced the cold and rainy weather to meet artists Licha Nicholson, who demonstrated techniques on glass fusing, Connie Haralson, who made and displayed her beautiful pottery, and Joe Head, who provided samples of his calligraphy for visitors. The first class offered this semester at BAA is Head's calligraphy class scheduled for February 20. Nicholson's glass fusing class will be offered February 23 and 25, and Haralson's pottery class will be offered four Tuesdays in March beginning on March 9. For more information about these classes or other upcoming classes including price, call 770-387-3849, or visit http://www.boothmuseum.org/artacademy/index.htm.

Here are a few snapshots from the Open House:

Glass Fusing instructor Licha Nicholson gives Lana and Sasha Startseva a piece of her artwork as a raffle prize for the two lucky winners.

Joe Head demonstrates his calligraphy techniques:

Visitors of the Booth Art Academy watch a demonstration given by one of the guest artists.

Connie Harlson poses with Ollene Kordecki, who won a pottery piece of Harlson's in a raffle drawing.

Highlights Tour Offered Daily

If you have never been to the Booth Western Art Museum, or haven’t been since the 40,000 square foot addition, you must visit soon! And what better way to become acclimated to the new pieces of art than to take advantage of the Highlights Tour offered daily to Museum guests.

The Highlights Tour takes place at 1:30 p.m. every day the Museum is open. Additionally, groups of 15 or more can call in advance to arrange a Highlight’s Tour at another time. It lasts up to an hour and a half, and introduces visitors to each gallery theme with some in-depth discussion of one or two works in each gallery.


To become a docent, individuals must attend an 18-week course at the Booth Museum. Here, veteran docent Spencer Dillard leads a training session for the docent class.


Beginning in the Museum Atrium, the docent leading the tour will point out the two Harry Jackson murals located on either end of the Great Hall. From there, the docent leads tour participants into the Enduring Traditions Gallery – a new gallery which allows guests to experience a 100 year overview of early Western art with examples of work by George Catlin, Charles M. Russell, Frederic Remington and more. The docent will then take guests through the First Peoples, Colliding Cultures, and Wild, Wooly & Wicked? galleries before leading the group upstairs.

On the second floor, docents highlight the American Cowboy, Faces, and Heading West galleries before moving into the new wing and pointing out some notable sculptures in the two-story sculpture court, and works in the new Modern West gallery which also includes more than 200 Native American artifacts.

While the tour gives a great overview of the Museum, guests are encouraged to go back into each gallery as well as explore the Civil War Gallery, Presidential Gallery, and lower level of the Museum. So what are you waiting for?! Come enjoy a delicious lunch in the Museum Café and then take advantage of our Highlights Tour at 1:30 p.m.

As always, call 770-387-1300 or visit http://www.boothmuseum.org/ for more information.

Exhibit Depicts Contributions of African Americans

In correlation with Black History Month, the Booth Western Art Museum is pleased to announce Acworth artist Ernest Varner and his current exhibit, The Longest Mile, now on display.

(In this photo, Ernest Varner shows his piece Commander-in-Chief, and explains the long road that African Americans have taken from Buffalo Soldier to the highest military rank there is – Commander in Chief.)

Drawing on his experience in the military and his passion for art, Varner created The Longest Mile to pay tribute to the Buffalo Soldier and show just how far African Americans have come in military ranking. Sergeant Major was generally the highest rank a Buffalo Soldier could earn, and through the years African Americans have moved higher and higher. General Colin Powell held the highest U.S. government rank of all African Americans when he was appointed Secretary of State under the Bush Administration, until President Obama became Commander in Chief.

Varner’s work celebrates a diversity of heroes to encourage Americans to celebrate their ethnic heritage and inspire the next generation of Americans regarding the journey ahead. His work will be on display in the Theatre Lobby Gallery until March 14.


(A Noble Past, which is part of the Booth Museum’s permanent collection, is one of the paintings in The Longest Mile exhibition. It depicts a Buffalo Soldier standing alongside an African tribesman; a piece which reflects a proud African heritage.)

Evening Lecture at the Booth Museum:
Using the images from his exhibition, Varner will present an Evening Lecture in the Booth Theatre on Thursday, February 18, at 7:00 p.m., and will describe why he became interested in portraying the history of African Americans in the West. He will be joined on the program by Jim “Hank” Scott a long-time researcher and Buffalo Soldier re-enactor. Scott will describe the heroic efforts of the Buffalo Soldiers.