Cowboy Crossings at National Cowboy Museum

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK October 18 — Cowboy Crossings, one of the nation’s foremost annual Western art sales and exhibitions, is now open to the public at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. During opening weekend, Oct. 13-15, gross sales exceeded $1 million, with a portion of those proceeds benefitting the Museum’s educational programs.

The exhibition offers a unique combination of more than 130 pieces of working art with fine art, featuring the Cowboy Artists of America (CAA) as well as the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association (TCAA). Eighty eight paintings and sculptures by 19 participating CAA artists, and 44 traditional working art pieces by 15 participating TCAA artists are on display.

“We are always pleased by the tremendous support for Western art from across the country,” said Museum President and CEO Steven Karr, “and we consider this yet another successful year for Cowboy Crossings. The combination of working art, such as saddles, bits and spurs, and rawhide braiding, along with the fine art of painting and sculpture, helps many individuals connect with the West in ways they might not have previously considered.”

CAA artist Martin Grelle of Clifton, Texas, Apsaalooke Signal Maker was the show’s highest selling piece at $120,350. The highest selling TCAA piece was a saddle by artist Rick Bean of Meridian, Idaho, selling for $39,500.

The CAA exhibition is available through Nov. 27, 2016, and TCAA will be on display through Dec. 31, 2016. Unsold art is available for purchase through The Museum Store at (405) 478-2250, ext. 228. For more information, visit http://nationalcowboymuseum.org/cowboy-crossings/.

A full list of winners from the weekend’s awards show is as follows:

o The CAA Stetson Award, selected by active CAA members as the best compilation of individual works, was Grant Redden of Evanston, Wyoming, for his five oil paintings: I Long for Spring, Footweary Night Trail, New Snow on an Old Fence, Ranch Work, and Wyoming Hayfields.

o The Anne Marion Best of Show Award, chosen by anonymous artist judges from the four gold medal winners, was given to Paul Moore of Norman, Oklahoma. This is the second consecutive year that Moore has been honored with the Best of Show Award sponsored by Mrs. Anne Marion of Fort Worth, Texas.

o Tom Browning of Powell Butte, Oregon, earned the Ray Swanson Memorial Award for his oil painting, The Softer Side. The award is given for a work of art that best communicates a moment in time, capturing emotion.

o Grant Redden received the Oil Painting Gold Medal Award for his painting, New Snow on an Old Fence.

o Loren Entz of Billings, Montana, received the Oil Painting Silver Medal Award for his painting, Country Kitchen.

o Trying to Outrun Avanyu, a bronze sculpture by Paul Moore was the Sculpture Gold Medal Award winner.

o Choke Cherry Harvest Along the Pine River, an Italian marble sculpture by Oreland C. Joe, Sr. (Navajo/Ute), of Kirtland, New Mexico, was the Sculpture Silver Medal Award winner.

o Teal Blake of Saint Jo, Texas, received the Water Soluble Gold Medal Award for his watercolor painting, Amongst the Cottonwoods.

o Bruce R. Greene of Clifton, Texas, received the Drawing and Other Media Gold Medal Award for his contè and espresso on paper drawing, Calgary Mud 2016.

o R.S. Riddick of Tucson, Arizona, received the Drawing and Other Media Silver Medal Award for his charcoal and contè drawing, Study for, Once was Lost.

o The Buyers’ Choice Award, selected by show attendants, was awarded to Bruce R. Greene for his oil on canvas painting, Old Friends and Fine Horses.

The TCAA’s do not confer awards for their pieces in the Cowboy Crossings exhibition, instead choosing to offer cash scholarships to a select number of up-and-coming traditional artists. This year’s fellowship winners are:

o TCAA Fellowship for Cowboy Craftsmen recipients are Jean Luc Parisot and Whit Olsen.

o Kain Garcia and Graeme Quisenberry received the Emerging Artist Award.

About the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

Nationally accredited by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is located in Oklahoma City’s Adventure District at the junction of Interstates 44 and 35, the state’s exciting Adventure Road corridor. The Museum offers annual memberships beginning at just $40. For more information, visit www.nationalcowboymuseum.org. For high-resolution images related to the National Cowboy Museum or this event, visit http://nationalcowboymuseum.org/mediapics/.