As part of the ongoing Nevada Humanities Exhibition Series, a new exhibition, Colors of the West: Youth Art from the 2020 National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, opened online on June 4, 2020 at nevadahumanities.org and will be on display as a virtual gallery indefinitely. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Colors of the West, which would normally be on display to the public at the Nevada Humanities Program Gallery in Las Vegas, will be hosted virtually. A Colors of the West curator’s talk will take place virtually on Thursday, July 2, 2020, premiering at 7 pm on the Nevada Humanities Facebook page at: facebook.com/nevadahumanities. The exhibition will be on continuous display on the Nevada Humanities website.
Colors of the West: Youth Art from the 2020 National Cowboy Poetry Gathering is a sampling of the works that are on display each year at the Western Folklife Center’s G Three Bar Theater during the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada. The exhibition was curated by Western Folklife Center staff: Meg Glaser, Artistic Director; Jan Petersen, Youth Education Coordinator; and Brad McMullen, Programs & National Cowboy Poetry Gathering Manager and is part of their educational programs for Elko County students Kindergarten to grade 12. Each year, art teachers are given the theme and students create works in a wide range of media and techniques.
“The students in the Elko County School District are very fortunate that the arts are taught in all levels, they are exposed to different mediums, learn to present difficult concepts visually, and these student become an integral part of the gathering,” said Jan Petersen, Youth Education Coordinator for the Western Folklife Center. ”We have great kids who jump in and use their incredible minds to create art.”
Connecting the people of Nevada’s Elko County to Las Vegas and to the wider world through the work of young artists speaks to the core of how the humanities can deepen the understanding of the lives and experiences that are found throughout Nevada. By featuring the work of these students, the Western Folklife Center ensures a place for the future storytellers of Nevada. Nevada Humanities, which has worked with the with the Western Folklife Center and the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering for the past 36 years, is honored to host this exhibition.
“When I see the artworks created by Elko County school children each year at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, I am reminded of how our western roots run deep in Nevada. Each child finds unique ways to express their own personality and talent through their class art project. From expressive sheep to patterned cowboy boots to beautiful Nevada mountain landscapes, each child renders their creative vision in meaningful ways that resonate with people from across the world.” said Christina Barr, Nevada Humanities Executive Director.
About the Western Folklife Center: The Western Folklife Center gives voice to the traditional and dynamic cultures of the American West and uses story and cultural expression to connect it to the world. For 36 years the world has come to Elko, NV, to be a part of the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, to share poems, music, art, and stories. The education programming is made possible with thanks to funding by the Nevada Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, Nevada Gold Mines, Wrangler, and other donors. For more information visit: westernfolklife.org.
About Nevada Humanities: Nevada Humanities is one of 56 independent, nonprofit state and territorial humanities councils affiliated with the National Endowment for the Humanities. With offices in Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada Humanities creates public programs and supports public projects statewide that define the Nevada experience and facilitate the exploration of issues that matter to the people of Nevada and their communities. For more information about Nevada Humanities visit nevadahumanities.org.