Robert "Shoofly" Shufelt, one of the artists featured in the Phippen Museum's current exhibit, Western Art the Cowboy Way, has generously donated a signed and numbered stone lithograph entitled, Chores, to our 3rd annual Fall Gathering raffle. The 3rd Annual Fall Gathering will take place on the evening of Saturday, September 8, 2007 at the Phippen Museum. This event commemorates the original grand opening ceremonies of the Phippen Museum. This year's festivities will begin at 5:00pm; admission to this fundraising event is $20 per person. Raffle tickets can be purchased at the Phippen Museum or online at www.phippenartmuseum.org for $10 a ticket or $15 for two tickets. You don't have to be present to win.
Back in 2005 the Phippen Museum held the very first these Fall Gatherings in an attempt to reconnect with its roots and create a signature fundraising event that would bring together western art enthusiasts and the local ranching community here at the Phippen Museum. This celebration was patterned after the original opening ceremonies for the Museum back in 1984. Along with Dinner and performances by cowboy fiddlers, there was an art auction and a very special branding ceremony. Local ranchers, especially those who were instrumental in the founding of the Museum burned their brands onto the wooden beams around the Museum's porch creating a lasting testament to the connection between the Phippen Museum and the community that gave it birth. You can't have cowboy art without cowboys and you can't have cowboys without ranches. In order to recreate this special branding ceremony the Museum acquired a beam from the original American Ranch inn and stage stop from Rex Hinshaw. The Inn was built on the American Ranch in Williamson Valley by J.H. Lee in the 1880's. He acquired the 160 acre American Ranch from Dan Connor, an original member of the Walker party, in a trade and proceeded to build the Inn with his wife Agnes to accommodate the many travelers along the Hardyville road. Guests at that first Fall Gathering in 2005 could, with a small donation to the Museum, burn their brands onto the beam from the American Ranch Stage Stop and so add it to the Museum's collection of over 70 brands.
This year when Western Art enthusiasts, Museum supporters and local ranching families gather at the Phippen Museum for the 3rd Annual Fall Gathering fundraiser they will be treated to a delicious Western style barbecue dinner, listen to authentic Western music performed by local musicians, and tour our current exhibit, Western Art the Cowboy Way. This exciting exhibit features the art of sculpter Bill Nebeker, CA, and pencil artist Bob "Shoofly" Shufelt. Space is limited so please make your reservation today. All reservations must be received no later than August 22, 2006. Tickets can be purchased at the Phippen Museum, by phone at (928) 778-1385. For more information about this or any of the Museum's upcoming events please visit our website at www.phippenartmuseum.org.