• courtesy of the Museum of the Big Bend •
The Museum of the Big Bend will present the 33rd annual Trappings of Texas from April 11 through May 19 in Alpine. On Saturday, April 13, the public is invited to four free special presentations in the Trappings exhibit area.
From 10:00-11:00 a.m., singer-songwriter Mikki Daniel will read from her debut historical fiction novel Girls & Gunsmoke. A resident of Luna, New Mexico, Daniel has performed at recent Texas Cowboy Poetry Gatherings. Her novel has already been awarded the Will Rogers Medallion Award for Inspirational Fiction and has been honored at the North Texas Book Festival for Young Adult Fiction. She will have copies of Girls and Gunsmoke available for purchase and signing.
From 1:00-2:00 p.m., Trappings of Texas artist John Nord, from Talpa, Texas, will speak about one of the crucial components of cowboy gear: the spur. In his talk, History and Artistry of the Spur, Nord will give a historical overview of the spur, covering both traditional and contemporary spur-making techniques. He will also discuss embellishments such as inlay work.
From 2:00-3:00 p.m., Trappings of Texas and Fort Davis artist, Lindy Cook Severns, will discuss the art of plein air or painting in the outdoors.
“Painting on location holds a mystique for artists and collectors, but creating a work of art while immersed in nature is as full of challenges as swamps are mosquitos,” said Severns, whose talk is titled, The Joys of Plein Air Painting: Threading a Needle While Riding a Bicycle in the Rain. “Artists seldom confess just how many works done on location never survive the trip back home, but sometimes, a fresh and lovely painting is born. This talk will be a vulture’s eye view of how it all happens.”
From 3:00-4:00 p.m., rancher Austin Brown II will present Poet Lariat: Cowboys Poems from a Ranching Life. Brown’s family came to Bee County, Texas from Georgia after the Civil War. Their ranching life began when the first Austin Brown bought his initial ranch north of Beeville in 1924. That family tradition continues to this day with Austin Brown II and Austin Brown III working the ranch where they raise Hereford, Angus, Charolais, and Akaushi bulls and heifers for select customers across the state. At the Trappings’ event, Brown will share poems representing 75 years of experience on Texas and Southwestern ranches. His book is illustrated with pen & ink drawings by Mike Capron alongside photos documenting ranch life. Brown will have copies of his book available for purchase and signing.
For more information about opening weekend events, purchasing tickets, or to become a Trappings sponsor, please contact Maggie Rumbelow at 432-837-8143 or go online at www.museumofthebigbend.com.