Check out Dead Drift Fly Fishing Company’s new mini store at 107 E. Grand Ave in Downtown Laramie Wyoming – for unique Wyoming wear for that avid Wyoming fan & fisherperson on your list… Click the image to connect with Dead Drift online!
Bill Sniffin releases his new Wyoming coffee table book, just in time for the holidays!
Sniffin Publishes Second Coffee Table Book about Wyoming Just in Time for Christmas
Wyoming author and journalist Bill Sniffin has just made available copies of his newest coffee table book about Wyoming, called MY WYOMING 101 Special Places. The book is a 156-page effort featuring 42 photographers and 156 color photos about the state, including 14 foldout pages.
His earlier book, Wyoming’s 7 Greatest Natural Wonders, published in 2012, has already sold 15,000 copies and is believed to be the best selling coffee table book in the state.
Sniffin, of Lander, is a photographer, journalist and entrepreneur who has lived in Wyoming for 44 years. His weekly newspaper column appears in several newspapers each week including the Rock Springs Rocket Miner, Rawlins Daily Times, Lander Journal, Riverton Ranger, the Cheyenne Wyoming Tribune Eagle, the Evanston Uinta County Herald, Sheridan Online and occasionally in the Casper Journal, Laramie Boomerang, Pine Bluffs Post, Powell Tribune, Sundance Times, Kemmerer Gazette, Moorcroft Leader, Afton Star Valley Independent and others.
Sniffin’s newest book, MY WYOMING 101 Special Places, will be on sale the end of November. With the success of the first coffee table-style book, it only seemed practical to follow up two years later with a companion book that featured not only “natural” images but photos of man-made places and people in the photos enjoying Wyoming.
Sniffin has written three other books, which are available at fine bookstores and online at www.wyomingwonders.com. They are all compilations of his columns. They include Strong Winds, Blowing Snow, Slick in Spots which was published in 2011; High Altitudes, Low Multitudes in 2003; and The Best Part of America in 1993.
Over the years, Bill has been honored with the state tourism industry’s highest awards, the BIG WYO award and the Tony Bevinetto Friend of Tourism Award. His wife Nancy was honored in 2011 with Wyoming’s highest award for volunteerism, the Jefferson Award.
Sniffin and his wife are former owners of newspapers in Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota and Hawaii. The Sniffins have raised four children and have ten grandchildren. Most recently, they sold an advertising agency they founded called Wyoming Inc. and also sold, along with daughter Shelli Johnson, an internet tourism company, yellowstonepark.com.
Bill is the former chairman of the Wyoming Travel Commission, vice-chairman of the Wyoming Aeronautics Commission and has also been a member of the Wyoming P16 Education Commission. Sniffin ran for governor in 2002, losing in the Republican primary. He is on the board of directors of the Mountain West AAA Auto Club, for Alaska, Montana and Wyoming and the Wyoming Travel Industry Coalition.
More information can be found at the web site www.billsniffin.com. One can also mail a request for the book to Box 900, Lander, WY 82520. His Facebook page is “Wyoming books, columns by Bill Sniffin.”
Created in Laramie, Wyoming, Pinedale natives Grant & Drew Doorn create Wyoming, Colorado (and soon Montana!) -inspired designs for the fisherperson in your life with an eye for style as much as trout. Proudly made in Wyoming, Dead Drift Fly Fishing Company is the perfect gift for the holidays – you can’t go wrong with a little brown & gold…
*click on the images to connect with their page on Dead Drift’s website…*
“Sure the Wyoming flag has a buffalo, but Dead Drift Fly Fishing Co. thinks a trout fits just as well. Get the best fly fishing t shirts on the market today!”#thewestiscalling
Here’s a look at one of Dead Drift Fly Fishing Co.‘s new Colorado fly fishing designs. This is their take on the Colorado flag, “…and we thought it turned out awesome!!” #thewestiscalling
Dead Drift Fly Company’s version of Brown and Gold! This shirt design plays off the local colors, and state pride of Wyoming, but with a Dead Drift twist. “The design style is vintage making this a classic for any fly fisherman’s closet. Not only have we made this tee true to Wyoming, we’ve made sure to create accurate markings on the Brown Trout and Gold Trout for those sticklers.” #thewestiscalling
Go shopping…and then go fishing. Wyo & Colo fly fishing apparel made for the fisher-person with the utmost style…Click on the picture to connect with Dead Drift Fly Fishing, proudly made in Wyoming.
Looking for something delicious for your weekend nosh-fest? Look no further than this mouth-watering deliciousness shared by the Wyoming Beef Council… Mmm, it’s Lemon TriTip…
Ingredients:
1 beef Tri-Tip Roast (1-2 pounds)
2 large lemons
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 teaspoons ground black pepper
2 pounds fingerling or small red-skinned potatoes, halved.
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 235. Grate 1 tablespoon peel and squeeze 1 tablespoon juice from 1 lemon. Combine lemon peel, lemon juice, garlic and pepper in small bowl; reserve 1 tablespoon for potatoes. Press remaining lemon mixture onto all surfaces of beef roast. Cut remaining lemon into 12 wedges lengthwise. 2. Place roast on rack in shallow roasting pan. Do not add water or cover. 3. Combine reserved tablespoon lemon mixture, potatoes, lemon wedges, oil, and 1/2 teaspoon salt on rimmed sheet pan; toss to coat evenly. Roast beef in 425 oven for 40 minutes. Roast potatoes 25-30 minutes until tender. 4. Remove roast, tent with foil, and let stand 20-25 minutes. 5. Carve roast across the grain into slices, season with salt and serve with potatoes and lemon wedges.
Go shopping…and then go fishing. Wyo & Colo fly fishing apparel made for the fisher-person with the utmost style…Click on the picture to connect with Dead Drift Fly Fishing, proudly made in Wyoming.
Laramie has Irish fever this week! Check out these two awesome events for getting your luck on…
LARAMIE DANCE CENTER HOSTS IRISH CULTURE NIGHT — TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4 6:30 PM
Held at the Gryphon Theater, inside the Laramie Plains Civic Center, Irish Culture Night kicks off at 6:30 PM with FREE admission to the public. The Laramie Dance Center Irish Dance Academy will be performing with its multi-age group , and includes the talents of local Laramie Irish musicians and a local Laramie bagpipe musician!
Want to learn how to Irish step dance? Contact Laramie Dance Center at owner@laramiedancecenter.com for more information!
International sensation Gaelic Storm performs Wednesday, November 5 at the Gryphon Theater. Ever seen Titanic? (Or better question – who HASN’T?!) Gaelic Storm was the steerage band playing during the dance scene….ahhh, yes, that’s them. They are awesome. We play their CDs regularly around our house as our youngest step-2-3’s happily around the living room. Must see. Definitely.
Clay Paper Scissors Gallery in Cheyenne has a beautiful new location! 1513 Carey Avenue
Clay Paper Scissors Gallery & Studio was started in 2009 in Cheyenne by Mark Vinich and Camellia El-Antably in the historic Asher Building. “In 2012, we purchased a small unloved building on Carey to renovate,” Camellia says. “Built in the late 1800s, we saw potential in the graceful space and brick walls to be a beautiful gallery addition to Cheyenne. We worked with Tobin & Associates and J.L. Everitt Construction to renovate the building into an open airy space that both honors its history and adds contemporary touches.”
Clay Paper Scissors offers studio space for artists (currently three: Mark, Camellia and Eric Lee) and a gallery that shows a range of work as wide as Wyoming’s open spaces. “We show primarily Wyoming artists from around the state,” Camellia adds.
The duo are heavily involved in the arts in Wyoming. Mark is a Lander native and Cheyenne art teacher; Camellia moved here in 2001 to work for the Wyoming Arts Council. Clay Paper Scissors grew out of their interest in having communal space for art creation, and a desire to show work not seen in local galleries. “We show artwork we want to see — work being done by artists living and working currently that appeals to the mind, the senses and the heart,” Camellia says. “Wyoming is very eclectic in its taste in art and the artists who live here and work in both traditional and contemporary forms and subjects. We feel privileged to know so many diverse artists and to be able to share their work with the Cheyenne community.”
Featured every second Thursday, April – December, from 5-8 PM, Arts Cheyenne partners with Visit Cheyenne and Cheyenne DDA/Main Street to host Art, Design & Dine. On October 9, AD&D will repeat their participation in American Crafts Week (October 3-12 across America) with a Wyoming craftsperson featured in Clay Paper Scissors’ new location. Mike Olson, a ceramics artist from Casper, is their first show in this new space. “Both Mark and I have liked Mike Olson’s work since we first saw it in Casper–the simple pleasing forms, the glazes, the mix of functional and sculptural work,” Camellia says.
Mike Olson attended Casper College and earned his BFA at the University of North Dakota and his MFA in 2003 at Wichita State University in Kansas, both in ceramics. Mike Olson’s work for this inaugural show include stoneware pieces, both handbuilt and thrown. Mike explains that this show’s work is “…about daydreaming and how I like to float away in thought while watching migrating birds, windmills turning or clouds floating by. There is a peace and calm represented by the subtle, simple forms I enjoy creating during the slow motions of working on the treadle wheel.” Mike returned to Casper to start a studio and teach at Casper College, where he is the ceramics instructor.
The show’s opening is October 9, 2014, from 5-8 during the monthly Art Design & Dine in Cheyenne (artdesigndine.org). Mike Olson’s work will be displayed at Clay Paper Scissors through November, with another show opening on the 13th during Art Design & Dine.
Clay Paper Scissors is located at 1513 Carey Avenue in Cheyenne, and can be contacted for available hours and appointments. Call 307.631.6039 or shoot them an email at claypaperscissors@gmail.com. For more information on Art, Design & Dine and their October, November and December 2014 events, visit artdesigndine.org.
Early Childhood Expert Nancy Bruski Presents Workshop for Parents & Teachers Jackson, WY- Join early childhood expert Nancy Bruski for educational workshops tailored for parents, teachers and caregivers interacting with children age 8 and younger. Bruski founded and owns Wise Choice Guidance, www.wisechoiceguidance.com, in Evanston, IL providing therapy and training, consultation and workshops for early educators and parents. She published her first book “The Insightful Teacher: Reflective Strategies to Shape Your Early Childhood Classroom,” last fall.
While visiting Jackson, Bruski will present four, free workshops. Her visit is sponsored and supported by Teton County Library, Children’s Learning Center and Head Start, Old Wilson Schoolhouse Community Center and Wilson Elementary School.
Registration is required, and Spanish translation is available on request. Contact the Library’s Assistant Director, Isabel Zumel: izumel@tclib.org or 733-2164 ext. 101.
Friday, October 3 Help Your Child Build Inner Controls Without Losing Control Yourself 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. Library Ordway Auditorium Learn techniques for engaging cooperation – without yelling or nagging – and helping children learn self-control and responsibility.
Raising Self Confident Children 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Old Wilson Schoolhouse Community Center, Wilson Discover strategies for raising confident children who feel understood even when they don’t always get what they want.
Kindergarten Readiness: What Parents Should Do & Expect from Schools 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Library Ordway Auditorium Understand what Kindergarten readiness means, including what you should expect from elementary schools and how to be an effective advocate for your child. In English with Spanish translation.
Saturday, October 4 Reflective Teachers Are Effective Teachers: Creating Compassionate Classrooms 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Library Ordway Auditorium Early childhood expert, Nancy Bruski, will present the classroom philosophy and approach described in her book, “The Insightful Teacher.” She will present a path to success as a teacher of young children that explores a wide range of topics, including: what it means to be reflective in one’s work, how to have developmentally appropriate expectations of children, setting up the physical environments to support successful behaviors, building strong connections with families, alternatives to consequences for managing behaviors, and developing individualized intervention strategies for chronically challenging behaviors. Applicable to preschool teachers, early elementary school teachers and child care providers. 6 STARS credits approved. Simultaneous Spanish translation available upon request.
Nancy Bruski Nancy Bruski has a 30-plus year career specializing in work with children and families. Her initial training was at the Virginia Frank Child Development Center in Chicago, which specializes in providing therapy as well as a therapeutic preschool/kindergarten program for emotionally disturbed preschoolers and their families. She has since delivered services to staff, parents and children in several agency settings.
Nancy began her private clinical social work therapy, consultation and professional speaking practice in 1980. Currently, Nancy is an Adjunct Professor at Oakton Community College, teaching “Child Development” and “Guidance in the Early Childhood Classroom;”an Early Childhood Consultant to the Gertrude B. Nielsen Early Learning Center, a Full-Day NAEYC accredited program in suburban Chicago.
Nancy is committed to assisting teachers and parents to become more psychologically sensitive to children by helping them create strategies and interventions that increase children’s social-emotional competence.
For more information or to register for Bruski’s workshops in Jackson, call Library Assistant Director at 307.733.2164 ext. 101 or email izumel@tclib.org.
Laramie & Rock Springs Main Street programs shared photos of their awards received at the Preserve Wyoming Conference in Powell.
Wyoming Main Street recognizes outstanding communities, businesses and volunteers
CASPER, Wyo. – Wyoming Main Street communities, businesses and volunteers were honored tonight at an awards banquet during the Preserve Wyoming Conference in Powell, Wyo.
Award categories included Wyoming Main Street’s Entrepreneur of the Year, Event of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Wyoming Main Street Program of the Year and the Jim Davis Leadership Award.
“The individuals, entrepreneurs and communities honored by these awards have worked exceptionally hard this year to make their Main Streets truly stand out,” said Mary Randolph, executive director of the Wyoming Business Council’s Wyoming Main Street program. “I am always impressed by the dedication and creativity exhibited within Wyoming’s Main Street communities. This year’s award recipients were very deserving of the recognition they received.”
Award recipients were:
Entrepreneur of the Year went to Carlo Harryman with Sweetwaternow.com in Rock Springs. This award recognizes an outstanding entrepreneur who is heavily invested in a historic downtown district and Main Street program. The business is an integral part of the downtown business mix and has strong relationships with other businesses. Harryman is willing to listen to ideas and help promote events and activities within the community. He is creative in promoting local businesses and organizations and has participated in all Main Street events since the business opened just over 12 months ago.
Event of the Year was given to Rock Springs for its Downtown Burger Challenge.This award is given to a community with an extraordinary Main Street event that is creative and has strong volunteer support behind it. The Burger Challenge encouraged area residents to visit all five downtown restaurants during National Burger Month in May. The event reinforced the fact that downtown Rock Springs is home to many great eateries and reminded people to choose downtown as a place to dine. The event exceeded expectations in the number of participants.
Gillette Main Street Art Walk Committee was recognized as Volunteer of the Year. This award goes to volunteer(s) who can be depended on to get the job done, work hard for the betterment of the downtown district, and have done something outstanding that deserves added recognition. The Art Walk Committee dedicated many hours each month to working with businesses, soliciting artists, creating different activities for the event and overseeing advertising.
Laramie Main Street Alliance was awarded the Main Street Program of the Year. Laramie was chosen because it had an amazing year in both the design and organization categories of the Main Street Four Point Approach ®. Laramie stood out as a program that is embracing the entrepreneurial spirit by changing its strategies to meet a changing market.
The Jim Davis Leadership Award went to Dan Brecht with the Platte County Main Street program in Wheatland. The award is given to a person who has been instrumental in the preservation and revitalization of historic commercial districts. They are a rare leader who has not only dedicated their time to a downtown district, but has the leadership qualities necessary to recruit others to the Main Street movement. Brecht uses his time and money to enhance the Wheatland community, has an ability to draw unlike groups and organizations together and has personally preserved and renovated his own downtown businesses and buildings, inspiring others to do the same. He is committed to seeing projects through from beginning to end and his efforts have resulted in a tremendous beautification effort throughout Wheatland.
The Wyoming Main Street program was established by the Wyoming Legislature in 2004. Main Street is a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and emphasizes a four-point approach to revitalization: economic restructuring, design, organization and promotion. For more information visit: www.wyomingmainstreet.org.
The mission of the Wyoming Business Council is to facilitate the economic growth of Wyoming. The Business Council provides assistance for Wyoming businesses and start-ups, helps communities meet their development and diversification needs and recruits firms and industries that complement Wyoming’s assets. For more information, please visit www.wyomingbusiness.org.
Historic Evening with Anne Frank’s Stepsister: Eva Schloss, Learning From the Past; Living the Present; Looking to the Future
On Thursday, August 28, 2014, the Chabad Jewish Center of Wyoming will host what is sure to be an inspiring evening with Mrs. Eva Schloss as she tells her fascinating story. Mrs. Schloss is the step sister and childhood friend of Anne Frank. She is an enthusiastic advocate for helping society understand the meaning of an existance without prejudice or bigotry towards any human being. Governor Matt Mead is proclaiming August 28, 2014 Wyoming Tolerance Day. The lecture will be held at the Center For The Arts, located at 265 S. Cache Street, in Jackson and will begin at 7:00 p.m. A personal book signing will follow the lecture.
Eva Schloss Biography:
I was born in Vienna,Austria 1929. As one of many Jewish families, we were faced with persecution, but were lucky enough to be able to flee the country, first to Belgium and then in 1940 to Amsterdam, Holland, where we met the Frank family.
Following the German invasion of Holland in 1942 and the arrests of many Jews, our family had to go into hiding. In May 1944 we were betrayed, captured by the Nazis and sent to the death camp Auschwitz. In January 1945 my mother and I were liberated by the Russian army. We were evacuated eastward, travelling with the Russian army as far as Odessa. We had to wait until the war ended in May 1945 to be repatriated to Amsterdam. There we learnt of the tragic deaths of my father and 17 year old brother in Mauthausen. The loss of my family haunted me and made it difficult to lead a normal life again.
I had to resume my education and finished school at 18, and went on to study History of Art for a year at the University of Amsterdam.In 1951 I began training as a professional photographer in London, where I met Zvi Schloss. We were married a year later and made our home in London, during which time I was working in a commercial studio. In 1953 my mother married Otto Frank the widowed father of the diarist Anne Frank, making me her posthumous step sister.
Zvi and I had our first daughter in 1956, and we were blessed with two more over the years. From 1972-1997 I owned and ran an antiques business, in that time the girls had grown up and had children of their own, making us the proud grandparents of three girls and two boys.
Since 1986 I have become increasingly active in Holocaust education by speaking in schools, universities, prisons and public meetings. I co-founded the Anne Frank Educational Trust in the UK.
My first book, Eva’s Story, about my experiences during the war, was published in 1988. It has been translated into eight languages.
In 1995 I co-operated with U.S. playwright James Still in the creation of an educational play And Then They Came for Me, Remembering the World of Anne Frank, dealing with four teenagers in the Holocaust. The play is widely performed in England, U.S.A, Europe and Australia. I am attending many of those performances so I can answer questions after the shows. In connection with these educational activities, I received an Honorary Doctorate in Civil Law from the University of Northumbria in 2001, and from the University of York in 2004 for Education.
In 2005 I wrote my second book, The Promise, aimed at younger readers, telling the story of my brother Heinz.
In 2008 the U. S. House of Representatives honoured me in the Congressional Record.
In 2012 I was awarded an MBE by Prince Charles for Holocaust Education.
In 2013 I published my third book, After Auschwitz, describing the impact of my experiences on my life and that of those around me.
Two Agencies. One Goal. — Wyoming & South Dakota Troopers Work Together During this Busy Time of Year
City – Sundance
Troopers from Wyoming and South Dakota met up on August 5th at the Wyoming / South Dakota state line for an informal get together and lunch. With the Sturgis motorcycle rally this week in South Dakota and the popular “Ham and Jam” event in Wyoming today, troopers from both agencies are staying busy with the increased motorcycle traffic in both states. Highway safety is the focus during the events and additional troopers have been sent to the areas to increase visibility and enforcement.
As motorists enjoy the beautiful scenery the two states have to offer, we remind you to please drive and ride safely, wear your seat belts and helmets and to never drive or ride drunk or buzzed.
LANDER: Lander Art Center Presents “Near and Far,” Opening August 8
The Lander Art Center opens Near and Far, a paintspective by Jon Cox Friday, August 8th from 6-8pm. His work represents both the vibrant life in Wyoming as well as the places and people he counters on his travels around the world. Wildlife and the everyday is juxtaposed next to urbanscapes and the exotic creating a reminder of the extraordinary diversity life offers and asks us to experience.
Salsa Feast
From the Artist:
“This is sort of a starting point for me, a ‘perspective’ gained from experience and knowledge of painting. I paint only what and in the way I want, but like the interaction of discussing how these works came to be with others. Out of this comes new ideas and true growth.
These are all works that have been finished in the last year. They represent the travels I have experienced, the ‘far’, and the new way I have been looking at things close to me where I live, the ‘near’. I am mostly representational and a realist. However, underneath the obvious image I always try to build a ‘framework’ or ‘composition’ that does not alienate the format of the canvas with the image on it. I try to marry the two without forcing their union.”
Union Station
Come travel outside your door and around the world in this exhibition that takes the viewer near and far.
Jenness Cortez, “Three American Visionaries,” copyright 2014, acrylic on mahogany panel 33 x 40 inches $120,000
Homage to:
Albert Bierstadt (1830-1902): “Looking Down Yosemite Valley, California,” Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham, AL
“View of Chimney Rock with Ogalillalh Sioux Village,” Colby College Museum, Waterville, ME;
George Inness (1824-1894): “Under the Greenwood,” North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC
Frederic Remington (1861-1909): Bronze sculpture, “The Bronco Buster,” Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Cody, WY
“The Scout: Friend or Foe,” (detail), Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, MA
Book illustration for The Oregon Trail (Francis Parkman 1900), “Buffalo Hunter Loading Gun in His Mouth”
Photograph of Frederic Remington, Davis and Stanford Co, New York
Photograph of Albert Bierstadt, Carleton Watkins, Ansonia clock, c. 1880
Photograph of George Inness, engraves by T. Johnson 1895
Delft vase, c. 1740, private collection
From Trailside Galleries…
“For centuries, artists have been challenging their intellects and skills by paying homage to the painters who preceded them. American realist painter Jenness Cortez has emerged as the 21st century’s most notable exponent of this facet of art history. Her masterful work gives Cortez solid footing in the colorful lineage of artists who have appropriated vintage images and woven them into their own distinctive, recognizable fabric.
“Cortez starts with an iconic masterwork and surrounds it with meticulously rendered book covers, photographs, sculpture, antiques and other objects with cultural or historic significance. Each intricate Cortez creation challenges the viewers’ intellectual curiosity and celebrates the sheer pleasure of beautiful painting. A key to the impact and success of these paintings is the skill with which she achieves meticulous likeness of everyday objects. For collectors, these works are marvels to behold.
“It is our pleasure to offer this new collection of master works by Jenness Cortez for your perusal and we invite you to contact us with any inquires.
Contact Trailside Galleries on their website, www.trailsidegalleries.com, at 130 E. Broadway in Jackson, or by calling 307.733.3186.
image by Scott Copeland
SINKS CANYON: Photography Raffle Helps The Park — Buy Yours Today!
The annual Sinks Canyon State Park raffle is going on and people are encouraged to buy a raffle ticket to win one of three beautiful pictures.
Image by Gene Schmidt
“People can support Sinks Canyon in many ways,” said Park Superintendent Darrel Trembly. “But we always need financial support especially to do display work. This way people can support us and have a chance to win a great picture.”
Three fully framed and matted photographs by award winning Lander photographers Scott Copeland and Gene Schmidt are being raffled off to help raise money for new displays in the park visitor center.
Schmidt donated a photo of a bright blue Mountain Bluebird and a red and cream Cassin’s Finch. Copeland donated a soaring Golden Eagle flying through the snow in the canyon.
Image by Gene Schmidt
Tickets are available at the park visitor center. One raffle ticket is $2 or buy six for $10. The drawing for the winners will be held on Labor Day. The visitor center is open Monday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wyoming Watercolor Society (WYWS) will host the Watercolor Wyoming 29th Annual National Exhibition in Sheridan, WY August 4th through August 29th. Please join us at the awards ceremony and artists’ reception on Thursday, August 7th from 5-7pm at the Sagebrush Community Art Center located in the Historic Train Depot – 201 E. 5th Street. This is a free reception and is open to the public. Refreshments will be available.
WYWS has hosted both an Annual National Exhibition and a Watercolor Workshop in the state of Wyoming for the past 29 years. The workshop instructors are nationally known and have brought abstract, realism and experimental watercolor styles to the participants. Students attending have represented states across the nation traveling as far away as Canada, Alaska, California, Nevada and Florida.
Artists are juried into each year’s show and compete for prize money, national recognition, and a chance to gain signing membership status. WYWS supplies a format for artists to learn, compete and have fun. This year WYWS is showcasing 46 paintings done by 27 artists from 13 states.
Nancy Baldrica from Avondale, Arizona will teach a 5 day workshop August 4th through August 8th at the Big Horn Women’s Club. Spaces are still available for the workshop. The fee for Wyoming Watercolor Society Members is $350 and $400 for nonmembers. Membership is open to all watercolor artists 18 years of age or older. New memberships are $35 for a year, then $25 a year for renewal. For more information please call Karen Myers at 751-6411 or visit the website at www.wyomingwatercolorsociety.com.
The Higgins Hotel of Glenrock, on the National Register of Historic Places, was built in 1916. Maintaining the character and history of the Higgins Hotel, and the staff hopes that you will enjoy the historic luxury that they have worked to capture in their rooms, suites and public areas. The third floor or ‘Centennial Floor,’ has five bedrooms, a shared bath facility and a large living room that is configured as the hotel was originally designed. “Our Centennial rooms are perennial favorites of the many hunters and outfitters that visit the hotel annually in pursuit of the great hunting the area affords,” The Higgins Hotel says. The Jack & Josephine Suites, named after the hotel’s founders, Jack & Josephine Higgins, contains two bedrooms and one bath. These suites join several others in the hotel. Flat screen televisions join the historical restoration of the guest rooms, and free wifi is of course a priority!
Dining is also a specialty of The Higgins Hotel. “Along with the Antelope Bar and Prairie Kitchen, we offer comfortable accommodations and terrific fresh food and libations for our guests,” the hotel says. (Be sure to order their specialty, their ‘Jugo de Pina de Tejas,’ made with “…the freshest of premium pineapples and the one and only Tito’s Vodka from Austin, Texas,” the hotel describes. (Sign us up!) The bar and dining room are housed in the hotel’s former ballroom, and is a favorite meeting place for local business folks. Sports enthusiasts can delight in the hotel’s flat screen and projection televisions that share regional and nationwide events.
Special events are another feature of The Higgins Hotel! Utilize the intimate private dining facilities, the ballroom-turned-dining room, the Antelope Bar, or a large outdoor patio, to host your event. Small corporate retreats, weddings, parties – all have enjoyed their getaway at The Higgins Hotel. “The Higgins staff pledges to make your event with us a special and memorable event,” they add.
For more information about The Higgins Hotel in Glenrock, to book your stay or explore their menu, visit their website (ßlink here) www.higginshotel.com, email info@higginshotel.com, or call 307.436.9212. Visit a beautiful area with a charming and historic getaway – equipped with today’s comforts!
Bighorn National Forest Plein Air Celebration of Wildflowers
From June 25-28, the first Bighorn National Forest Plein Air Celebrations of Wildflowers was held at Spear O Wigwam, Mountain Campus in the Bighorn Mountains. The spring wildflowers were spectacular and all were inspired.
The Powder River Energy Best Artist of the Workshop $400 Cash Award was presented to Gayle Barnett a watercolor artist from Meeteetse, Wyoming.
The Hospital Pharmacy, Daily Best Awards of $125 each, were presented to: Ruth Beckwith of Sheridan, Sally Labore of Sheridan, Maya Gilmore of Sheridan and Gayle Barnett of Meeteetse.
Next year’s event will be held June 22, – 26, 2015 — All you artists out there, carve out time for this in your summer!
The four Hospital Pharmacy, Daily Best Award winners — Ruth Beckwith, Sally Labore, Maya Gilmore and Gayle Barnett
Professional Artists to Capture Teton Scenery & Wildlife at Annual ‘Plein Air for the Park’
MOOSE, WY — Grand Teton National Park will serve as both the inspiration and location for the third annual ‘Plein Air for the Park’ fine art exhibition co-hosted by Grand Teton Association (GTA) and the Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters. Over 40 professional artists from across the United States will spend two weeks (July 7-20) painting in the park, as they capture on canvas the spectacular Teton landscape, wildlife and wildflowers. All sessions/events are free and open to the public.
The ‘Plein Air for the Park’ event and art sale will include an opening reception on Wednesday, July 16, at 7 p.m. in the Craig Thomas Discovery & Visitor Center at Moose, Wyoming. A fine art show and sale will take place from July 16-20, also at the Discovery Center. The two-week-long event will culminate with a quick draw at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 19, in the Menor’s Ferry Historic District. Park visitors and local residents are invited to watch paintings created from start-to-finish. All paintings may be purchased for a fixed-price immediately following the quick draw.
Plein air artist Wes Newton_2012 Quick Draw
Forty percent of the proceeds from sales made during ‘Plein Air for the Park’ will benefit GTA and help fund ongoing educational, interpretive and scientific programs in support of Grand Teton National Park.
“We look forward to welcoming the Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters who will share their creative and artistic talents with our park visitors throughout much of July,” said Grand Teton National Park Superintendent David Vela. “This free public event offers a unique opportunity to glimpse the power, beauty, and inspiration of the Teton landscape through the eyes of an artist.”
JULY 7-19:
Artists paint in and around Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole.
SATURDAY, JULY 12:
Artists in the Environment Demonstration
3 – 6 PM: Bradley/Taggart parking area & Cottonwood Creek picnic area
WEDNESDAY, JULY 16:
Full exhibition opens to the public. Reserve works will be available for viewing and purchase.
12 Noon: Craig Thomas Discovery & Visitor Center
7 – 9 PM: Gala Opening Reception
7:45 PM: Announcement of Awards
THURSDAY, JULY 17:
Group Painting Demonstration
5 – 8 PM: Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Area Visitor Center, North Cache Street in Jackson
SATURDAY, JULY 19:
Quick Draw & Sale
9 AM – 12 Noon: Menor’s Ferry Historic District/Chapel of the Transfiguration. Sale immediately following.
Our friend & amazing photographer from Riverton, Brant Nyberg, shared this little gem about gold panning, a favorite pastime in Central Wyoming. My husband’s father, from the Lander area, was an avid gold panner himself. He seemed to particularly appreciate his son’s geology background when the hobby emerged, asking him for mapping advice and how to interpret geologic formations to optimize his chances of striking gold. He showed Levi & I how to pan once, sitting on overturned five gallon buckets in the garage… I have to admit that while the time sitting & chatting was nice in that moment, I wasn’t good at the patience and time it takes to pan. However, the thing that I do remember fondly is that it was time spent with Levi’s dad – and those days were rare and, now looking back with him gone, precious for my husband indeed. Brant’s writing took me back to that day, sitting in the garage on buckets, me cursing quietly the patience I lacked for swirling dirt and water in a pan and not knowing how precious that day would become in our memories… Thanks Brant for helping me appreciate it again…
Panning – text & image by Brant Nyberg
Never mind that this section of creek had already been dredged three different times. You may notice the hillside on the right as well as the rock pile on the left. Both are tailings from large scale mining operations. More difficult to see is the third pile of remains on the extreme left side of the frame.
Never mind that no one in our group really knew the first thing about pulling gold out of a creek. We may have sounded like we did after watching our prerequisite 1000 hours of Gold Rush, and Gold Fever. We may have even looked like we did after purchasing a brand new pan complete with gravity riffles. But, that was the beginning and the end of our expertise.
Never mind that it was 90 degrees out and that my mom is almost 70 years old. You can see her downstream knee deep and well into her second hour of panning. The kids were already back in the 4-wheelers ready to head back to camp 🙂
There are lots of things happening this weekend in Laramie for Laramie Jubilee Days! “Laramie Jubilee Days started in 1940 to celebrate Wyoming Statehood Day on July 10. Known as Wyoming’s Hometown Celebration, Laramie Jubilee Days has been a yearly event ever since. Over the years, Jubilee Days has evolved to include a number of different events; many are still in existence today. Starting with a Kid’s Horse Show and ending with PRCA Rodeo, Laramie Jubilee Days is now a week-long celebration with different events almost daily!” — From Laramie Jubilee Days website
FRIDAY, JULY 11
Carnival — Noon – Night — Downtown
DLBA Farmers’ Market — 3-7 PM — Downtown Laramie
The Flashbacks — 3-6 PM — Live Music Downtown Laramie
Barely Gettin’ By — 6:30-8:45 PM — Live Music Downtown Laramie
Sean Curtis — 9:15- Midnight — Live Music Downtown Laramie
PRCA Rodeo — 7 PM — Albany County Fairgrounds
SATURDAY, JULY 12
Jubilee Days Parade — 10 AM — Downtown Laramie
Hits 106 Chili Cook-Off — 11 AM — Downtown Laramie
Pinedale’s Soundcheck Mini-Music Fest Returns Saturday, June 28
The Pinedale Fine Arts Council is proud to present the seventh annual Sound Check Mini-Music Festival on Saturday, June 28 at 5 p.m. at American Legion Park in Pinedale, WY. The event is free to attend so dust off that cooler, grab your camp chair and head to Pinedale for an evening of amazing music!
Headlining this year’s Soundcheck will be Portland, OR singer/songwriter Laura Gibson. Gibson currently records for the independent U.S. label Hush Records. In 2008, she toured the United States as the opening act for Colin Meloy of the Decemberists. Since the release of 2009’s Beasts of Season, which NPR called “nothing short of a masterpiece” and Mojo called “both quietly devastating and life-affirming”, Gibson has seen her career swell to include everything from modeling in a Japanese fashion magazine, to receiving a standing ovation from an auditorium full of prison inmates.
Playing the Soundcheck middle slot this year is Olympia, WA/Minneapolis, MN duo The Lowest Pair. The Lowest Pair is a quirky, old-time roots influenced duet, featuring the high lonesome harmonies of banjo pickin’ songsters Kendl Winter and Palmer T. Lee. They perform both traditional and original music, often nestling-in somewhere between. With their city folk front and back porch sentiment, this new, sweet, and powerful duo are turning heads across the country.
Opening the 7th annual Soundcheck will be Austin, TX duo Brennen Leigh and Noel McKay. Leigh and McKay craft story songs with equal measures heart and humor. “Before the World Was Made,” the Austin-based songwriters debut collaboration spotlights the celebrated troubadours in peak form via modern day country duets a la George Jones and Melba Montgomery but with very sophisticated songwriting.
Following this year’s Soundcheck will be an official after party at Rock Rabbit featuring Austin, TX trio Loves It! Born in Austin, Texas in 2010, Loves It is the duo comprised of songwriters of Vaughn Walters and Jenny Parrott that has already played hundreds of shows in the US, Europe and Asia in that short time. The harmony driven pair often switches between guitars, fiddle, and banjo, adding special guests to create a bigger sound, and playing with a veneration for tradition, and a determination to bring a modern voice to their favorite folk, country, gospel and punk sounds.
The annual Soundcheck Fest was first conceived 7 years ago by the Pinedale Fine Arts Council as a means of testing a new sound system they purchased with grant money from the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund. The Town of Pinedale and the Sublette County Recreation Board helped support this event.
For more information please visit www.pinedalefinearts.com or call 307.367.7322. And be sure to find PFAC on facebook!
Catch the Fast Rodeo Action During the World’s Oldest Paid Rodeo in Lander, WY. — by Wind River Country
The 120th Pioneer Days Rodeo, The World’s Oldest Paid Rodeo is July 3rd and 4th in Lander, Wyoming at the Lander Rodeo Grounds. It has western action and excitement for everyone!
The rodeo events (6:30 p.m.) include saddle bronc, Jr. bull riding, bareback riding, barrels, steer wrestling, ultimate miniature bull riding, team roping, and much more!
On both evenings, the Indian relay is a fast and entertaining race. Native American riders ride bareback around the track exchanging horses after each lap.
Pre-sale tickets are $8 for adults, $4 for kids (6-12). At the gate tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for kids. Call the Lander Chamber of Commerce – 307-332-3892 for tickets. On July 4th stay for the festive fireworks after the rodeo at dusk.
Start July 4th at the Lander Senior Center for the Pancake Breakfast 7-9 a.m. $5, 205 South 10th Street. The July 4th Pioneer Days Parade is a favorite and starts at 10 a.m. on Main Street, Lander. This is the World’s Oldest Historical Pageant Parade. The parade starts with the Annual Lander Half Marathon, walkers 6 a.m., runners 6:30 a.m. After the parade, head on down to Lander City Park for the annual buffalo BBQ 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Tickets ($7) are usually sold during the parade or purchase tickets at the Lander Chamber of Commerce. Tickets are $8 at the door.
Casper’s Nicolaysen Art Museum Celebrates Nic Fest June 27-29
