A. Keith Brodkin Contemporary Western Artists Project

Current Featured Exhibit:
Envisioning the West
On display in the Atherton Alcove from April 11, 2011 through March 30, 2012, this exhibit tells the story of Prix de West artist Wilson Hurley (1924-2008) and his work on the triptych The Wyoming Suite. Come to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum and learn about Wilson Hurley's special easel and how his knowledge of topography gave him the insight to create such large and beautiful triptychs. The exhibit will focus on Hurley's work on the The Wyoming Suite, which features the lower falls of the Yellowstone.

The Brodkin Project facilitates the collection, preservation, and accessibility of primary resources which reflect an artist's life and career such as personal papers, studio ephemera, photographs, libraries, and other items which are often overlooked and lost to posterity. Additional resources are acquired through personal oral histories via recorded interviews. Collecting these resources effectively preserves artists' careers for posterity and provides future artists, art historians, educators, and researchers with documentary evidence.Click here to learn more about the Brodkin Project.

Below are video clips from several of these interviews. Look for future updates on the progress of the project as well as new video and sound clips. As of February 20, 2009, the Dickinson Research Center has added short interview excerpts to the NCWHMuseum Youtube channel. These excerpts serve has "teasers" to draw those interested in watching the entire interview at the Dickinson Research Center. If interested in viewing the entire interview, contact staff make an appointment.

Below are videos created before the Museum began to use a Youtube channel to disseminate interview excerpts.

Lowell Ellsworth Smith interviewed in Hudson, Ohio, on September 25, 2002.
Mr. Smith explains why he gave up drumming for the college band to pursue art.
Video: 9MB MPG File

Gerald Balciar interviewed in Parker, Colorado, on October 21, 2002.
Mr. Balciar explains why at age 19 he wanted to become a sculptor.
Video: 15MB MPG File

Kenneth Riley interviewed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on March 8, 2003.
Mr. Riley talks about the helping hand given to him from his teacher, Olive Rees, in Parsons, Kansas.
Video: 19MB MPG File

Duane Bryers interviewed in Sonoita, Arizona, on February 15, 2003.
Mr. Bryers explains what causes him to be an artist.
Video: 17MB MPG File

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