David Wright Retrospective Show - Booth Western Art Museum
The Art of David Wright: Historian with a Brush
November 16, 2024 – April 13, 2025
First of all, allow me to say that for the great Booth Western Art Museum to honor me with such an event – is more than I can adequately express. The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art held such an exhibit for me in 2019 and these come rarely in one’s life, so I am indeed honored.
My thanks to all the folks who have relinquished their paintings and art for my exhibition. In addition to my paintings hanging on the walls, which is normally what is shown, this time the museum has added additional items that I have included in my works. — The kepi that General Cleburne is wearing in my painting “Cleburne” is the one he wore the day he was killed at the Battle of Franklin, TN in 1864. The Tennessee State Museum is loaning the painting and the kepi. Also, noted Hawken rifles and other outstanding firearms shown in the three paintings I did for Jim Stokes are included in the exhibit. Also the noted Moses Walcutt powder horn in Jim & Carolyn Dresslar’s painting, was loaned by Tom Grinslade. All these generous donations make the show even better than just the paintings, and I can’t thank enough all those who have given up their works to share with us.
FROM THE BOOTH WESTERN ART MUSEUM , CARTERSVILLE, GA
I hope you were able to join us for the opening of this landmark retrospective exhibition featuring 30 of David’s greatest works from his 62-year career.
Opening events on November 16 included:
- A symposium on the life and times of the Mountain Men, featuring some of the top historians and fur trade reenactors in the country which included:
- Clint Gilchrist, Executive Director of the Museum of the Mountain Man in Pinedale, WY.
- Jim Hardee, author and director of the Fur Trade Research Center since 1998.
- Jay Buckley, author and Associate Professor of History at Brigham Young University.
- Dr. Scott (Doc Ivory) Olsen, author of fur trade handbooks and articles on the fur trade.
- Richard Ashburn, a seasoned back-country horse guide who has ridden thousands of miles across the west and has been involved in many Western fur trade film projects.
- Dr. Richard Patton, an animal nutrition consultant. His love of the West and horses led him to participate in many rides in the mountains and the writing of articles about the American fur trade.
- An opening reception and talk by David Wright summarizing the highlights of his storied career.
David Wright has spent the last 62 years painting the subjects he is most passionate about, episodes in history between the late 1700s and the mid-1800s.
If you missed the opening you can still catch this great exhibit until April 13, 2025.
A few snapshots from the event:
