Colorful Cowgirl Up! extended to May 6

Carrie Fell's “Mighty Nigh”

Drawing record crowds for the second year in a row, the Desert Caballeros Western Museum's wildly colorful, kick-up-your-heels art show and sale known as Cowgirl Up! will now be extended through May 6.

The show and sale, which features 57 of the West's best women artists, has also seen brisk sales this year with more than 50 percent of the work on display selling during opening night alone.

“Compared to the Phoenix Art Museum or the Heard, we may be a small museum, but we happen to have a very big show,” said Executive Director Royce Kardinal. “People have responded enthusiastically to an exhibition and sale for and about women. This is obviously an idea whose time had not only come, but was well overdue.”

Now in its fourth week, Cowgirl Up! 2007 can thus far boast nearly 100 buyers, and close to 4000 visitors.

“We thought last year's numbers were impressive, but this year we have tripled attendance for the same time period,” reported Kardinal.

Now in its second year, Cowgirl Up! attracts emerging and established women artists from all over the West. Already, more than 300 artists have made application to be included in next year's show, which is scheduled to open March 29, 2008. All of these artists are looking not only for the chance to compete with the West's best, but also to ride “the wave” that has become Cowgirl Up!

As an invitational show and sale, Cowgirl Up! is also a competition. Seven different awards were presented on the opening night of the show (March 24) with Best of Show going to Colorado sculptor Jan Mapes for her “Not Today.” In addition to a cash prize of $2000, Mape's name will appear on the Cowgirl Up! boot trophy especially designed for the show.

First Place for two-dimensional work went to Wyoming artist Laurie J. Lee for her painting “Gettin' the Count.” Arizona sculptor Cynthia Rigden received First Place for three-dimensional work for her sculpture “Recharging.” Both of the first place award winners received cash prizes of $1000.

Winner of the Museum Purchase Award was, again, Jan Mapes for “Not Today.” The sculpture will become a part of the Desert Caballeros Western Museum's permanent collection.

The prestigious Governor's Choice Award, chosen by the Office of the Governor of the State of Arizona, went to Arizona's Susan Kliewer for her sculpture “Lozen-Apache Warrior Woman.” Kliewer received a $1000 cash award from the Museum.

Winning the patron's vote was New Mexico sculptor Liz Wolf who received the People's Choice Award, along with a cash prize of $1000, for “Rain Catcher.”

Taking the prestigious Artists' Choice Award was Arizona artist Shawn Cameron for her painting “Fading Light.”  She will receive custom framing services in the amount of $1000 from Montgomery Frames of Tempe, Ariz.

All of the award-winning paintings and sculptures will remain on exhibition throughout the run of the show. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday. The Desert Caballeros Western Museum is located in Wickenburg at 21 North Frontier Street. For more information, call 684-2272.

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