Celebrating National Day of the Cowboy Where the Western Artists Play
Scottsdale, the self proclaimed "most Western town in the West" has a reason to celebrate today. Saturday, July 26, 2008 has been declared National Day of the Cowboy. Although no special events are planned, there are plenty of cowboy-themed things to do in Scottsdale and not just today!
The Bison Museum is home to a premier collection of bison and western artifacts and art including Native American artifacts, the works of Western artists like Remington and Clymer, and memorabilia from the Western epic Dances with Wolves. There is also an extensive Buffalo Bill Cody exhibit or, for those interested in more local history the Flagg Family art collection, which includes works from the entire family but most notably the wood carvings of Dee Flagg and the paintings of the "Cowboy Rembrandt" Monte Flagg. The Bison Museum is located at 16641 N 91st Street. Admission is $10 for Adults, $8 for Seniors and $5 for Children ages 6 to 12. Children under 6 are admitted free.
Those looking for cowboy and western items they can take home with them as reminders of Scottsdale, can find them at the Cowboy Legacy Gallery. Owners Brian Lebel and Bill Welch just returned from the Cody Old West Show and Auction (held at the end of June in Cody, Wyoming) so there should be plenty of new stuff on hand. The Cowboy Legacy Gallery is located at 7077 E. Main Street, #16 in Old Town.
It is difficult to celebrate the cowboy without acknowledging the role Native Americans in the nation's history. Visitors to the Heard Museum North can experience some of the beautiful, thought provoking and evocative art work of contemporary Indian artists through the Long-term exhibit Choices and Change: American Indian Artists in the Southwest. The Heard Museum North is located at 32633 N. Scottsdale Road. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors (age 65+), and $2 students. Children under age 6 and Native Americans admitted Free.
Speaking of things associated with cowboys, don't forget branding. It is responsible for some of the west's most colorful monikers - the Lazy S, the Bar M and Circle K (well maybe not that) among others. Circle K is an example of a brand that is still used today. Other examples of modern brands can be found in the exhibit Branded and On Display which explores today's branding strategies from logos to brand names to billboards at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) through September. SMoCA is located at 7374 E. Second Street in Old Town (Scottsdale). Non-member admission is $7 for Adults and $5 for students. Admission is free to members and children younger than 15.
