Copper Breaks State Park To Host Summer Art Show

ent--article_ _media__contact">Media Contact: David Turner, 940-839-4331, or david.turner@tpwd.texas.gov

News Image Share on Facebook Share Release URL

Note: This item is more than 16 years old. Please take the publication date into consideration for any date references.

QUANAH, TX.—Hank the Cow Dog illustrator Gerald L. Holmes joins 22 local young artists for the annual Summer Art Exhibition at Copper Breaks State Park. The unique theme for this year’s exhibition is “Refrigerator Art.”

Gerald Holmes is beloved by many as the illustrator of the wildly popular children’s books Hank the Cow Dog. For more than twenty years, and with more than 50 books in print, he has introduced ranch life in Texas to millions with his watercolor and pen and ink drawings of the ranch where Hank serves as head of security. His selections in the Copper Breaks art show reflect a range of experiences from the comical as in the “Hank” prints, to the practicalities of working cattle on the Texas range, to the park’s own Longhorns ranging through the ruggedly beautiful breaks along the Pease River.

Holmes is showing prints and original water colors mounted on the wooden panels normally used for the art show. Many of his works are for sale. Holmes is joined by 22 youngsters who are showing their art mounted with magnets on refrigerators.

The annual Summer Art Exhibition began in1997 with an exhibit of Frank Reeves Chuck Wagon Chronicles. Since then, the park has played host to a wide range of art and artists including the native American style flat painting of Quanah Parker Tracy, the vivid watercolors of internationally-known mouth artist Joe Urquizo, the well-known equestrian images of Anita Palmer and the unique representations of Indian motifs by archaeologist-turned-artist Stephen Harmon.

The Summer Art Exhibition has a proud tradition of spotlighting professional artists as well as amateurs, and while the predominant theme is western art, a diverse and eclectic group of artists from throughout the region has responded to the opportunity to reach a new audience in a unique venue.

The art exhibition is the annual fund raiser for the Quahadi Society, Friends of Copper Breaks State Park. The exhibition is showing every day in the park headquarters/museum through August 25.

For more information on the Summer Art Exhibition, other park programs, or facilities, call 940-839-4331 during regular business hours.

Copper Breaks State Park is located 12 miles south of Quanah and eight miles north of Crowell on State Highway 6.