As part of its 35th anniversary, leaders and board members at the Phippen Museum of Western Art are increasing its diversified programs.
Edd Kellerman, the museum’s recently named Executive Director, said, “Our ever-increasing visibility is related to the increasing number of events we host and shows and exhibits we schedule.”
As a result, he said, hundreds more visitors are turning Phippen into a popular tourist destination in the greater Prescott area. Kellerman also mentioned the thousands who pack the Courthouse Square during the Annual Western Art Show and Sale every Memorial Day. This year it is scheduled May 25-27. Southwestern artists will “Meet and Greet” attendees, he said. Artists also will conduct “quick draw” competitions. Food and beverages will be available from vendors.
Kellerman, a Prescott native, has been the Phippen Museum Director for slightly more than five months. He previously had supervised marketing, community outreach, public relations and customer service. He said planning for late spring and summer activities keeps fulltime and part-time staff and more than 80 volunteers quite busy.
Major Art Exhibit Now Open
More than 90 artworks, including pieces by notable Southwestern historic and modern artists in the Southwest, are now in a show called Desert Horizons.
Museum curator Jeannette Holverson said, “This exhibit shows the magnificent diversity and stunning panoramas we have in the Grand Canyon State.” She said the museum was fortunate in being able to exhibit paintings from the world-renowned Picerne Collection of Arizona Landmark Art.
Kellerman is adamant that activities and programs such as the foregoing have resulted in major attendance increases. He attributes much of the museum’s increasing appeal to the multi-story facility expansion seven years ago. Functional space increased to 17,000 square feet. That, and improved ease of accessibility to the site at 4701 Hwy 89 on the north edge of Prescott, has visitorship approaching 13,000 persons annually.
A roundabout on Hwy 89 just 100 yards due west of the Museum features a monumental bronze sculpture, “Cowboy in a Storm,” that George Phippen, the museum’s namesake, inspired.
Phippen was the first President of Cowboy Artists of America. He lived in Skull Valley and produced more than 3,000 artworks. The museum honoring Phippen is now also the home for the Arizona Rancher and Cowboy Hall of Fame.
Museum hours are Thursday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Details about any shows, programs or activities are available from 928-778-1385 or at www.phippenartmuseum.org for more details.
