Artist Russell to be celebrated at Stark Museum

On April 12, from 5:00 - 7:00 pm., Stark Museum of Art will host a Root Beer Reception and Gallery Spotlight on "cowboy artist" Charles Marion Russell.

This event is free and open to the public and will precede the national premier of the one-man, two-act play Charlie Russell's Recollection of the Old West at Lutcher Theater. The theater performance will begin at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are on sale at Lutcher Theater box office.

The Museum Reception and Spotlight event will include root beer and light refreshments along with Museum Docent Earl Parker's gallery spotlight highlighting Russell as a writer of illustrated letters. Spotlight times are 5:30, 6:00 and 6:30 p.m. Charles Russell (1864-1926) is known for the many special letters he wrote to friends, characterized by his eccentric spelling and punctuation, wry observations and humor, and personally drawn watercolor illustrations.

Parker will focus on the letters on view in the Museum such as two letters that Russell wrote to fellow artist Philip R. Goodwin, in which he discusses projects such as his important mural of Lewis and Clark for the Montana State Capitol.

"The Museum is fortunate to have many of Russell's works of art. The Root Beer Reception and Spotlight is an opportunity for anyone to learn more about one of the most beloved of American western artists. It will be the perfect evening for those attending the show, who will be able to see original paintings, letters and sculptures and then experience the personality behind them," says Stark Museum of Art Director Sarah Boehme.

Tickets for Charlie Russell's Recollection of the Old West are $25 for adults and $15 for students and can be purchased at www.lutcher.orglink or by calling the Lutcher Theater box office at 886-5535. Lutcher Theater is located at 707 Main in Orange.

Located at 712 Green Avenue in Orange, Stark Museum of Art is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Admission is free for all ages. Group tours are available by appointment.

For more information, call 409.886.ARTS (2787) or visit www.starkmuseum.orglink.