Wednesday, June 12, 2024 The Whitney Western Art Museum at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West is thrilled to announce a special Peter Hassrick Public Program on Tuesday, July 9th, from 5:30 to 7:00 pm in the Center’s Coe Auditorium. This free program features renowned art director Thomas Brent Smith , who will delve into the fascinating world of James Bama’s photographs . A Homecoming and Deep Dive Smith, the Wylodean and Bill Saxon Director of the Fred Jones Jr.
Museum of Art at the University of Oklahoma, has a special connection to Bama. As a 2005 Fellow at the McCracken Research Library, Smith researched Bama’s art for his Master’s thesis. This experience fostered a deep understanding, as Smith not only studied Bama’s work but also interviewed him personally.
Beyond Delineation: Photography as Artistic Fuel The program, titled “James Bama’s Photographs: An Essential Tool,” explores how Bama, known for his realism, used photography as a springboard for his artistic vision. Bama’s photographs weren’t simple reference points; they were a way to connect with diverse subjects and meticulously plan his finished works. Through his lens, Bama captured the essence of the Mountain West and its people, some of whom would become the faces of his iconic paintings.
A Timely Series Capturing Social and Artistic Influences The program will delve into a captivating series of Bama’s photographs and paintings that coincided with the rise of the American Indian Movemen.
