Tom and I will be attending this year's event and look forward to seeing Peggy and the family and to celebrate Bill Rushing.
Bill Rushing, a beloved Western artist who died before the Death Valley '49ers Invitation Western Art Show in November last year after being a staple at that show for nearly 40 years, left a gap that those who collect his work will find hard to fill. However, Bill's wife, Peggy, also an artist and a regular at the Death Valley show, has let the word out that she is returning to the show this November 11-14 and taking two booths as before. Bill's work will be on display in the same location as before at the far end under the shade of the huge smoke tree. Peggy's work will be next to his, as always. This represents major effort by Peggy since the family home is in Cameron, Texas, but the coupple has made the trip together year after year and though she'll be making the trip without Bill this time, it's something she wants to do.
To honor his memory and his art, a new award has been created. The William Rushing Best of Show Award. The show has long had the Sid Burns Award, which is given to the artist whose work demonstrates high quality but who also represents the spirit of the show by displaying work exceptionally well and welcoming and promoting other artists. The Rushing Award will be given to a single work that a panel of judges deems as the Best in the Show. Peggy Rushing will present this award at the Artists' Breakfast Saturday morning and their six children will be on hand to honor their father's contribution to Western Art and to the Death Valley Show.
This art show is one of the longest running Western shows today. It began 61 years ago as part of the Death Valley '49er Encampment, an event now in its 61st year, that recognizes the beauty and value of Death Valley, its unusual geography, flora and fauna, history, people and their lore. The Encampment specifically honors the small band of gold seekers who came west in 1849, disorganized and unprepared and found themselves stranded in the stark desert. Their story is one of the West's great dramas. The party survived, barely, due to great courage and stamina.
The Encampment will be held in Furance Creek and Stove Pipe Wells November 11-14 with many events starting as early as November 5th. The art show is sponsored by this event. All art is for sale. Collector's of Rushing's work should take advantage of this opportunity to see his work amassed once again. For information, call show chairman Bill Goodman at 760 937-3334 or co-chairman Phee Sherline at 760 723-7255.
Death Valley Art Show - November 10-14 http://www.deathvalley49ers.org/encampment_ArtShow.htm
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