Event Calendar

         CONTACT: Honnah Taylor

                                                                                                                                806-651-2235

                                                                                                                                       htaylor@wtamu.edu

Proximity: Rarely Seen Paintings from PPHM Come to WTAMU’s Dord Fitz Formal Gallery

Canyon, Texas — Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum and West Texas A&M University Art Program proudly present Proximity: Paintings from Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, a compelling new exhibition that invites viewers to consider how art brings us closer to one another, to the past, and to place. Exhibition opens August 25.

Featuring rarely seen works from the PPHM collection, Proximity showcases landscapes, portraits, and still life paintings by celebrated Texas artists including Isabel Robinson, Maurice Bernson, Olin Travis, Fred Darge, and Harold Bugbee. These paintings offer more than aesthetic beauty, they become vessels of identity, memory, and regional connection.

“In curating this exhibition, I wanted to highlight not only the individual artists but also the relationships their work creates,” says Deana Craighead, Curator of Art at PPHM. “These paintings reflect a shared geography, a shared history. In many ways, they help define who we are – then and now.”

In a region shaped by wide-open spaces and close-knit communities, Proximity explores how art narrows distance: between artist and viewer, between history and the present, and between the collective and the personal. It’s an opportunity to engage with the cultural richness of the Panhandle-Plains through works that have long been part of our story, yet rarely on public display.

Graduate students Kenedy Wheeler and Madilyn Ballew, serving as curatorial apprentices, have played an active role in developing Proximity as part of their coursework. Their hands-on experience includes selecting artworks, contributing to curatorial discussions, conducting research, drafting extended labels, and assisting with artwork preparation and

installation. Their contributions not only enhance the exhibition but also highlight the museum’s vital role in educating and mentoring the next generation of arts professionals in our region.

This exhibition also marks a continued partnership between PPHM and WTAMU’s Art Program, deepening the commitment to preserving, studying, and celebrating the art of our region. Visitors are encouraged to explore the gallery and reflect on ways art connects us across time and space.

Proximity: Paintings from Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum
August 25 – October 24, 2025
Dord Fitz Formal Gallery | Mary Moody Northen Hall | West Texas A&M University.
Admission is free and open to the public during regular gallery hours.

For more information, visit www.panhandleplains.org or call 806.651.2244.

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Thank you!

Honnah Taylor

Director of Marketing & Communications

Cultural Foundation of the Texas Panhandle

Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum | TEXAS Outdoor Musical

D: 806.651.2235 | T: 806.651.2244

cultural foundation | panhandleplains.org | texas-show.com

Tracy Sommers (she,her,hers)                                                                                                                      
West Texas Area Director

www.afsp.org/westtexas
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
tsommers@afsp.org
T: 806.670.1227

TICKETS FOR ‘SYMPHONY UNDER THE STARS’ AT HODGETOWN ON SALE NOW 

Amarillo Symphony Returns for a Magical Night of Music, Food, and Fireworks on September 6

AMARILLO, TX (June 17, 2025) – The Amarillo Symphony and the Amarillo Sod Poodles are thrilled to announce that tickets are now on sale for the sixth annual “Symphony Under the Stars” at HODGETOWN. This year’s highly anticipated outdoor concert will take place on Saturday, September 6, with gates opening at 6:00 p.m.

The Panhandle’s only professional symphony orchestra will be conducted by George Jackson as they kick off the 2025–26 season with an unforgettable program featuring the iconic music of John Williams. Audiences can expect beloved selections from legendary films such as Star Wars, E.T., Harry Potter, and more.

An evening of timeless classics under the West Texas sky will be capped off with a spectacular Fireworks Finale presented by FirstBank Southwest making for a night the entire family can enjoy. Food and drink will be available throughout the event, and guests are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy the full experience.

Tickets start at just $14 and can be purchased online HERE. A limited number of on-field VIP Tables are also available, each including seating for eight and a prime steak dinner, offering a front-row view of the performance.

The Amarillo Symphony gives special thanks to Street Toyota, Amarillo National Bank, CVB Film Commission, Physicians Surgical, and Sprouse, Shrader, Smith for helping bring this event to life.

Join us for a magical night of music, community, and celebration at the heart of downtown Amarillo. For premium hospitality options—including Dugout Suites, Concourse Suites, Luxury Suites, the Pepsi Party Deck, or the new City Federal Credit Union Fiesta Deck—please contact the Sod Poodles Front Office at (806) 803-9547 or email groups@sodpoodles.com. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the HODGETOWN Box Office, open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.