CONTACT: Honnah Taylor
806-651-2235
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
| SHOOT AND GALA REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! |
| Thank you for being a part of our team and mission.
It’s now time to reserve your spot for our 7th Annual Sister-Bear Shoot!
Your support is what allows us to continue “Providing Neurological Hope for the High Plains” and fulfilling the mission to serve those in our community.
This year’s event hosts a Friday night steak dinner and concert, September 26th from 6-11pm to be hosted at The 4th Warehouse at 314 S. Jefferson. Enjoy a steak dinner, open bar, opportunity for great prizes, live music by Tennessee Tuckness & Band, special access to our live auction, and end the night dancing away at the Scotty Alexander concert! Seating is limited, so make sure you act fast!
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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
Ground Breaking: Western Bank
11:00 a.m.
8611 Patriot Dr. (Corner of Patriot & Soncy)
Major Expansion / New Branch Location
More Information: Sydney, (806) 346-8323
Open from September 20th – January 9th at the Don Harrington Discovery Center.
Calling young artists and inventors! Immerse yourself in the mind of Leonardo da Vinci– building, sketching, testing, and designing, just like the “Renaissance Man” himself. Hands-on activity tables explore his contributions to art, science, anatomy and engineering. Will you recreate da Vinci’s work, or add an exciting twist that’s all your own?
Included with membership or general admission.
Leonardo’s Lab, a traveling exhibit, was developed by Carnegie Science Center (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) and produced in partnership with the Sciencecenter (Ithaca, New York).
NATIONAL CHECKERS DAY AND DOGS IN POLITICS DAY
On September 23, National Checkers Day (which is also known as Dogs in Politics Day) recognizes Political Pooches or Candidate Canines, First Fidos, or Revolutionary Rovers. #NationalCheckersDay
NATIONAL GREAT AMERICAN POT PIE DAY
National Great American Pot Pie Day cooks up a toasty meal on September 23. Warm up the home with a toasty meal of pot pies to celebrate! #GreatAmericanPotPieDay