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
| REGISTRATION CLOSING SOON!!! Don’t miss out!!! |
| Bravehearts registration is CLOSING THIS WEEK!!
The BRAVEHEARTS mentoring group for boys (7th-12th grade) offers a weekend getaway to High Plains Retreat Center where we provide teaching & mentoring about how to become a man of honor and integrity. Hiking, zipline, rappelling, lodging & meals provided *$50 per person refundable deposit required Friday, October 3rd – Sunday, October 5th MUST BE REGISTERED BY SEPTEMBER 29TH High Plains Retreat Center
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Save the Date: Amarillo International Film Festival — October 9-11, 2025 – Arts in the Sunset
Styled for Success; Empowering Women for the Workplace
Free Women’s Conference
The Lucille and Leo Caiafa, Jr. Center for Advancement (outreach program of Sharing Hope Ministry) and the City of Amarillo Community Development are hosting Styled for Success; Empowering Women for the Workplace, a free women’s job conference at the Amarillo Civic Center, Heritage and Regency rooms on Tuesday, September 23, 2024. Check in is 8:30am with the event beginning promptly at 9:00am until 2:30pm.
With the assistance of Amarillo College, Education Credit Union, Goodwill Industries Career Resource Center and Workforce Solutions of the Panhandle, we will offer the following sessions:
- Interpersonal Communication (presenting yourself well in an interview)
- Resume Building
- Job Fair Preparation*
- Overcoming Barriers** (felonies, homelessness, disabilities, discrimination and more)
- Interview Tips and Practice Interviews
- Interview Clothing and Accessories***
*This conference is two weeks ahead of the Workforce Solutions Fall Job Fair and every woman who attends the conference will have an advantage going into the job fair.
**We will have resources available to assist women in overcoming barriers to employment including felony record, homelessness, disabilities, discrimination, child care, education, and more.
***Every woman who attends the conference will have the opportunity to choose a complete interview outfit including clothing, shoes, handbag and jewelry at no charge.
A complementary lunch will be served courtesy of Chick-fil-A.
This conference is free of charge to any women in our community but space is limited and advance registration is required. Women can register using the following link or they can call 806-358-7803 for registration information. Deadline to register is September 16th or until full whichever comes first.
Online Registration: https://form.jotform.com/241415541952151
For more information, contact Kim Lester at 806-358-7803
or email cfa@sharinghopeministry.org
Kim Lester
Resource Coordinator
806-358-7803
Join us on Tuesday September 23rd for a ribbon cutting and dedication service at
The Pergola @ FILL WITH HOPE!
This event will start at 10 am with a dedication service — in memory of 2 previous Board of Director members;
David Tarver
&
Terry Collins
–who both served on our board for many years. Each of these men LOVED our ministry so deeply and gave so much of their time and service to our organization while on this earth!
We will also celebrate with a Canyon Chamber of Commerce-Ribbon Cutting! The Pergola was built out of love for our volunteers—to be a place of fellowship and enjoyment for those helping us pack and provide food for our children in need. We are honored and blessed to have this space and looking forward to seeing our friends and family there!
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).
| Our Chosen, Squires, & Pearls programs are starting this fall, and we don’t want you to miss out! |
| Mark your calendars for these fall Mentoring Programs! |
For girls (2nd-6th grade) to find their significance, value and identity in Christ. This fun-filled six-week program, provides a chance for girls to develop relationships with their friends in a safe environment while encouraging kindness, respect, love, and grace.
TUESDAY afternoons: 4:30 – 5:30 pm
September 16th – October 21st
Hope Choice Center City Building: 1501 S. Taylor