FORT WORTH, Texas — The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame is excited to welcome the new exhibition Living Large: Bob Wade’s Cowgirls in the Anne W. Marion Gallery starting March 11 through July 31. The Museum is pleased to host this exhibition honoring the late artist.
The exhibition focuses largely on his cowgirl lineups, the works that catapulted him into the mainstream. Bob “Daddy-O” Wade’s cowgirls are the result of decades of experimentation with large-scale photography and color tinting of black-and-white vintage photographs and postcards.
“Wade’s work resonates with people for a variety of reasons,” said the Museum’s associate executive director, Dr. Diana Vela. “In his work, we see women in camaraderie, women who have perhaps just finished competing, or are about to compete in varying horsemanship activities.”
“There is freedom in being with a like-minded group of women,” said Vela. “Every woman at some point in her life wants to be one of these women in the lineup, even if just for an hour.”
The exhibition is anchored by Thirteen Cowgirls, the first work of cowgirls that Wade undertook. With an introduction composed by Dr. Jason Mellard, Wade friend and director for Texas Music History at Texas State University, the exhibition hosts 11 works, many which are paired with the original postcard.
The exhibition was curated with Wade’s wife, Lisa and daughter Rachel in honor of Wade’s legacy.
About the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame
The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame honors and celebrates women, past and present, whose lives exemplify the courage, resilience and independence that helped shape the West, and fosters an appreciation of the ideals and spirit of self-reliance they inspire. Established in 1975, the Museum is considered an invaluable national educational resource for its exhibits, research library, rare photograph collection and award-winning distance-learning programs. In 2019, the Museum opened the Kit Moncrief Galleries and It’s Never Just a HorseTM exhibition. Located at 1720 Gendy Street Fort Worth, Texas 76107. Hours of operation are Tuesday – Saturday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon – 5 p.m. Admission is $12 for adults (13+); $9 for seniors (60+) and military; $6 for children (ages 3-12) and children 3 and under with paid admission. For more news and information visit www.cowgirl.net or call 817.336.4475 and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube.
–National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame