range magazine and
the Range Conservation Foundation just released a new book titled Reflections of the West: Cowboy painters and
poets. (Ain’t that a fine title?)
It’s 160 big,
colorful pages of pure delight.
Poetry by
some of the finest versifiers, living and dead, to ever practice the art (and
me, as the exception that proves the rule) accompany paintings by a variety of
accomplished artists who illuminate cowboy life. (That's a Don Weller painting on the cover.) Together, the words and
pictures offer heartfelt reflections of ranching and riding, horses and cattle,
sheep and shenanigans, landscapes and wildlife.
This book’s
predecessor, Brushstrokes and Balladeers:
Painters and poets of the American West, (another fine title) won a slew of
honors, including the Western Heritage “Wrangler” Award from the National
Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. This book may well outdo it.
Two of my
poems are featured: “A Bolt of Broomtails” and “Morning Glory.” The poems
accompany beautiful art, the first a painting by the late, great Utah artist
Maynard Dixon; the second by contemporary artist Cheri Christensen.
Perfect for
Christmas and other gift-giving occasions, the book is available from the
publisher online at www.rangemagazine.com and by phone at 1-800-RANGE-4-U.
