Opening of "Lasting Light" and "Painting the Canyon" at the Booth Western Art Museum

Helen and I attended the gala opening of the two exhibits, "Lasting Light" and "Painting the Canyon" at the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville, Georgia last night.


The evening began with an artists reception at the home of Seth Hopkins, the Executive Director of the Booth. We then attended a lecture by noted Grand Canyon artist Curt Walters of Sedona, who shared his many talents with an audience of about 125 people.


Helen and I were graciously introduced to one and all at the lecture by Mr. Hopkins (as newlyweds) and representing the Grand Canyon Association.


The whole connection between the Booth and GCA began after one of my GC Field Institute hikes in 2006 with a Boy Scout group from Atlanta.


After the hike the scouts volunteered for a public service project in Grand Canyon Village and by chance, were assigned to help carry the "Lasting Light" photographs for hanging in Kolb Studio, June 2006. (To view a catalog of the photo's in "Lasting Light," click this link).


One of the leaders of the scouts saw the photos and once back in Georgia mentioned them to Seth Hopkins, who pursued the idea of bringing the show to the Booth.


Never one to leave well enough alone, Mr. Hopkins also agreed to exhibit 30 paintings of the canyon from the National Park and GCA collections!


The Booth truly is a magnificent Western art museum, every bit as good as anything you'd see in Scottsdale or Jackson! This extra large Maynard Dixon classic hangs in one of the many galleries in the Booth. If your travels ever take you into or near Atlanta, plan on making the 45-minute drive north on I-75 to Cartersville for a visit to the Booth and its sister museum, the Tellus Science Museum. We had a fantastic visit to Cartersville.