National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum representatives presented First Americans Museum representatives with matching T.C. Cannon lithograph.

 

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – The newest national museum in Oklahoma now shares a unique connection to the first. The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum presented the First Americans Museum with a T.C. Cannon lithograph, a twin to the lithograph that is part of The Cowboy’s permanent galleries, during a dinner held at FAM, Sept. 17.

The dinner was for honorees and other dignitaries who were in Oklahoma City for the National Cowboy Museum’s Western Heritage Awards, which annually honors some of the nation’s most noteworthy and influential Western performers and artists.

During the dinner, August Walker, the Cowboy Museum’s Lead Preparator, unveiled and presented Waiting for the Bus (Anadarko Princess), the 1977 lithograph by T.C. Cannon that came to The Cowboy from the Arthur and Shifra Silberman Collection. Walker was chosen to present the lithograph to the museum because he not only built a custom frame for the piece, but also shares the same alma mater as Cannon. Walker is affiliated with the Sac & Fox Nation of Oklahoma.

T.C. Cannon, born Tommy Wayne Cannon, was a Kiowa / Caddo artist native to rural Oklahoma. Cannon graduated from the Institute of American Indian Arts of Santa Fe and was known in his career for pushing the boundaries of Native American art. Decades after his death in 1978, Cannon is still considered a visionary of Native American art and his work still resonates today with those who continue to explore Native cultural identity.

“Cannon’s work depicting the life of Native Americans, allows the viewer to consider a rich heritage belonging to many,” said Natalie Shirley, Cowboy Museum President and CEO. “We believe both of our Museums provide visitors with a place to observe and

contemplate our shared heritage. We are delighted to share this beautiful work with the First Americans Museum as a symbol of our partnership.”

 

About the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City is America’s premier institution of Western history, art and culture. Founded in 1955, the Museum collects, preserves and exhibits an internationally renowned collection of Western art and artifacts while sponsoring dynamic educational programs to stimulate interest in the enduring legacy of the American West. For more information, visit nationalcowboymuseum.org.

About the First Americans Museum

First Americans Museum celebrates our shared American history through the collective stories of 39 distinct tribal nations in Oklahoma today. The museum promotes awareness and educates the broader public about the unique cultures, diversity, history, contributions, and resilience of the First American nations. The 175,000 sq. ft. museum is located at 659 First Americans Boulevard in Oklahoma City. For more information, visit famok.org.