The Cowboy Artists of America will take over Scottsdale Artists School in April 2010, when some members of the group hold a week of mentoring classes for up-and-coming western artists. CAA members John Coleman, Harley Brown, Bruce Greene, Oreland Joe, Mehl Lawson and Ron Riddick will teach classes during CA Week at the school and share the wealth of knowledge they have acquired over the years.
This is just the beginning for the Joe Beeler Cowboy Artist Foundation, a mentoring and scholarship program that the CAA will launch this year. For this program, the CAA plans to partner with schools and museums to share their expertise with talented, experienced and passionate western artists who are still honing their skills. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides scholarships to deserving artists to help them continue their education. The Foundation was named in honor of Joe Beeler, one of the founders of the CAA who exemplifies the spirit of the organization. You can make a tax-deductible donation to the Joe Beeler Cowboy Artists Foundation by mailing a check (made out to the foundation name) to: Joe Beeler Cowboy Artists Foundation, PO Box 11348, Prescott, AZ 86304-1348.
“Joe Beeler was one of the most beloved members of the CAA,” says John Coleman, CAA President, “and many rightly aspire to be like him.”
While a mentoring program might seem like a new and exciting venture for the CAA, it's something the organization first did more than 20 years ago. In the 1980s, CAA members taught classes at the Cowboy Artists of America Museum in Kerrville, Texas, (now the Museum of Western Art). Of the hundreds who participated in these classes, Martin Grelle, Bruce Greene, John Moyers and Jim Norton were eventually inducted into the CAA after years of hard work and perseverance.
“This new program is a chance for us as CAA members and working artists to return the help that we were given in the beginning of our own careers,” says Mehl Lawson, Chairman of the Joe Beeler CA Foundation. “There were artists who came before us who were willing to take the time to see that we got off on the right foot, and we want to do the same.”
Coleman agrees. “Mentoring young and up-and-coming artists is aligned with the CAA's objectives,” he says. “We have an opportunity to try to make a difference to artists, which speaks to the very roots of our organization.”
The Endowment's class schedule and plans continue to evolve, so be sure to visit http://www.cowboyartistsofamerica.com regularly for updates.
Learn more about the Scottsdale Artists School: http://www.scottsdaleartschool.org/
