Past Exhibits
Texas Spurs and the Artists Who Created Them
June 12, 2021 to January 30, 2022
This exhibition of the Hugh Edmondson Collection of spurs and bits contained spurs made over 120 years. Featured artists include Joseph Petmecky, J.O. Bass, Kelly Brothers and three generations of the Boone family who were descendants of Daniel Boone, the well-known American frontier pioneer. The collection includes work by Harold “Swede” Strong, an immigrant from Sweden and spurs made by Marvin “Cowboy” Traylor who is believed to have learned blacksmithing while serving time in a Texas State Penitentiary in the 1920’s. The work of Wilson Capron, Randy Butters, and Billy Klapper incorporates creations by contemporary artisans.
Visitors can learn a brief history of spurs and the vocabulary of spur components like rowels, bottle openers and gal legs. This collection of spurs showcases a variety of materials, finishes, intricate designs, sizes, and shapes. A short video takes viewers into the workshop of Wilson Capron while he engages in his creative spur making process.
The Face of Cinema: Evolution of Movie Posters
February 20 to August 27, 2022
Visitors will see a selection of over 100 posters spanning 120 years. These powerful visual elements have a significant role in promoting the motion picture industry.
The work of three well-known poster designers display extraordinary artistic talents of Saul Bass, William Gold and Drew Struzan. Among their works displayed are posters for Vertigo, Casa Blanca and E. T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
The exhibition gives special attention to Titanic. A photo from 1914 shows the silent film Titanic being shown at the Opera House in Thurber (1880s – 1930s), Texas, located across the Interstate 20 Highway from the Gordon Museum. The original Titanic film was created in May 1912 and released only a month after the tragedy. This story has been the subject of 17 theatrically released cinema dramas, 24 documentaries and 26 television episodes.
Other areas of the exhibit include Colors and Trends, Iconic Images, Remakes, and Kids in old Hollywood. Photos of theaters displaying posters and banners from the early 20th century are displayed courtesy of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles. Visitors will enjoy adding to the Memorable Movie Quote wall, playing the Movie Trivia Quiz, spinning stroboscopes and watching a slide show with poster images of all films that have received a best picture Oscar awarded by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.