Submission from two of our avid Smoke Signals readers who are also Woolaroc supporters and Lynn Doughty fans: James and Tammy Hogan

The Woolaroc honors the Art of Lynn O. Doughty's

Old West Characters Sculpted In Wood

 The Old West, though a small slice of American history, was yet a time when some very memorable characters emerged. As a boy growing up in Oklahoma, Lynn O. Doughty developed a love for the Old West and the characters that inhabited that exciting era. From Cowboys to Native Americans, miners to mountain men, camp cooks to chuck wagons, and horses to stagecoaches - all are inspirations to Lynn and can be found in painstaking detail in his award winning woodcarvings.
 
You can taste the beans cooking on the range fire and the crusty biscuits in the dutch ovens and smell the worn out leather on his cowboy's chaps as you are transported back in time to the open range. One must also marvel at his ability to capture the actual likeness of famous figures in history such as Will Rogers (proudly been displayed at the Will Rogers Memorial in Claremore, OK). Or Frank Phillips (founder of Phillips 66 and western art collector) in his cowboy gear, on display as part of the permanent collection of Woolaroc Museum near Bartlesville, OK in which Phillips founded. 

Ken Meek, Director of the Woolaroc museum recognized the importance of this artist and gave him the greatest honor of his career, selecting Lynn for a one-man show and exhibition of his work at the museum near Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Woolaroc is home to one of the most important collections of western art in the world including major works by William R. Leigh, Frank Tenney Johnson, Joe Beeler, CM Russell and Frederic Remington, plus an impressive collection of Native American artifacts. The show will run from November 23, 2012 thru January 6, 2013.

Mr. Meek chose Doughty because he tells a story with each piece carved out of wood. No limited edition bronzes or prints so each piece is truly one of a kind, taking a week up to a year to create. His attention to detail is has led to a devoted following of collectors in the United States and internationally.
 
Lynn has been featured in well-known publications such as Western Horseman, Oklahoma Today, Cowboys and Indians, and the cover of Chip Chats (the magazine of the National Woodcarvers association). He has also graced the pages of Art of The West and been displayed at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He has won literally hundreds of first place ribbons, carvers choice awards, and best of show awards in competitions throughout the United States and in 2011 Lynn was presented the Ron Ryan award, by the Dayton, Ohio Woodcarvers Guild as the woodcarver who best represents the ideals of his craft, and freely gives his time and talent to advance the art of woodcarving. Lynn possesses the fire of artisans who keep the spirit of the west alive through woodcarving.

Visit the Woolaroc between November 23rd and January 6th to see this fine exhibition (www.woolaroc.org). Cannot get to Oklahoma? Visit Doughty's art at: www.outwestgallery.com or www.outwestwoodcarving.blogspot.com.

Photos: 

TOP, left to right: "Iron Buffalo," "Frank Phillips," "Charles M. Russel," "Hot Tamales."
NEXT: Left to right: Ken Meeks (Curator of Woolaroc Museum), 23 inch tall carving of Frank Phillips, and Lynn Doughty.

Melissa McCracken
and Brian Lebel,
who wed last weekend
under a full harvest moon
in California.

And Baby Bliss.....

Welcome and Happy Birthday to Ever Lily Rabineau, born Thursday night, October 4. Credit goes to daughter, Jamie and her husband Mica, who made Joseph and Linda Sherwood grandparents for the first time.  She is sure to have some great cowgirl outfits waiting for her!

Prattsville, Utah (Glenwood) was the birthplace of Artemus Ward Acord on April 17, 1890. The Mormon family relocated to Oklahoma (Stillwater) due to his mother's failing health. However, she passed away when Art was only 3 and the family returned to Utah (Emery County). Art was a working cowboy for his father during the summer and a coal miner in the winter. He joined Dick Stanley's Congress of Rough Riders (1909) where he met future cowboy film star Hoot Gibson, who'd become his lifelong friend. Rodeo led to his obtaining film work in 1909. Grange B. McKinney's fine biography Art Acord and the Movies, noted Francis Boggs of Selig Studios provided Art a letter of recommendation. It read in part: "To Whom It May Concern......... Art Acord has worked for this firm during the past season. He has given the best of satisfaction in every respect. He is a great rider; in fact, there is none better in the country, many experts considering him the champion of the world. He is absolutely fearless, and can be relied on to tackle any stunt that a man in his line (of work) would be expected to do."

Art began with the New York Motion Picture Company, which had a film unit, under the direction of Thomas Ince, on the West Coast. Inceville was located in a canyon on the Bison Ranch (Santa Monica). Art would alternate between studios serving as a stuntman and unbilled actor. Between films, Art worked as a cowboy for a spell in Elko County. Harry Webb, fellow cowpuncher, recalled; "Yep, from what I heard about Art in Nevada, he was a tough son of a bitch from Bitter Creek. The farther up the creek the tougher they got and he was right from the headwaters." In 1912, Art won the title of "Pacific Coast Rodeo Champ" in Klamath Falls, OR. At the Pendleton Roundup, Art received the title of "World Champion Steer Bulldogger" and Hoot Gibson won "All Around Champion". In 1913, Art married Edythe Sterling, a rodeo star in her own right.