Artist Lecture Series

TSC Visiting Artist Lecture Series proudly presents

Megan Wimberley & Morgan Buckert

August 1st ~ 5:30-6:30pm ~ Boyd TCRM

MEGAN WIMBERLEY:

From the moment Megan Wimberley could cling to a saddle horn, legs barely long enough to sit a horse, she was in love. Her fascination with the wild and domestic animals of the American West has dominated much of her life. She draws on her experiences growing up working with horses, dogs, and cattle.

Wimberley also brings her experience in the western/ranch lifestyle to her art, exhibiting the hard work of ranchers and bringing awareness to the work women do in these spaces. She is the founder of Cowgirl Artists of America, which strives to increase opportunities and recognition for female artists and makers working in the western genre through community, education, promotion, and collaboration. Wimberley’s work has been exhibited in the Mountain Oyster Show, Cowgirl Up! at Desert Caballeros Western Museum, The Cowgirl Gathering, and Women’s Work at the A.R. Mitchell Museum of Western Art, among others.

Wimberley received a BA in Fine arts from Wayland Baptist University and an MA in Art Education from Boston University. After starting her career in 2016 Wimberley took some time away from her art practice when she became increasingly ill. After being diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and finally receiving treatment she spent time focusing on renewed health and life improvements. Thanks to a caring rheumatologist and a holistic approach to her health she’s back to work. She currently resides in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

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Morgan Buckert:

 Morgan Buckert builds custom cowboy boots in Hailey, Idaho.  She is 7th generation of a Texan ranch family and the influence of cowboy culture is evident in all her work.

She's done a little bit of everything since leaving Goliad, Texas.  Morgan has B.A.s in Government and History from The University of Texas at Austin, and a M.A. in U.S. Western History from The University of New Mexico.  She moved to Sun Valley, Idaho in 2005 to fly-fish for the summer and has stayed to explore for almost twenty years.  She worked as a fly-fishing guide, and has worked in conservation and recreation management, as well as owns Backwoods Mountain Sports with her husband.

In 2009, Morgan returned to craft, first working with textiles before beginning leather work and shoemaking.  She attended Penland School of Crafts in 2013 and 2014.  Idaho Commission on the Arts has awarded her with several grants and she participated in the 2017-2018 Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program with master Seth Teichert, in MacKay.  In 2022, Morgan worked with Music City Leather in Nashville with the support of the Mazie Morrison Foundation. She was the Art of the Cowgirl Boot Making Fellow in 2023. Additionally, she has received grants from CERF+ and Boss Mares. Morgan serves on the Advisory Board of Cowgirl Artists of America where she is also a signature member.

Morgan builds custom cowboy boots in her Hailey, Idaho, workshop.  She starts with custom patterns, and the highest quality leather, to create the perfectly fit cowboy boot, or an accessory built to last a lifetime.

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