Sheridan is well known for its cowboy culture and Bighorn Mountain allure. Even before its founding in 1882, Sheridan has awed visitors with its scenic landscapes, towering mountains, and lavish western heritage. The Medicine Wheel, estimated to be over ten thousand years old, served as a sacred site for generations of Native Americans, but today, it\u2019s an aesthetic wonder of the world that has inspired hundreds of artists from around the globe. When Queen Elizabeth II visited Sheridan in 1984, she admired the generosity of the residents and the beauty found in the Bighorns, but she was also fascinated with the Western art on display at the Brinton Museum. Today, Sheridan\u2019s art scene is lively and growing even stronger. April 25th-29th will be a six day celebration of the arts to commemorate the local creators and patrons of both the past and present. So why are residents taking six days to celebrate the arts? Well, take a look at our six reasons why Sheridanites love their art.<\/p>\n
Sheridan has art for all. Experts or stick-figure-pros can come together and create their own masterpieces. Both The Paint Post<\/a> and Red Bison Studio<\/a> not only showcase fine creations from oil paintings to clay, but they offer classes for even the most novice of artists increase their skills ten fold. The Paint Post includes a step-by-step walkthrough from instructors of how to paint anything from landscapes to portraits. If you\u2019re nervous about messing up, don\u2019t worry, wine is offered to help you relax and make your painting look like a Picasso, depending how much wine you drink. Classes can be booked here<\/a>. If ceramics is more your style, get your hands dirty at the Red Bison Studio. Their skilled instructors will teach you how form a lump of clay into a delicate piece of art. Classes are offered weekly and can be booked here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Since the first pioneers saddled up and headed west in search of new beginnings, there has always been a mystical presence about the rugged and unchartered territories of the American West. Sheridan is no exception to this mysteriosity and wonder of what life is truly like in the West. Artists like Frederic Remington and Charles Russell were inspired by cowboys, Native Americans, and towering mountains to create some of America\u2019s most iconic western paintings. Today, Sheridan is proud to have such a rich history of prominent artists pass through and even settle here. It isn\u2019t uncommon to take a visit to Sheridan\u2019s countryside to find painters and photographers still admiring the beauty of the West without being bothered by unnatural noise and distractions.<\/p>\n To compliment the scenery, sculptures can be found scattered throughout the city. Historic Downtown and Kendrick Park have upward of 40 sculptures handmade by local and world renowned artists. These statues remind us of what life used to be like when icons and outlaws of the old west roamed the streets. But it\u2019s not just statues or the murals of iconic figures from our western heritage that make Sheridan\u2019s art scene unique. It\u2019s the addition of colorful sculptures crafted from century old trees and the contemporary fine arts found in various exhibits. The buildings of Main Street are art themselves. The architects that built them knew that Sheridan\u2019s vast landscapes needed to be complimented well structurally, thus, leading very detailed and artistic establishments.<\/p>\n For a town with a population of only 17,000, you would think that finding art to view or to purchase would be hard to come by. However, that\u2019s not the case. Several businesses on Main Street and the surrounding areas are very dedicated to showcasing work from talented locals and also world famous artists. Main Frame<\/a> on Grinnelle offers both custom frames and a commission free space for artists to display their work. SAGE Community Arts<\/a> is a place to inspire and bring the community together through visual arts. The Gallery on Main<\/a> in Dayton, Wyoming serves as a both a cafe and fine art gallery that features local wines and artists.<\/p>\n The Brinton Museum<\/a> is located on the historic Quarter Circle A Ranch in Big Horn, Wyoming and features 19th, 20th, and 21st century Western and American Art in a setting that is art unto itself. The Ucross Foundation<\/a> is a ranch that fosters the creative spirit of deeply committed artists by providing quiet studio space and living accommodations in Wyoming\u2019s high plains. Opened in 2016, the\u00a0Whitney Center for the Arts<\/a> at Sheridan College is another remarkable venue that both displays art and incubates up and coming young artists with studios and classes. The historic WYO Theater<\/a> has been displaying performing art spectacles since 1923.<\/p>\n Throughout the year, Sheridan is a major confluence for artists and craftsmen. For instance, events like Celebrate the Arts<\/a>, April 25th-29th, engage the community with new experiences and cultivation of art. For the last 21 years the Rocky Mountain Leather Trade Show<\/a> has brought fine craftsmen from around the world to display their life\u2019s work.<\/p>\nEndless Sky. Endless Creativity.<\/h3>\n
Art Everywhere<\/h3>\n
Dedication to Art<\/h3>\n
Museums and Venues<\/h3>\n
Festivals and Events<\/h3>\n