Thermopolis organization receives Governor's Arts Award

WORLAND – The Hot Springs Greater Learning Foundation received one of the six 2015 Governor’s Arts Awards.

“I have selected six recipients this year. They are a diverse group, consisting of an arts organization, an arts patron, an arts educator, an arts administrator, a sculptor and a watercolorist.  They show the broad range of talent we have in Wyoming who contribute so much to the arts and arts economy,” Governor Matthew Mead said. 

The Hot Springs Greater Learning Foundation feels that the community played a large part in receiving the award. “It’s for our contribution to the arts in the community, but we are viewing it as an award for the whole community, not just for us, because we have so many volunteers, people that support us, people that come to the concerts and partnerships in the community, so it’s really a community award,” Hot Springs Greater Learning Foundation education director Jacky Wright said.

According to the press release, “The Hot Springs Greater Learning Foundation (HSGLF), founded in 2003, envisions the Wyoming Big Horn Basin Nature & Discovery Center. It’s designed to be an interpretive center for Hot Springs State Park, a folk arts center and the state’s only folk arts school. While dreaming big, the HSGLF and director Sue Blakey, also is a catalyst for local cultural events, including the ArtStroll and the inaugural Big Horn Basin Folk Festival. It helped launch the ‘Art of the Hunt’ exhibit, a multi-year project that culminated in the successful ‘Art of the Hunt’ show at the State Museum.”

Other recipients were:

Brian Scott Gamroth of Casper, who serves on the boards of Casper College Theatre Program, Casper Children’s Theatre, Nicolaysen Art Museum and the Wyoming Symphony. He also is “the voice” for fund-raisers throughout Casper and Wyoming. 

Paul Taylor of Laramie, who at some of his K-12 school residencies, he works with students to create magnificent murals using vivid colors applied in the traditional Australian Aboriginal dot painting and x-ray style.

Cedric D. Reverand II of Laramie, who has brought such performers to Laramie as Wynton Marsalis, Pinchas Zukerman, Marilyn Horne, McCoy Tyner, Allen Toussaint, Bela Fleck and the Martha Graham Dance Company, often before they became stars.  

Chris Navarro of Casper, who has become the foremost bronze monument sculptor in Wyoming.

Sarah Rogers of Sundance, a watercolorist who is best known for her “tropical western wildlife art” which has been showcased in a variety of magazines, including Southwest Art, Western Art Collector and Wildlife Art.  

The Governor’s Arts Awards were first made possible by an endowment from the Union Pacific Foundation in honor of Mrs. John U. Loomis, a life-long patron of the arts.  Over the years, individuals and organizations from more than 20 Wyoming communities and statewide organizations have been honored for their dedication to the arts in Wyoming.