Be a Curator for the Night at the National Museum of Wildlife Art’s Blacktail Bash

The National Museum of Wildlife Art (NMWA) will hold its seventh annual art engagement event, Blacktail Bash, formerly known as Blacktail Gala, on Saturday, February 25, 2023, 7 – 9 p.m MST. For the Museum’s 35th anniversary year, this fundraising event has been reimagined. New this year, attendees will have the opportunity to be a curator for the night, casting their votes for which pieces will be placed on display in the Museum gallery. Participants will also have the opportunity to “vote” in a directed giving portion of the event, choosing which Museum cause their ticket purchase donation will support.

Artwork from the Museum vault will be on view for one night only. Attendees will participate in two rounds of voting, selecting pieces to go on view in the coming year. Individual tickets are $150 and a pair of tickets are $270 (a 10% discount for the bundle). Tickets are available for purchase on Eventbrite and the proceeds from this event will support all of the Museum’s programs. Each guest will receive one token to select which cause to direct their contribution towards; education, public programming, exhibitions, building maintenance, etc.

“This event allows the public to have an important voice in the curation of our collection, and also provides a behind the scenes look at artwork, some of which has never been formally on view at the Museum,” says Museum Director Steve Seamons. “It’s also a fun and meaningful way to involve the public in directed giving, allowing people to choose what their ticket purchase supports within the Museum,” he adds.

The public will be voting on the following pieces: Lament by Allan Houser, The Sacred White Buffalo of Pojoaque by Scott Kelley, The Gathering by Lanford Monroe, Rabbit (After Durer) by John Nieto, The Rattlesnake by Frederic Remington, Brown Rabbit by Bill Traylor, and High Country by Pablita Velarde.

The theme of this event is masquerade and black-tie attire is optional. Venetian masks are highly encouraged. Heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served from Palate and music will be provided by DJ VerT-OnE.

This event is presented by Jackson Hole Jewelry Co. with additional support provided by Grant Winthrop, Long Reimer Winegar, Lori & Laurent Roux, Canvas Unlimited, The Bomb Sommelier, and Palate.