CTHC schedules start date for Cowpokes and Brushstrokes in January

Tamara Gregor, The Duncan Banner, Okla.
·3 min read

Dec. 26—The Chisholm Trail Heritage Center (CTHC) will begin the new year by kicking off its first art experience of the year with Cowpokes and Brushstrokes, Wranglers in January.

The CTHC will launch their process-based art class at 1:45 p.m. on Jan. 9.

Leah Mulkey, CTHC education coordinator, said through the family-focused program, the Cowpokes and Brushstrokes art class will be available for kids ages two to four, and kids and their parents or caregiver will have the opportunity to engage in various art projects, as well as participate in music and story time.

"This program introduces hand-eye coordination techniques and incorporates shapes and textures into the art projects," she said.

In this round, the Cowpokes will work on insect inspired projects where they will work with a theme to complete art projects using a variety of mediums.

"Each session is different, and the goal is to give participants a fun, unique and engaging project that helps them develop self-confidence and social skills," she said.

With different sessions, kids are able to have fun with each unique and engaging project.

The Cowpokes and Wranglers are 45-minute sessions and run every Monday for eight weeks from 1:45 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The Wranglers session will be for kids ages five and up.

According to a release, this class will help kids focus on the elements and principles of art.

"Wranglers builds up to more advanced discussion and practice of art," Mulkey said. "During a few of our last round of sessions, participants learned about well-known artists and the techniques they used while practicing those techniques themselves."

According to a release, the Wranglers projects will include more work with shadows, pointillism, tangrams, weaving, agamographs and more.

Future projects will consist of weaving, free hand drawing, blending, as well as reflection.

The cost of Cowpokes and Wranglers for nonmembers is $24 per child and $16 for an additional child and for members it's $16 per child and $8 for any additional children.

"We also offer combination pricing," Mulkey said. "For example, if a non-member family had one child in Cowpokes and two children in Wranglers, they would pay $24 for one child and $16 each for the additional two children."

Participants can sign up for one class or all of the classes.

Cowpokes and Brushstrokes, Wranglers will host trained educators to include, Mary Lowry, Maria McRoy, Edie Stewart and Bailey Teakell to lead the program.

Requirements to attend the program is an adult must accompany a child with Cowpokes participants throughout the session.

Openings are currently available and pre-registration is required.

Participants have traveled from Duncan, Comanche, Marlow and Velma, Fletcher, Minco, Sterling, Elgin, Walters, Lawton and Burkburnett, Texas to take part in these art events in recent years, according to a release.

This program is sponsored by the Oklahoma Arts Council and National Endowment for the Arts.

For more information about Cowpokes and Brushstrokes, Wranglers or to register, contact Mulkey at 580-252-6692 or email leah@onthechisholmtrail.com.

CTHC is located at 1000 Chisholm Trail Parkway in Duncan. Current operating hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday.