A bronze sculpture by renowned Salado artist Ronnie Wells is currently on display at the Salado Museum. The sculpture, entitled Chisholm Trail Mavericks, can be viewed at the museum, 423 South Main, during regular museum hours, Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 4 pm, through the end of June.

“To recognize the extraordinary work of Ronnie Wells and to thank him and his wife Patricia for their generosity and years of support for the Museum, we are hosting a special evening reception for them here on June 4,” says Dave Swarthout, Salado Museum Executive Director. “The reception will be an opportunity for people to meet the artist and to hear he and other speakers tell the story of the Chisholm Trail and this exquisite sculpture.”

The Ronnie Wells reception is Tuesday, June 4, 6:30 to 8:30 pm, in the Salado Museum Hall of Clans. Refreshments will be provided. The event is free and open to the public. Donations are welcome at the door.

Ronnie Wells is internationally recognized for his sculptures, being credited with the ability to capture movement and emotion in metal. He has won numerous awards and exhibited his work in museums and fine art shows across the nation. He was selected Texas State Sculptor by the 71st Texas Legislature in 1990. The Wells’ sculpture represents a group of longhorn steers being pushed along the Chisholm Trail, the major route out of Texas for livestock from 1867 to 1884. The longhorn cattle driven north along the trail provided a steady source of income that helped the impoverished state recover from the Civil War. Youthful trail hands on mustangs gave a Texas flavor to the entire range cattle industry of the Great Plains and made the cowboy an enduring folk hero.

The Salado Museum and College Park, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 1959, celebrates 60 years preserving and promoting the pioneer history of Salado, Texas. Through educational programs and exhibits that document the settlement and heritage of this area, the museum tells the story of this frontier college town. The Museum is located at 423 South Main Street in Salado. College Park, where visitors can view the ruins of Salado College built in 1860, is located just south of the museum. www.saladomuseum.org.