A new exhibit opens at the Salado Museum on Thursday, May 25th. Join us for a reception 4:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. to see the new Folk Art Exhibit and Student Art Contest on display.

Museum staff and volunteers have worked diligently over the last few months collecting and preserving examples of Folk Art from Salado through the years. Guests will be able to meet some of the artists on Thursday during the reception.

Folk Art is a genre that is not easily defined. It is art created by artists that have had little to no formal training. Although charming, their works often pay little attention to accepted rules of perspective and proportion.

Folk Art is often described as “primitive” or even “childish” and with good reason. Child artists all start out untrained and choose simple themes as their subjects. Adult Folk Artists often create handmade toys, dolls, and miniatures, or choose to paint images from their own childhood. Using available materials, these artists produce art that reflects their culture.

This exhibit focuses on a few examples of Folk Art in early American culture found in Salado, Texas now promoted and protected at the Salado Museum.

Also on display are the entries and winners of the Student Art Competition. Students colored and decorated prints of a 1960 sketch of the original museum building done by Ann Robertson, daughter of Lucile Armstrong Robertson, founder of the Central Texas Museum. This fundraiser was a first for the Salado Museum and College Park. Students from all levels and Salado-area schools participated. Winners were chosen by visitors paying for and placing votes for their favorites. Thank you to the Sirril Art Gallery and the Salado General Store for donating the prizes.