History of the WAA

A BRIEF HISTORY OF WYOMING ARTISTS ASSOCIATION (WAA)

The following is a condensed version of the history of WAA written by E. Riley Ecton, Historian, 1976, and Grand Wyoming Artist 1988 and Joan Melius, President 1992.

By 1938 the 1932’s New-Deal PWA Projects has established ten Wyoming town art galleries through a director assigned by the University of Wyoming. Individual art groups resulted, supplying available artists’ names for a committee of three to organize for 2 years (1953-54), the Laramie Conner Hotel Exhibitions.

One art group had already called themselves Wyoming Artists’ Association holding a convention in May on Casper Mountain in 1940. The PWA Projects and WAA collapsed during World War II.

In 1954 at the Conner Hotel Show several invited attending artists decided to elect an executive secretary. She chose and sent out a travel show to the original PWA Project towns and wrote several newsletters informing of the next year’s 1955 Convention to be held at Rock Springs, Wyoming, May 1955. This is the first official Convention of the Wyoming Artists Association.

The Rock Springs Convention was enthusiastically attended by artists from all parts of Wyoming. A new Travel Show was chosen, a new slate of officers elected, a constitution assigned and newsletter editor assigned. This was the beginning of the organization we know today, with the annual convention to be held the first weekend in May each year since.

In 1956, the University of Wyoming Traveling Exhibit was established with James Hartley, a member of UW’s Adult Education Department, consenting to be responsible for the show each year. In the 1963 Casper Convention, the Congressional Show to hang in the Washington, D.C., offices of Wyoming’s Congress members was introduced. In the 1985 Casper Convention, a yearly traveling honor award was created called the Grand Wyoming Artist Trophy. This award was instituted to honor a member whose quality of work and generosity of spirit has contributed to the success of WAA and has provided inspiration and encouragement to fledgling artists throughout the community. The first recipient was J. K. Davis of Buffalo, Wyoming.
The annual convention offers several events that are tailored to stimulate creativity, extend knowledge of the principles of art, and encourage camaraderie.

Workshops in various mediums are taught by talented artists who are widely recognized for their teaching skills and creative and technical ability. The annual art show offers members the opportunity to compete and admire other’s work.

Another popular event is the Friday evening Quick Draw and auction. Artists are given one hour to create a completed work of art. The pieces are then auctioned to the public with proceeds divided between WAA and the artists. The annual business meeting is conducted during the luncheon on Saturday. Saturday night follows with a costume parade and banquet with members dressing the part of the annual theme chosen by the current president, awards and entertainment.

The Wyoming Artists Association membership consists of approximately 75-100 enthusiastic and dedicated persons throughout the state whose contributions have made it the vital and stimulating organization it is. We thank all of you for making it what it is.

In 2017 WAA officially became a non-profit with the IRS by applying for and receiving the 501-(c) (3) status. Wyo State Articles of Organization was added in 2018.