Scenes and Stories of Early West Texas, is a collection of pencil drawings by Dock Dilworth Parramore, the son of one of Abilene's early pioneers and ranchers, J.H. Parramore. Dock Parramore grew up in and around Abilene during its infancy. As a young boy he showed an early interest in drawing and painting, studying with an itinerant artist who came to the village of Abilene to give classes. Although he displayed considerable talent, he was discouraged from pursuing artwork by his father, and followed instead the ranching life. Years later, when he had retired from active ranching, he began a series of pencil sketches to entertain and amuse his two young grandchildren.
The drawings were done with no thought to publication, but rather to show the children something of the "old times' that Parramore remembered so well. The drawings were made with a simple pencil on an unlined tablet, often with lengthy, descriptive captions. Dock Parramore wanted to show his grandchildren an un-romanticized version of the early settlers and cowboys of the old west. His sketches depict ordinary ranch work, such as the building of tanks and the repairing of windmills. He found little glamour but much humor in his background and had many stories to tell. Through this delightful collection of drawings, we can all enjoy Dock Parramore stories from the early part of the 20th century - some based on fact and some a product of his vivid imagination.
Picture top left, Dock Dilworth Parramore, Pencil Sketch
From the collection of the Parramore and Hoppe families.
All exhibitions will be on display at the museum through April 9, 2006. The museum's regular operating hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for senior citizens. ASU and SAISD students are admitted free as well as museum members and active military personnel.
San Angelo Museum
of Fine Arts
One Love Street
San Angelo, Texas 76903
Fax: (325) 658 - 6800
Phone: (325) 653 -
3333
e-mail:
museum@samfa.org