40 years of the Buffalo Bill Art Show
Bearing the name of Buffalo Bill Cody has a certain weight to it. Spectacle. Vision. History. Artistry.
The Buffalo Bill Art Show has upheld that association for 40 years now, even before it came to bear that name, and even now as it has become part of the weeklong celebration of the arts known as the Rendezvous Royale. 2021 will mark the 40th year of the art show and auction. As we look ahead to the ways this year’s event is more connected and advanced than ever, we celebrate how we got here.
“It is impressive how we have grown during the past 40 years,” said Kathy Thompson, Director of the Buffalo Bill Art Show for the past 16 years (who also noted she thinks of Buffalo Bill Cody as the sexiest man alive in the late 1800s).
The History
The first show in 1982, “wasn’t called the Buffalo Bill,” yet, according to Thompson, and was the brainchild of Harold Van Dahlem, Monty Jackson, and Dave Bermingham. Each artist was given a room in the Holiday Inn to use as a personal gallery, and the pool deck was the site of what is still an event favorite: the Quick Draw. Two years later, with the assistance of local gallery owners Dorothy and Ernest Fuller and Bob and Nancy Brown, the Cody Country Chamber of Commerce became involved in this special community event. Two years after that, the Buffalo Bill Historical Center entered the scene, which later became the Buffalo Bill Center of the West.
Today, art is delivered to and presented for viewing in the 16-acre, state-of-the-art Buffalo Bill Center of the West directly across the street, much to Thompson’s relief. She recalls the anxiety of storing all the priceless art in the 100-year-old building that was first Buffalo Bill’s original museum and later the Chamber of Commerce (it still is, though the facility has been expanded).
The track from hotel room to historical building to state-of-the-art facility reflects the growth and development of the show itself, which now includes a full week of activities including the Live and Silent Auction, the Quick Draw, workshops and lectures, the By Western Hands functional art exhibit, the Patron’s Ball, and more. “To be in the 40th year in a town of our size and to be able to support that is incredible,” said Thompson.
As much as the show has changed, much remains the same, and that’s based in the town itself. Early—and long-time—director Dorothy Fuller described the event as a community-centered, fun show that puts its host community of Cody on center stage.
“If people come once, and get into the auctioning and the parties, they keep coming back,” Fuller said. “People just have a good time, and they fall in love with Cody.”
Thompson’s summary of Rendezvous Royale echoes Fuller’s sentiments.
“The third week of September is a wonderfully thrilling time to be in Cody, Wyoming,” she said.
Another common thread is the artists themselves. Of the original 13 artists who displayed their works in the Holiday Inn, 10 will be featured in the 2021 show. This year, they will be 10 of 110 artists of note from around the world. The Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale rolls out the red carpet for its artists, and many of them noted the sense of welcome and appreciation on behalf of the event and the town are what make this a special event on their calendars each year.
At the intersection of renowned art and Wild West settlement, the Rendezvous Royale would surely make Buffalo Bill Cody proud, not in small part due to the good it does for the town that bears his surname.
The Why
The nascent art show had no beneficiary, but by the second year, the show raised $12,000 for Old Trail Town, a collection of historical cabins and Western artifacts in Cody. Rendezvous Royale participants can still step back in time during a visit to Old Trail Town.
The Buffalo Bill Center of the West became partner and beneficiary in 1994, and Thompson estimates over $1.25 million has gone to the Center in just the past 10 years as a result. The relationship is symbiotic; if it weren’t for the museum’s acclaim the show couldn’t have risen to the level of renown it has. There is a palpable connection between Buffalo Bill, his vision for a museum that eventually—albeit temporarily came to house the art for this show—and his appreciation for art, the community of Cody and their appreciation for legacy and art, and the show and the people it brings to town each year.
“The museum is really important to the town and the town is really important to the museum,” Thompson reflected.
Today, the show has such success that funds are also allocated to local art organizations that support local artists, amateur artists, local children exploring performance art, and much more.
As patrons start or expand their collections, be it from the Scout’s Miniature Sale or the grand Live Auction, art and the town of Cody—and all of its guests finding their way to Yellowstone National Park via Cody—win.
How You Can Participate
2020 challenged the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale staff and volunteers to find a way to keep this production special across the miles. The hybrid approach of multiple locations with limited group sizes and online participation kept the spirit of the show very much alive. It was as much a rendezvous as any of the past years.
This year will see some carryovers. While the calendar of events will return to a more typical format for in person attendance, people who hope to take part from the comfort of their homes will still be able to join virtually.
Attend Early
Scout’s Miniature Exhibition & Sale: The miniature pieces submitted by the 2021 artists will be on display at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West this summer. Browse the Scouts’ Miniature Sale, open Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend in the main hub at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. This is a great opportunity to start your western art collection!
Buy-It-Now Sale: Beginning in June, donated works by participating artists will be available for purchase online. Starting in August, the Buy it Now Sale works will be on display at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West alongside the Live Auction Exhibition in the John Bunker Sands Gallery. Items not sold prior to the Friday night auction will be moved to the party tent and will be available for purchase during the Live Auction via the now Silent Auction.
Live Auction: Live Auction works will be available for preview online in late June. Starting Aug. 19th, Live Auction works will also be on display at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in the John Bunker Sands Gallery until the evening of the Live Auction event.
Attend In-person
The full schedule of events is live now. You can grab your tickets and expect to participate in all the festivities of years past—and reunite with patrons of the arts from across the country! From lectures to beginner painting classes to the thrilling Live Auction and captivating Quick Draw, the red carpet awaits. Tickets will be available in early July, so stay tuned!
Attend Online
Scout’s Miniature Sale: You don’t have to wait for the Live Auction to purchase some of the amazing works by our Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale artists. Browse the 70+ pieces in the Scouts’ Miniature Sale, which will be online for you to preview starting on Friday, May 21. They will be on display at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West and available for purchase in person and online Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.
Buy-It-Now: Starting online in June, the artist donated Buy-it-Now works will be available for purchase online. The Buy-it-Now Sale allows you to contribute to the cause and to your collection on your own schedule, from anywhere.
Live Auction: Just as it did last year, the Live Auction will have an online component. You will be able to watch a live stream of the excitement in the party tent and bid online. We can guarantee your heart rate will pick up as you partake in the bidding excitement 40 years in the making. We are working in partnership with LiveAuctioneers again this year to allow online bidding. The Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale also provides concierge phone and absentee bidding services.
Immerse Yourself in the Arts
Be sure to frequent our website for schedule updates, registration, bidding guides, and more!