Panhandle Plains Museum Invitational

Dusk on the Prairie Dog Town Fork
14 x 18
Available at the Panhandle Plains Museum Invitational

The Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River captured my imagination over ten years ago. We crossed over it several times a year on our way back and forth from Florida to New Mexico. There was just something about it that was quintessential West Texas.

It is one of two streams that form the headwaters of the legendary Red River. When I say "stream", I am perhaps speaking a bit too grandly about what is mostly a dry, sandy, occasionally muddy, braided swath that cuts through the panhandle of Texas.

I've exhibited for a number of years at the Panhandle Plains Museum Invitational (which I wrote about here) . The very first year I sent a painting of The Prairie Dog Town Fork and went to the opening, eager to see my work hung in this venerable institution. As I stood near my work, I saw one Texan point to the painting and say to another "I reckon we must have had a flood that year." Alas, there was too much water! He bought it anyway, so it must not have bothered him too much. But, this year I decided to opt for a little more sand and mud and bit less water.