2009-02-26

Collectors extraordinaire – Lil & Bill Sims’ western art on display in Kerrville

Contributed

The Museum of Western Art, 1550 Bandera Highway – Highway 16 North – in Kerrville, proudly celebrates an extraordinary collection of Western American art assembled by museum benefactors, Lil and Bill Sims.

The current exhibit includes a collection of 80 paintings, works-on-paper and over 30 sculptures of bronze, wood and stone. The Sims’ story blends two wonderful traditions – a Southern Lady and her Gentleman Cowboy.

The collected artwork illustrates the Sims’ most cherished Western images. Museum curators spent a pleasurable three days reviewing the collection, and listening to stories of Lil and Bill’s travel adventures around the country.

In late 2007, the Sims visited the Museum of Western Art with friends and expressed admiration for the Journey West Gallery, an exhibit that focuses on children. As CEO of Southway Ford, Bill Sims persuaded the Ford Motor Company to sponsor the gallery.

A proud Texas, Sims has claimed his father had been born on a cattle drive. One of the treasures of the Sims’ Collection is an 1836 map of Texas – a fabled Convention at Washington-on-the-Brazos declared Texas independent on March 2, 1836, forming the Republic of Texas.

The Sims’ Collection will be on exhibit until mid-April.
The Museum of Western Art is open from 9 am to 5 pm, Tuesday through Saturday; and from 1 pm to 5 pm, Sunday. The museum is closed Mondays. For more information, contact 830-896-2553 or visit www.museumofwesternart.org.