Join the Phippen Museum on Saturday, February 11, 2012, from 1pm to 2:30pm for an interactive lecture called, Trappings of a Horse Culture, presented in conjunction with their ongoing exhibit, Trappings of the American West. This special conversation by local documentarian and cowboy poet, Gail Steiger, will explore the few remaining true horse cultures left in the world; from French cowboys who are guardians of the wild horses of the Camargue region, to Argentine gauchos and csikos of the Hungarian plains, the descendants of the Magyar. Gail has travelled extensively in these regions of the world, studying and documenting their varied herding cultures and will share his unique insight with event participants.

Gail Steiger is the grandson of Delia Gist Gardner and Gail I. Gardner and has been the foreman of the remote Spider Ranch in Yavapai County, Arizona, since 1995. He is a frequent performer at the Arizona Cowboy Poets Gathering and the Western Folklife Center's National Cowboy Poetry Gathering. In addition, Gail's acclaimed Ranch Album documentary, released in collaboration with his brother Lew in 1988, is recognized as one of the best portrayals of modern cowboy and ranching life on film.

The 21st Annual Trappings of the American West exhibition features the amazing artwork of 90 juried artists and craftsmen from 14 Western states and Canada, and features pieces in various mediums, including: painting, sculpture, photography, saddles, tooled leather, bits and spurs, boots, hats, knives, engraving, hitched horsehair, braided rawhide, musical instruments and more. This special exhibit runs through February 19, 2012, and comes to the Phippen Museum through an exciting new partnership with The Dry Creek Arts Fellowship in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Admission to the Phippen Museum is $7.00 for adults, $6 for AAA members, $5.00 for Students with ID and free for Museum Members and children twelve and under. The museum is located just a few minutes north of downtown Prescott at 4701 Highway 89 North. For additional information, please contact the museum at 928-778-1385 or visit their website at www.phippenartmuseum.org.