Don Weller’s heroes have always been cowboys. After studying fine arts, however, he reluctantly left them behind, and began a long career as a graphic designer and illustrator. His dynamic and often whimsical work appeared on record covers, posters, in advertisements, and on hundreds of magazine pages. Weller rediscovered his love for rural lands and the world of cowboys when he moved to Utah in the 1980s, creating the ongoing inspiration for his current paintings. Working exclusively in watercolor, he expertly captures the grit of cowboys and the striking landscapes of the west. This retrospective at the Kimball is a unique opportunity to view works from all stages of Weller’s celebrated career—from sketchbooks and early illustrations to the iconic western scenes for which he is now well-known.
Students will learn about the different tribes that historically lived in Utah and the Great Basin. Students will create their own map identifying where each tribe lived based on information learned from the map provided. Students will choose one of the three tribes to study and present to the rest of the class. They will identify how their lives changed with the arrival of settlers and pioneers
Students will learn how history is often created by and turns into myth and legend by looking at depictions of cowboys. During the first class, the students will collectively create what they think a cowboy looked like or behaved. Students will then be assigned a source for information about cowboys in the American West. Whether primary or secondary sources, they must take what they learn and create their own personal image of a cowboy. Once they have finished, students will display their works along with their sources and compare how sources changed each image of a Cowboy.
The 1960’s brought about drastic changes in culture and civil rights all over the country. Typically, people think of Woodstock, the Civil Rights movement, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Vietnam. But during the 60’s, the American Indian Movement (AIM) was extremely busy drawing attention to the inequalities faced by Native American’s each year. Students will create their own posters for AIM, highlighting either goals or their complaints for the social movement.
Students will learn about Don Weller's transition from a graphic designer to a water color artist. After looking at how different marks can create an entire image, students will learn how water, pressure, and movement can change their paintings. Finally, everyone goes outside to create their own western water colors. Lessons generally last between an hour and an hour and a half.