The YMCA has announced that several paintings by local artist Zak Pullen will decorate the exterior of the facility. Local artist Zak Pullen was suggested for the project by a local businessman.
When the late Mick McMurry, local magnate and philanthropist, had a vision to share the “Cowboy Ethics” with Wyoming’s children, he reached out to Pullen. In a statement sent to media on Tuesday, YMCA officials say that Mick had referred to Zak Pullen as “Wyoming’s Norman Rockwell.”
Officials explain that together, the two men wanted to create original artwork to represent the “Code of the West” from James P. Owen’s book Cowboy Ethics. Pullen completed this vision and created ten original paintings inspired by the Cowboy Ethics, as they relate to McMurry’s life and Wyoming.
The paintings are set to be reproduced on seven-foot, square, panels and mounted on the large retaining wall at the entrance of the new NERD YMCA of Natrona County. Each of the 10 images will be revealed starting at 6:00pm on August 7th. Pullen is scheduled to be on hand to describe his thoughts for each painting.
In addition to the artwork, a family book will be created with all ten of the artist’s interpretations of the Wyoming Cowboy Ethics. Officials say that Pullen will work with ten Wyoming authors to write original essays depicting each of the ethics. The book will be hard bound and available to donors.
A release date for the book is yet to be determined.
(An earlier version of this story incorrectly said that Pullen had been commissioned by McMurry for the paintings. McMurry did not commission the paintings and simply suggested Pullen for the task. Oil City regrets the error.)
