GILLETTE, Wyo. — Rockpile Museum will open its “No Time For Tears: The Life & Art of Dixie Lynne Reece” exhibit at a reception at 6:30 p.m. June 22, it announced today.
The museum is located at 900 W. 2nd St., Gillette.
Museum volunteer Julie Tachick curated the exhibit, which features nearly 70 of Reece’s works of art, the museum said in a news release.
Reece was a Campbell County ranch woman and artist who lived from 1936 to 2018. She graduated from Campbell County High School in 1955. Most of her adult life was spent at the family’s property on Clear Creek near Leiter. She began drawing and painting at an early age, but became serious about
her art in the late 1950s and painted consistently into the 1990s. Dixie ran the family ranch with her brother Richard until he died in 2005.
“Dixie Reece lived a life of hard work, dedication, and courage,” the release said. “From the 1950s to the 1990s, she seamlessly combined her love of ranch work along with her joy of painting. When tragedy struck by way of a ‘bucking horse accident’ in 1970, she was left confined to a wheelchair. Ranch work continued and art became even more important. Her accident didn’t stifle her creativity, affection for animals, or will to live a full life.”
Cousins, neighbors and friends helped Dixie remain on the ranch until she died.
Tachick said that she hopes the exhibit tells the story of Reece’s art and life and that it reflects not only the breadth of her talent and eye for beauty but also her heart and her impact on other people.
Rockpile Museum Director Robert Henning said he met Reece in 2016 to talk with her about her artwork and where to permanently house her collection.
“It has taken a few years, but we couldn’t be more excited to share her collection and her story with the people of Campbell County and our visitors,” Henning said. “My hope is that everyone who sees this exhibit will feel the same joy, hope, and peace that these paintings brought to Dixie and take a little bit of that with them as they go. I’d like to thank everyone who has worked to make this exhibit possible and especially Julie for her outstanding work to make this display a reality.”
There will be no charge for the reception, the release said. Light refreshments will be served.
For more information on the exhibit or the Rockpile Museum, visit www.rockpilemuseum.com or call 307-682-5723.
