Mosey out to Wickenburg this weekend for cowgirl art and hiking

This weekend, the Desert Caballeros Western Museum in Wickenburg will launch its annual exhibition and sale of work created by women artists.

The 13th annual "Cowgirl Up! Art from the Other Half of the West" exhibit showcases artists who for years were underrepresented in museums and at art shows.

Since its inception in 2006, "Cowgirl Up!" has become a major national event for women who specialize in Western art, said Amanda Schlueter, marketing and membership manager for the museum.

“It’s much more than your typical museum exhibition,” she said, adding that for six weeks, the museum will turn its galleries into a platform for 55 of the West’s best women artists to share their talent, voices and perspectives.

“Each piece of art is available for purchase, with proceeds supporting the endeavors of the participating artists and of the Desert Caballeros Western Museum,” Schlueter said.

The show begins Friday with an opening-weekend bash, Schlueter said. Frontier Street in front of the museum will be transformed into a tented venue for bidding, catered dinners, dancing, live auctions and an artists’ quick draw.

More than 50 of the Cowgirl Up! artists will attend the opening-weekend festivities, which includes a miniatures sale, an artists and patrons party and a street dance on Friday evening, an artists and collectors forum on Saturday morning and a chuckwagon breakfast on Sunday morning.

Art exhibitions and sales have long been popular fundraisers for museums. Schlueter said the focus on women artists sets "Cowgirl Up!" apart.

“When the idea for "Cowgirl Up!" was conceived in 2005, few venues existed for women Western artists to show and sell their work exclusively,” she said.

Fifty-six artists accepted invitations to participate in the first "Cowgirl Up!," Schlueter said. Since then, 185 artists have been selected to showcase their work.

“In those 13 years, the question has often been asked, ‘Is an exclusively female show still needed or relevant in the world of Western art?' And the answer we hear from both artists and patrons is ‘Yes,’ ” she said.

Every year, a selection committee reviews portfolios from more than 350 artists and narrows the group to about 55, Schlueter said.

“Their goal is to select a group of talented artists who represent a number of styles, mediums, and subject matters, both traditional and contemporary,” she said.

The artists participate in shows around the country. Schlueter said many of them tell event organizers that "Cowgirl Up!" is their favorite because of the camaraderie between the artists and the patrons.

“Many people decide to purchase a piece of art because of the friendship and connection they made with that artist at 'Cowgirl Up!' ” Schlueter said. “ 'Cowgirl Up!' art can be found in homes as far away as Virginia, Delaware, Mississippi, Canada and the UK.”

More things to do in Wickenburg

Get hiking maps and other information at the Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center. If you prefer to hike in town, grab a map for a walking tour of the many historical buildings complemented by bronze sculptures that range from Gila monsters lurking on the sidewalk to a forlorn felon chained to the Jail Tree.

Details: 216 N. Frontier St. 928-684-5479, www.wickenburgchamber.com.

If you’d rather ride than walk, BC Jeep Tours explore Wickenburg’s scenic backcountry. Take one of the designated tours or create your own. Outings range from about 90 minutes to all day.

Details: 928-684-7901, www.bcjeeptours.com.

Desert hike: Sophie's Flat

This little network of trails is named for Sophie Burden, an innkeeper who operated one of Wickenburg’s famous dude ranches. She often took her guests on trail rides and cookouts in these hills. The ranch is now a treatment center for people with eating disorders, and the surrounding landscape has been preserved as a system of pathways popular with hikers and equestrians.

The “A” loop forms the core of Sophie’s Flat as it makes a 7.1-mile swing through the desert, dipping in and out of arroyos and crossing cactus-studded terrain. There are a couple of internal connector trails so you can make a shorter loop, but once you’re out in the quiet backcountry you’ll be in no hurry to finish.

The trail passes through clusters of saguaros and gardens of sun-struck cholla. It’s a rambling route that gives you a sense of genuine remoteness. Follow the “A” trail markers to stay on course. But be alert. Early on the trail drops into a wash for about 300 yards and the exit is marked only by a couple of small rock cairns instead of trail signs.

Directions: From U.S. 60 just east of the Hassayampa River Bridge traffic circle, turn north on El Recreo Drive. Go 0.25 mile, bear right on Constellation Road and continue about 3 miles to Blue Tank Road. Turn left and drive 1.4 miles to the trailhead. The last 3.5 miles are on dirt roads that are suitable for sedans, except immediately after storms.

Hassayampa River Preserve

This oasis is one of the few places where the Hassayampa River stays above ground all year. Almost 3 miles of trails loop beneath the shade of cottonwoods, willows and California fan palms. 

A variety of habitats including a mesquite bosque, a marshy spring-fed lake and a riparian corridor support an impressive roster of wildlife and more than 280 species of birds.

After many years of having been managed by the Nature Conservancy, the preserve is now under the auspices of Maricopa County Parks. The parks department has renovated the Nature Center and made improvements to the property and trails.

Get a peek at the improvements at the grand reopening from 9-11 a.m. Saturday, March 24. There will be guided walks and fun activities.

Details: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays from mid-October to mid-May. 7-4 p.m. Fridays-Sundays from mid-May to mid-October. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. 3 miles southeast of Wickenburg on U.S. 60 (near mile marker 114). $5, free for age 11 and younger. 928-684-2772, www.maricopacountyparks.net.

Cowgirl Up! Art from the Other Half of the West

When: Opening-weekend events are Friday-Sunday, March 23-25. Times and ticket prices vary, check website for details. The exhibition runs through Sunday, May 13.

Where: Desert Caballeros Western Museum, 21 N. Frontier St., Wickenburg.

Admission: $12, $10 for seniors and AAA members, free for active military and guest and free for age 17 and younger.

Details: 928-684-2272, www.westernmuseum.org.

Arizona Republic freelancer Roger Naylor contributed to this story.