Michael Naranjo - The Artist Who Sees with His Hands

For Immediate Release Press Contact: Tom Shinall Director of Marketing [email protected] 770-387-1300EXPERIENCE A TOUCHABLE EXHIBITION THROUGH THE INNER VISION OF MICHAEL NARANJO AT BOOTH WESTERN ART MUSEUM Michael Naranjo: The Artist Who Sees with His Hands opens March 10, 2016CARTERSVILLE, GEORGIA – Michael Naranjo is blind. He lost his eyesight in 1968 while serving inVietnam. Yet, to this day, Naranjo is widely regarded as one of the greatest living Native Americansculptors. Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville, Georgia is excited to present a “touchable”exhibition in Michael Naranjo: The Artist Who Sees with His Hands. The exhibition will be on display inthe Booth’s Temporary Exhibition Gallery March 10, 2016 through July 3, 2016.Michael Naranjo: The Artist Who Sees with His Hands will feature more than 30 works, drawn from theCollection of Tia, from throughout Naranjo’s 45-year career. Michael Naranjo grew up in a New Mexicopottery family and went to school to study sculpture, but service in Vietnam threatened his dream. Agrenade explosion took his eyesight and left his right hand severely wounded. Despite these limitationsNaranjo has created well over 100 important works including many monuments. Per the request of theartist and the Collection, this exhibition will allow visitors the opportunity to touch the sculptures…to seethe pieces as the artist sees them.During the run of Michael Naranjo: The Artist Who Sees with His Hands, Booth Western Art Museumwill host the 13th Annual Southeastern Cowboy Gathering, March 10-12, 2016. In conjunction with theGathering, Michael Naranjo will be highlighted as the Featured Artist.On Thursday, March 10, Booth Museum Members and guests are invited to a Gallery Walk, ExhibitionOpening Reception, and Featured Artist Evening Lecture with Michael Naranjo. At 4:30 pm Naranjowill lead a gallery walk through the exhibition and discuss selected works. Refreshments will be served inthe Atrium from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. At 7:00 pm in Bergman Theatre, Naranjo will share his story, frombeing raised in an artisans home, his War-time experiences, and how these moments helped develop hisartistic career. These activities are free for Booth Museum Members and included with general admissionfor not-yet members. MORE

Page two, Michael NaranjoOn Friday, March 11 from 10:00 am – 12:30 pm, the Booth Artists’ Guild Presents a Featured ArtistsDemonstration with Michael Naranjo in Bergman Theatre moderated by Booth Museum ExecutiveDirector Seth Hopkins. This ticketed event will provide a rare opportunity to watch Naranjo work a piece ofclay into a masterwork, using his inner vision to guide his hands.For more information on Michael Naranjo: The Artist Who Sees with His Hands contact the Museum at770-387-1300 or visit www.boothmuseum.org.About Booth Western Art MuseumBooth Western Art Museum, an Affiliate to the Smithsonian Institution, is a 120,000 square foot museumlocated in Cartersville, Georgia, where guests are invited to See America’s Story through contemporaryWestern artwork, a Presidential Gallery, Civil War art gallery, and Sagebrush Ranch, an interactivechildren’s gallery. Open since August 2003, Booth Museum is the only museum of its kind in theSoutheast and is the second largest art museum in the state of Georgia. To learn more about BoothWestern Art Museum, visit www.boothmuseum.org. ###