By Western Handsmuseum and gallery opened in 2019 with their first exhibit focused on western designer Thomas Molesworth. The pandemic forced them to pause for a year, but now the center's new exhibit offers a celebration of craft and craftsmanship.
It's separated into two parts. One focuses on the development of Cook Canyon Ranch. The development of the lodge involved four Cody Legacy Artisans.
By Western Hands' Wally Reber said they are trying to show what goes into crafting. For example, one-piece is a square chair.
"That's taken apart to show you that it wasn't just slammed together. That it was engineered as a real piece of furniture, and put together in a very special way. And so we're going to illustrate that," Reber said.
The second exhibit focuses on local craftsman Jimmy Covert. Reber said it's unique because it's created from the builder's perspective.
"It ends up being a retrospective that begins talking about Jimmy's apprenticeship and ends, I suppose, with the apprentice that they currently have," said Reber. "And it's the story between those two ends, about the kinds of things they've built, the kinds of people that have influenced them."
The exhibits are free and will run through October. By Western Hands' organizers hope the exhibit will help preserve and promote western craftsmanship in the area.
