Works of art from the 2002 former Gov. Frank Keating’s “Will Rogers” children’s book have been given to Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore. They will be unveiled 1:30 p.m., Friday, March 16 by the artist Mike Wimmer and Kem Rogers, Will Rogers’ grandson.
The 19 pieces, a gift from Anadarko Petroluem Corp. of Houston, include 18 Wimmer original illustrations and a giclee’ reproduction of the Gov. and Mrs. Keating from the book.
The Wimmer gallery of paintings will be in a room leading to Drumgoole School, “a nice segue to the popular children’s museum,” said Steve Gragert, Museum director.
“It’s an exciting opportunity for us to tell more fully the story of Will Rogers to young people in a very colorful and vivid fashion,” he said.
Gov. Keating and Anadarko officials have been invited to participate in the gallery opening.
An oil on canvas copy of Wimmer’s “The Last Farewell of Wiley Post and Will Rogers,” a gift from the Sisk Charitable Trust, was presented to the museum two years ago and hangs in the gallery designated for the “Lonely Death” and “Last Takeoff”. It is the background of a Jo Mora diorama showing a single Eskimo man looking at the downed plane.
The Will Rogers Museum in Claremore and birthplace ranch near Oologah are open 365 days a year from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is by donation. For information, call 918-341-0719.