The first Carol Ludwig Loyer Memorial Western Art Show honors a modern-day pioneer and free spirit, folk singer, storyteller, businesswoman, crack rifle shot, poet, athlete and probably the first woman to climb Devil’s Tower in Wyoming. A ranch hand, beauty queen and pilot, Loyer hobnobbed with Roy Rogers, Gene Autry and Rex Allen in the days before she devoted herself to graduate studies in art and sculpture. Her work has been displayed in New York state, Colorado and Wyoming.
A bold, frank person of high energy and a fierce competitor, she managed to remain modest though she never hesitated to speak her mind. She met the challenge of a lifelong struggle with multiple sclerosis and later in life with osteoporosis resulting in more than 20 broken bones, with grace and courage. In 2013 she celebrated Thanksgiving Day with her family in her beloved Virginia Dale despite some serious health challenges. She died in her sleep less than two days later.
Her friend, attorney Mary Bell Guthrie of Cheyenne, called Loyer “one of the most refreshing and unforgettable people I’ve ever met.”
In addition to showcasing the art of the American West and the Western way of life, proceeds from the Art Show and Sale will go toward restoration and maintenance of the Virginia Dale Overland Stage Station, a national historic site made famous by Mark Twain in Roughing It.
Eleven artists will display their works in a variety of media July 25-27 at the Virginia Dale Overland Stage Station. For more information visit virginiadalecommunityclub.org.