By Melody Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
A Billy the Kid Traveling wake/art exhibit came to Downtown Raton this weekend with a great turn out for the events on Friday and Saturday.
After singer Cari Mari kicked off the event with a packed concert Friday evening at the Historic Shuler Theater, festivities carried on Saturday August 9th. Trinidad’s Mainstreet Live began the day with a gunfighting reenactment that had Raton’s historic First Street filled with people. After Billy the Kid and Belle “got away” from their would-be captors during the shootout most of the on lookers moved over to the Raton Museum to enjoy refreshments and the masterful work from three talented artists.
Unfortunately the awaited bronze statue of Billy the Kid made by Buckeye Blake was unable to make this show as further work was needed to complete the statue. Many pieces still made the exhibit including paintings by Thom Ross and Bob Boze Bell and a bronze sculpture made by Buckeye Blake. Artist Thom Ross and Author Melody Groves gave a presentation on Billy the Kid at Raton’s Museum. Thom Ross answered questions and explained his style of painting in his Billy the Kid Collection of work. These paintings display “scenes” from a myth based ballet style theater presentation of events from Billy the Kids life. He also explains how he works with the other artists to give all Billy the Kid enthusiasts different angles to view the life of the famous outlaw.
Ross gives Billy’s life a playful take through his paintings, Bob Boze Bell shows a more realistic approach through his watercolor artwork, Buckeye Blake joins the two viewpoints together with his fanciful and graphic sculptures. The three artists, long time friends, and Billy the Kid admirers themselves happily collaborated on this venture to bring stories, tales, facts, and imagination into an immersive display for this traveling exhibit.
During Melody Groves portion of the presentation, the focus was turned towards Billy the Kid’s mother and how she affected his life. Through much digging and research to write her book, “Before Billy The Kid, The Boy Behind The Legendary Outlaw,” she was able to elaborate on much of his childhood spent with his mother Catherine McCarty. Catherine played an intricate role in forming the “softer” side of Billy as a child as Groves would go on to explain. Groves also noted in her presentation had Billy’s mother not passed away when she did we probably wouldn’t have the Billy the Kid we know today.
Later in the evening, Royal Wade Kimes held a concert at the Historic Shuler Theater ending the days activities on a high note.
It is unclear if this will become an annual event at this time but with the high turnout, Raton is anticipating some type of future Billy the Kid themed event.
