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Wanda's Vision

by artist Tammy Pennington
Lone Star Award
Texas Trailblazing Wonder Women
Millhouse Foundation, Atrium Gallery, McKinney, Texas

This 48”x60” piece depicts Wanda's strong features, weathered with beauty, grit and effort, against a backdrop of a central Texas sunset. Wanda's vision for women in rodeo drove her success. Nestled into a hand crafted wooden frame, hanging hardware pre-installed.
Offered by Millhouse Foundation Atrium Gallery through August 28
https://millhousefoundation.org/atrium-gallery
$3200 Shipping/delivery available at additional cost

Wanda Harper Bush, Mason, Texas 1931 - 2015

Learn About Wanda
Wanda Harper Bush is one of the most decorated women in the profession rodeo industry, with 32 world championship titles. This piece depicts her strong features, weathered with beauty, grit and effort, against a backdrop of a central Texas sunset. She is shown in barrel racing, where she won most of her accolades, but Wanda excelled in many different areas of competition. This painting also features her competing in calf roping, a sport dominated by men. Wanda won a roping match against a man well before Billie Jean King ever competed in the Battle of the Sexes.
Perhaps a lesser known accomplishment for Wanda was one that helped change the history and trajectory of women’s professional rodeo, She used her relationships and experience to work with rodeo boards so that purse money for women’s events was the same amount that was offered for men.
A founding member of the WPRA, Wanda was inducted into the National Cowgirl Fall of Fame, Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, and the Pro Cowboy Hall of Fame. A strong competitor for over three decades, she excelled with quiet dignity and strength and fought tirelessly to ensure women had equal opportunities in a sport historically dominated by men.

The journey to the finished piece, starting with a 16x20 pre painting

Thank you to Shanna Bush of Mason, Texas, for allowing me to use Wanda as my inspiration for this painting.

Also thanks to the following organizations that I used as resources for learning more on the amazing Wanda Harper Bush.

National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame
https://www.cowgirl.net/

Texas Rodeo Hall of Fame
https://www.texasrodeohalloffame.com/

Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame
https://www.prorodeohalloffame.com/

Women's Professional Rodeo Association
https://wpra.com/wanda-harper-bush-a-true-leader/

National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/

Wanda's Vision

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