Cowboy Poetry with Joel Nelson | Blanton Museum of Art

A Native Texan, Joel Nelson is one of today's most well-respected cowboy poets. In a special Third Thursday event at the Blanton Museum of Art on April 19, 2012 and in conjunction with the Blanton's "Go West" exhibition, Nelson recited poems from his Grammy-nominated CD "The Breaker in the Pen." Nelson, 2009 National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellow, is also known for his horse training skills. In an interview with the NEA, he described his life as a cowboy as a "life of love" and a "life of passion for the outdoors." He said cowboy poetry is "closely connected to the lifestyle and the work of the working cowboy." Interviews with the poet reveal a man with charisma, and one who captivates an audience.