Andrew Patrick Nelson ready to ‘inspire and educate’ at Western Spirit
Staff Reports | Digital Free Press
Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West is naming Andrew Patrick Nelson as its chief curator.
Mr. Nelson brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and a deep passion for the American west, reflected in his extensive academic and professional background, Western Spirit representatives tell the Digital Free Press.
Mr. Nelson joins Western Spirit from the University of Utah, where serves as chair of the department of film and media arts and an associate professor of film studies. He holds a doctorate in English with a film studies concentration from the University of Exeter, an maser of arts in film studies from Carleton University, and a bachelor of arts with distinction in cinema studies and English from the University of Toronto.
“We are thrilled to welcome Andrew to our team,” said Todd Bankofier, CEO and executive director of Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West. “His impressive background in film and media studies combined with his expertise in the history and culture of the American West make him an ideal fit for our museum. I am confident his vision will take us into the future, enhancing our exhibits and programs, while bringing our community and visitors new insights and highly engaging experiences.”
His professional experience is equally distinguished, having served as a guest curator for the exhibition Still in the Saddle: A New History of the Hollywood Western, and as a guest film curator at the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio, Texas. He was also a guest film curator at The Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles.
He held multiple positions at Montana State University including assistant professor of film history and critical studies, film option coordinator for the school of film & photography, and associate professor of film history and critical studies. He was a visiting scholar at Stanford University’s Bill Lane Center for the American West, and has designed and taught film studies courses at the University of Utah, Montana State University and the University of Calgary.
His numerous publications and presentations reflect Mr. Nelson’s scholarly work and curatorial capacity. He co-hosts the popular podcast How the West was Cast with entertainment journalist Matthew Chernov, and appears as a regular guest on the History Channel, NPR, INSP, Fox News and other outlets. He has authored essays such as “Wagon Mistress,” Women in the Western, 2020, and “John Wayne,” Warhol and the West, 2019, and has contributed his expertise to encyclopedias and magazines.
In his new role as chief curator, Mr. Nelson will oversee the museum’s exhibitions and collections, bringing his unique perspective to Western Spirit’s mission of celebrating the art, history, and culture of the American West.
“I’m honored to join Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West,” he said in a prepared statement. “This museum has a remarkable collection and a strong dedication to preserving and interpreting the important stories of the American West. I look forward to working with the talented team here to create dynamic and thought-provoking exhibitions to inspire and educate.”
