Art Of The Cowboy Makers Winners

[Casey Jordan]

I have been waiting for pictures and dates for next years contest to post the results. The dates are still not confirmed yet but it will not conflict with Sheridan.

Also we will be adding one more category - Leather carving! The first year all entries will be making a legal pad binder, that way everyone will be working with the same size item. I will post details when we have the dates confirmed.

We would like to thank all our sponsors and contestants of this years contest. For those of you who could not be there in person it was very stiff competition in ALL categories. There were several categories that were very close. We will have pictures up on our website soon. Congratulations to all winners! 2010 Art of the Cowboy Makers winners:

Bits:1st - Kevin Peebler

2nd - Bill Madole

3rd - Les Iverson

People's Choice - Gary Wiggins

Boots:1st - Schwarz Custom Boots

2nd - Bill Niemczyk

3rd - Lisa Sorrell

People's Choice - Schwarz Custom Boots

Braiding:1st - Nate Wald

2nd - Ed Pass

3rd - Ray Huffman

People's Choice - Ed Pass

Engraving:1st - D.L. Moss

2nd - Rex Crawford

3rd - Kevin Elkins

People's Choice - Fluff Wood

Saddles:1st - Jesse Smith

2nd - Gary Parrish

3rd - Box Bar Cross Saddlery

People's Choice - Casey Jordan

Spurs to follow on next page!!!!!

[Casey Jordan]

I had to put the spurs on another page, sorry! Ran out of room for pictures.

Also here's a picture of one of this years Trophy Buckles!

Spurs:1st - Jim Mower & Denny Lytle ( L&M Spurs)

2nd - George Blackwood

3rd - Henry Ellis

People's Choice - Gary Wiggins

All the entries were invited for a two month exhibit at the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Our main goal is to get exposure for contemporary makers and this exhibit is just another way to achive this goal. The front table has all the hand outs and business cards of all the makers.

Here's a couple pictures of this exhibit.

There were a lot of items sold and orders taken by makers in this contest. I will be posting details on next years contest soon.

We will be getting more pictures up on our website soon also. www.artofthecowboymakers.com

[hidepounder]

Casey,

Thanks for sharing the results of the show and congratulations on another great win this year! Very nice job on the saddle! I would also like to thank you for the hard work and long hours you put in helping to promote this event for NBSSCA. It's a unique event where makers can demonstrate their skills while being judged by their peers and the public as well. I'm especially tickled to see the approval of a leather carving category for next year and am anxious for the details as I am ready to begin designing my entry! Thanks again for all that you do and congratulations on the Peoples Choice award.

Bobby

[Casey Jordan]

Hidepounder

Thanks for all your comments and congratulations!

We're excited about adding a leather carving category and I knew you would be interested in entering. I know there are a lot of great carvers out there who don't make saddles. This will give them a chance to have there work exposed to a lot of people in a short time, not to mention the chance to win a nice trophy buckle and cash.

There were several items sold from the contest again this year and a lot of orders taken.

Infact, I sold my engraving entry (engraved Barry King Maul) shortly after the show opened and took three more orders before it was over. I still have a chance for more orders since it is still on exhibit for another month and a half.

I will be posting details and we will get the 2011 entry applications on the website as soon as the dates are confirmed.

[Admin]

Congratulations to all the contestants and winners! Let us know what LW can do to help with publicity, web space, or whatever you need for next year. It's great to see the enthusiasm and participation.

Johanna

[Casey Jordan]

Congratulations to all the contestants and winners! Let us know what LW can do to help with publicity, web space, or whatever you need for next year. It's great to see the enthusiasm and participation.

Johanna

Johanna,

Thanks so much for the offer! We would sure love to have you involved. I think it will be a win/win for both of us and will definatly be a two way street.

As soon as we get the dates confirmed we can get going on the application and advertising. And your right there is a lot of excitement and enthusiasm and it builds each year.

After meeting you in Wickenburg it was obvious you have a passion for what your doing here at LW. It was my pleasure to meet you and I appreciate all you do here!

Thanks again!!!!

Casey

[hidepounder]

We're excited about adding a leather carving category and I knew you would be interested in entering. I know there are a lot of great carvers out there who don't make saddles. This will give them a chance to have there work exposed to a lot of people in a short time, not to mention the chance to win a nice trophy buckle and cash.

Casey, you are so right about toolers, as we have discussed mumerous times. I've always thought there was a sort of parallel in the relationaships between saddlemakers/toolers and bit & spur makers/silversmiths. However, where silversmiths are duely recognized for their engraving skills, toolers are sort of considered second class citizens in the saddlemaking world which I have never quite understood. So I'm really thrilled to see a tooling category!

Bobby

[D.A. Kabatoff]

Bobby,

as a saddlemaker, i'd sure never consider you a "second class citizen". In fact, I view toolers such as yourself in the same way I view treemakers... you guys (and gals) never get the credit you really deserve but I'm always in awe of your talent. When I look at a saddle I notice the fine details of saddlemaking...handstitching, smooth leather work, proper function. When I look at trees, I look for the proper fit, how the bars will accomodate a groundseat, and how smooth the rawhiding is. When I look at floral carving, whether it's on a saddle or other type of gear, I appreciate the flow of lines, the depth of the work and the smoothness of how the tools were used. Regardless of what it is, I can sure appreciate when someone has the skill, perserverance, and talent to turn out fine work.

Darcy

[gtwister09]

Bob,

I have to agree wholeheartedly with Darcy. However Darcy I know what Bob is talking about.... In talking with a large number of saddlemakers I have personally heard a few saddlemakers make such statements about toolers. Their actions certainly were in line with treating them as second class citizens. Of course on the other side of the argument, there are a bunch of them that look at work like Bob's and others and they are like the rest of us who are in awe and admire their designs, details, depths, flows and execution.

Darcy's statement about looking at fine work is so true. My wife accuses me of appreciating way too many things like leather, (all matters of cowboy gear), wood, furniture, engraving and the list goes on. I admire and study these things for the things that Darcy talked about designs, attention to detail, flow and how they can be used across different disciplines.

As I have shared with Bob on more than one occasion, he has no reason to feel like a second class citizen.

Now off my soap box and rant...

Regards,

Ben

[Johanna]

Well, of course I'm MUCH younger than you gentlemen, so I haven't experienced the rivalry or prejudice between the disciplines. I get just as awed by looking at Bob's carving as I do the handstitched at 12 to an inch or fancy seat you sit on when riding a horse.

One thing I have noticed with our members is all the crossover. Many of you make knives, tools, are luthiers, farriers, do wood projects, maybe gunsmiths, stained glass artists, painters, metalsmiths, pottery, whatever caught your artistic attention. Some of you are experts at combining skills- I'm thinking of the Stangers with wood and leather and Jeremiah Watt with saddles and silver and the like.

It's great that The Art of the Cowboy is recognizing the whole scope, and adding a carving category will make old Bob ramp it up a notch. I had the pleasure of meeting and talking to Bob and Casey in Wickenburg (they live a mile apart somewhere near Phoenix) and they patiently answered all my newbie questions with the dignity and class I've noticed all the real cowboys have. (I met a bunch more of them in Wyoming!)

I think it's important that we as a community sponsor events and shows like this, or the people who take the time to produce them won't want to bother, and we would all be poorer for that. Trade shows, art shows, guild shows- not only do they give us a chance to learn from our peers and get inspired to improve, but they bring us together in fellowship. Many of us work as loners, and it's good to make friends and get fresh ideas.

Johanna

PS

I'd also like to point out that Bob Park is very brave. In February Mrs. Park decided she wanted his tapadero lamp in her living room, and I know for a fact right now it's sitting in Lee's Hermann Oak's office right now looking pretty. If my old man would have done that...well, it wouldn't have been good. He should have given the Mrs. that first one and made another for display, but I guess he likes living dangerously. If I could buy that lamp I wouldn't let the dog or the kids breathe on it. Pictures don't do it justice. It's one of those things you won't get tired of looking at. The lamp was in Sheridan, and I thought about smuggling it to the rightful owner, Mrs. Park, but everyone was enjoying it too much. Plus Lee is a really nice guy. I did take detailed pics, Mrs. Park, in case you want an exact duplicate. muhahahaha

(luv ya Bob!)