D.A. Kabatoff Report post Posted September 15, 2008 Here's a link to the TCAA's online catalog for this years sale. Unbelievable work by all the members! http://www.nationalcowboymuseum.org/events...og/Catalog.aspx Darc Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Timbo Report post Posted September 17, 2008 WOW!! Tim Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mulefool Report post Posted September 17, 2008 Thanks for posting that. It's a great way to start the day looking at such inspirational work. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BrianHochstrat Report post Posted September 17, 2008 The real impressive part, is all these pieces are done on speculation. These guys invest months of time and their money to build this stuff and there is no garantee it will sell. The outer appearance seems like these guys are building some nice stuff but getting big dollars for doing it. But, when you look into it, it is not all it seems, it is a big commitment with a lot of cost, effort and time. I have really looked into this, they are not an elitist group as I have seen them accused of in the past, its just not everyone has the ability to make the commitments the TCAA requires. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D.A. Kabatoff Report post Posted September 17, 2008 Well put Brian... from what I've seen first hand, it takes more than talent and ability to be a member of the TCAA; it requires a committment of time and the willingness to share knowledge and skills to help other non-member makers improve their skills. I attended a workshop a few years back and watched Dale Harwood bust his butt for five days straight to show a group of us how he makes a saddle. Beyond his obvious skill as a saddlemaker, his work ethic is what impressed me most. Cary Schwarz also spent a good amount of time researching the history of leather carving that year and then doing a presentation about it to a packed auditorium. As I understand it, this is the effort required of all the members of the TCAA, so anyone who thinks they are a bunch of self promoting elitists, really doesn't know what they are talking about. Darc Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mulefool Report post Posted September 17, 2008 That's something I'm really impressed by as well. It's not like they don't have anything else to do, I'm sure they're probably back logged a couple years at the very least with orders. I wonder how they decide how much time to invest in these pieces, while keeping up with the other orders too. I've also thought over the years that even for a probably middle of the road craftsman such as myself, it would be a good thing to perhaps invest some time in a project that really pushes your talents and is mentally stimulating. Sometimes you just get so bogged down in turning out orders you can forget about the excitement and ideas you had first starting out. I'm guessing maybe these guys don't sleep much........... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Traveller Report post Posted September 17, 2008 They may not be elitists but they certainly create some of the most elite work I've ever seen -- and I mean that as a total compliment! What incredible work. Is there much of a market for these items? They're astonishingly expensive. Or do some of them get donated to museums? As much as I'd love to sit in it, I can't imagine anyone putting that $96,000 saddle outfit of Dale Harwood's on a smelly ol' horse! Thanks for this, Darce. Now I've got a reason to want to get rich! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alan Bell Report post Posted October 6, 2008 Most of the items sold this year and Dale's rig went right away for $96,500! In addition to the time and effort they put in for things that may not sell think about what it is like to work for weeks on something and have it turn out "not quite" and still have to have something to show for the auction! Each piece is still voted into the sale by a rotating group of members and the piece you labored over may be rejected for the sale! And a lot of the saddles and leather work is a collaboration between leather worker and silversmith so you may also have to help another member turn out some work and you really don't want your contribution to be the pieces weak spot! And Mulefool is right at some point you have to have the time to invest in a piece that pushes you artistically a notch or two beyond what your normal clientele may be able to afford with the hopes of not only improving your talent but of making a piece of gear that is functional yet has an intrinsic value as a work of art! And hopefully you can sell it! I have decided to lock off my orders for braiding in order to make pieces using the Argentine techniques that I've spent the last couple of years learning even though there is not really a market for them here in the US. I see it as an investment in my self. from what I've seen of Darcy's work I know that he occasionally challenges himself with a saddle that is a bit "outside the box" The things we make are increasingly become a "luxury" item and not so much of the necessity of the previous centuries so in a way it makes sense to stretch our abilities because the time in history that we are in allows us to more so than any previous time. We kinda owe it to ourselves! Vaya Con Dios, Alan Bell Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
