In 2008, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum joins the Traditional Cowboy
Arts Association (TCAA) in celebrating the 10th anniversary of this standard-setting
exhibition. History is already
recording its significance.
As we consider our partnership with the TCAA, there is more relevance than the obvious
connection of the American cowboy to the gear TCAA members produce. It is also the
confluence of art and science in this material used at the junction of horse and
rider that we celebrate with this relationship.
The role of the horse in the advancement of mankind generally, and certainly in
the development of the legendary American West, is so pervasive it is sometimes
overlooked and often understated. Horse cultures define the story lines of Native
American, Hispanic and European peoples that intertwined to create “the West” in
both fact and legend. So, our support of the TCAA show and sale reflects our appreciation
for the horse’s part in the grand historic drama we portray.
The kinship of man and horse has been favored subject matter for poets, authors,
artists, musicians and film makers for generations, described in both hard facts
and creative fancy. The artisans represented in this catalog respect the demands
of the horseman and the capabilities of the horse. They seek to create the finest
tools for both comfort and communication in that union. As well, they honor the
boldness and graceful lines expressed by rare, exceptional artists across centuries
who brought these functional materials to yield enduring beauty at their skilled
hands.
While the move to mass produce saddles and tack came naturally in response to growing
demand, there has never been a time when carefully handcrafted horse gear, made
from leather, rawhide and silver at the hand of a gifted craftsman, wasn’t prized
by men and women who make their living horseback. Nonetheless, this was arguably
an art form dangling on the brink of oblivion, each generation finding fewer and
fewer men and women who would sacrifice themselves to achieve its difficult standards
of excellence.
Our purpose in encouraging the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association was to help ensure
this element of cowboy culture would not be lost. Indeed, we hoped that its finest
practitioners would be recognized, rewarded and called upon to bequeath their knowledge
to those inquirers who might carry this traditional artistry to a new generation
and even higher levels of refinement. Ten successful years, we believe, is a good
start toward that objective.
Please enjoy this online catalog, the remarkable artists and the products of their gifted hands portrayed herein.
Charles P. Schroeder
Executive Director