Wow! What a month for Western Design.
Three big shows happened in September: Western Design Conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the Rustic Fair in Blue Mountain Lake, New York and Cody High Style in Cody, Wyoming, the month of September was rockin’!
I can’t tell you how energized I am now after seeing all the artists and fashion designers, being witness to some really dynamite pieces and being on the runway in Cody. I snuck on for a cameo for Red Nations Art in Jackson. That was fun!
Here is the low down:
In Jackson at the Western Design Conference, Contemporarywesterndesign.com was a sponsor and very honored to be there. Sometimes it’s hard to go back to something you felt so strongly about and look at it objectively. But, I was able to do just that and was very pleased to see that Nancy and Allison were taking incredible care of the artists. That meant a lot to me. For the first time in 4 years I was able to reconnect with the artists in a creative, wonderful atmosphere. Many of whom have become friends over the years and who inspire me onward and upward. I was able to see old friends like Chris Chapman, Jamie and David LaMure and Danial MacPhail as well as many others. I made some new friends, Seabring Davis who is creating a wonderful magazine in Montana called Western Art and Architecture and Jim Keen whose book “Great Ranches of the West” is a treasure. I finally got to see the great designs of Chris Neill and Jonathan Sweet first hand. It was wonderful to see fabulous artists like Susan Adams, jeweler and Lisa Sorrel, bootmaker, honored for their work. And that was just in Jackson.
Contemporarywesterndesign.com sponsored the Best of Show award at the Rustic Fair at the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake, New York. I had the privilege of judging the show in 2006 and meeting many of the exhibitors. I look forward to going back to the Adirondacks again.
At Cody High Style it was a whirlwind of activity. I was honored to be asked to model in the fashion show that was being created by Lani Snyder and Jeannie Price (they taught me everything I know) and chaired by KT Roes. It was refreshing to be just a model and not executive director, producer and model. I am sure I didn’t look nearly as tired on the runway. In the opening number I donned a pair of magenta chaps by Berry Fit and wads of fantastic turquoise jewelry by Waddell Trading Company the second a gorgeous dress by Canadian Designer Angela DeMontigny that was cut to my belly button in the front and well… it was very low in the back. I was so nervous the first time out, I used double sided tape. The second show I relaxed a bit and had fun in it. Then I got to step into a pale pink confection by Jonathan Kayne, yes, that Jonathan from Project Runway. I have to admit when Lani and Jeannie gave me this pink dress during fittings, I had a big question mark in my mind, but I have learned to always trust them so I went with it. I felt like a princess, first because I was wearing one of his designs and second, because it moved so beautifully. I could feel the train gently billowing behind me as I walked the runway and could just imagine how awesome the dress must look. My final walk was for the Manuel Collection created by Lalie Kavulich-Crist. The white wide leg suite was embroidered in the classic Manuel tradition with a Day of the Dead theme. With Rock and Roll hair and 4 inch heels, the alter ego rocker came out of me easily. You can check on You Tube.
For years we had tried to get the museum to host the show in one of its galleries. We (the founders, board of directors, artists and me, the director) knew how beautiful and appropriate it was to have the furniture in that amazing setting. So seeing it for the first time set in the Buffalo Bill Historical Center’s Gallery was gratifying. It looked just as it should stately, elegant and artful. And full of honor.
I couldn’t be prouder of the work I saw on the floor, a beautiful club chair by Tim Lozier of How Kola complete with hand carved leather covered arm rests and the Yellowstone cabinet by Ron and Jean Shanor that was complete to the nth degree. I found myself crawling around on the floor inspecting it, because I couldn’t get enough of the incredible craftsmanship. Even the hinges were made out of tiny little burls precisely fitted together for perfect movement of the door. Andy Sanchez created a desk that had a hidden compartment that lit up like a space ship when it rose from the depths of the alligator juniper base. I wish I had a big office in a high rise. It was enormous and gorgeous all that the same time. If I detailed every piece I might risk boring you to death so I won’t continue. I want all the artists to know that I was so proud of all their work after watching them all mature over the last 12 years, its fulfilling to see them continue making strides, never falling into a rut.
If you haven’t already mark your calendars for next September, the month for western and Adirondack design.
Three big shows happened in September: Western Design Conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the Rustic Fair in Blue Mountain Lake, New York and Cody High Style in Cody, Wyoming, the month of September was rockin’!
I can’t tell you how energized I am now after seeing all the artists and fashion designers, being witness to some really dynamite pieces and being on the runway in Cody. I snuck on for a cameo for Red Nations Art in Jackson. That was fun!
Here is the low down:
In Jackson at the Western Design Conference, Contemporarywesterndesign.com was a sponsor and very honored to be there. Sometimes it’s hard to go back to something you felt so strongly about and look at it objectively. But, I was able to do just that and was very pleased to see that Nancy and Allison were taking incredible care of the artists. That meant a lot to me. For the first time in 4 years I was able to reconnect with the artists in a creative, wonderful atmosphere. Many of whom have become friends over the years and who inspire me onward and upward. I was able to see old friends like Chris Chapman, Jamie and David LaMure and Danial MacPhail as well as many others. I made some new friends, Seabring Davis who is creating a wonderful magazine in Montana called Western Art and Architecture and Jim Keen whose book “Great Ranches of the West” is a treasure. I finally got to see the great designs of Chris Neill and Jonathan Sweet first hand. It was wonderful to see fabulous artists like Susan Adams, jeweler and Lisa Sorrel, bootmaker, honored for their work. And that was just in Jackson.
Contemporarywesterndesign.com sponsored the Best of Show award at the Rustic Fair at the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake, New York. I had the privilege of judging the show in 2006 and meeting many of the exhibitors. I look forward to going back to the Adirondacks again.
At Cody High Style it was a whirlwind of activity. I was honored to be asked to model in the fashion show that was being created by Lani Snyder and Jeannie Price (they taught me everything I know) and chaired by KT Roes. It was refreshing to be just a model and not executive director, producer and model. I am sure I didn’t look nearly as tired on the runway. In the opening number I donned a pair of magenta chaps by Berry Fit and wads of fantastic turquoise jewelry by Waddell Trading Company the second a gorgeous dress by Canadian Designer Angela DeMontigny that was cut to my belly button in the front and well… it was very low in the back. I was so nervous the first time out, I used double sided tape. The second show I relaxed a bit and had fun in it. Then I got to step into a pale pink confection by Jonathan Kayne, yes, that Jonathan from Project Runway. I have to admit when Lani and Jeannie gave me this pink dress during fittings, I had a big question mark in my mind, but I have learned to always trust them so I went with it. I felt like a princess, first because I was wearing one of his designs and second, because it moved so beautifully. I could feel the train gently billowing behind me as I walked the runway and could just imagine how awesome the dress must look. My final walk was for the Manuel Collection created by Lalie Kavulich-Crist. The white wide leg suite was embroidered in the classic Manuel tradition with a Day of the Dead theme. With Rock and Roll hair and 4 inch heels, the alter ego rocker came out of me easily. You can check on You Tube.
For years we had tried to get the museum to host the show in one of its galleries. We (the founders, board of directors, artists and me, the director) knew how beautiful and appropriate it was to have the furniture in that amazing setting. So seeing it for the first time set in the Buffalo Bill Historical Center’s Gallery was gratifying. It looked just as it should stately, elegant and artful. And full of honor.
I couldn’t be prouder of the work I saw on the floor, a beautiful club chair by Tim Lozier of How Kola complete with hand carved leather covered arm rests and the Yellowstone cabinet by Ron and Jean Shanor that was complete to the nth degree. I found myself crawling around on the floor inspecting it, because I couldn’t get enough of the incredible craftsmanship. Even the hinges were made out of tiny little burls precisely fitted together for perfect movement of the door. Andy Sanchez created a desk that had a hidden compartment that lit up like a space ship when it rose from the depths of the alligator juniper base. I wish I had a big office in a high rise. It was enormous and gorgeous all that the same time. If I detailed every piece I might risk boring you to death so I won’t continue. I want all the artists to know that I was so proud of all their work after watching them all mature over the last 12 years, its fulfilling to see them continue making strides, never falling into a rut.
If you haven’t already mark your calendars for next September, the month for western and Adirondack design.
