I express myself and passion for the vaquero way through creating heirloom cowboy gear. There's much noise in the world today, but not here.
You decide who will appear in Artforum Magazine, take home $25,000, and display their work at The Art of Elysium's Salon!
My favorite art is creating heirloom-quality cowboy gear as a leather worker and silversmith.I work with leather and silver to build pieces meant to last generations. Tack, chinks, chaps, reinchains, and so much more combining longevity with quiet craftsmanship. There’s a deep satisfaction in starting with quality hides and mixed metals, then shaping them into gear that improves with age and use.The process itself is what draws me in.
Where do you find inspiration?In an era of disposable goods, these pieces are made to be used hard and passed down. My inspiration comes from the area of which I live in. An area that is still close to the simpler times and natural resources.
What would you do with $25,000?With $25,000, I would invest in preserving Western leatherwork and silversmithing traditions. I’d allocate half for advanced training and apprenticeships with master makers: bit and spur makers, saddle makers, and so on. This hands-on learning with some of the best would help my techniques in these fading trades. Some would go toward tools, materials, and studio upgrades to support higher-level practice. The remaining funds would go to other aspiring artists like myself to to learn the trades!
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