TACK
Inez Bennet / Nick Demchenko / Linda Kerr / Guy Murphy / William (Bill) F. Wilm
In the South End Vitrines
TACK will shine a light on aspects of traditional cowboy culture and celebrate the skills and artistry of this beautiful hand work not necessarily seen within mainstream craft. Curated by Melanie Egan.
Curator's Statement
Although considered thoroughly American, the historic cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero (Spanish - someone who manages cattle while mounted on horseback) traditions of northern Mexico and can be traced back to Spain's cattle ranching style. During the 16th century, Spanish settlers and conquerors brought their cattle-raising traditions, horses and domesticated cattle to North America. The terrain, geography and merging cultures led to the evolution and adaptation of the vaquero to what we now consider the quintessential western cowboy.
Cowboys still retain a mythical status in Canada as maverick, independent, practical individuals particularly for urbanites. The traditions of the working cowboy were etched into the minds of the general public with the development of Wild West Shows in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as well as movies which showcased and romanticized the life of both cowboys and First Nations peoples. Movies often did not distinguish between a cowboy and a gun-slinger, for example. More recent history has proven many of the stereotypes false and far less romantic. During the 19th century cowboys were hired by ranchers to watch over the herds of cattle. They were respected for their self sufficiency, superior skills; riding, using the lasso, roping and tying steers and making and maintaining their equipment. The lifestyle of a 19th century cowboy on the western Great Plains was tough and generally a lonely existence but embraced a free-roving spirit that continues to prevail. This isolation and wayfaring temperament is often reflected in poignant cowboy song lyrics and poetry.
Cowboys have adapted to the modern world by employing new equipment and techniques without losing their traditional pragmatic associations and the culture still maintains a folkloric aura. There are cowboys that choose to keep certain classic traditions alive and continue to hand-make horse tack. These cowboys and cowgirls are self taught and skills have been handed down for generations, from father to son; mother to daughter; old-timer to youngster. Much of the work is done during the winter months when there are less ranching chores and more time to devote to this kind of work. The self sufficiency of the cowboy lives on today.
Although, Alberta is commonly cited as the centre of cowboy culture in Canada, it is an established fact that Maple Creek, Saskatchewan is one of the last bastions of true cowboy culture in western Canada with the widely recognized moniker: "Maple Creek, The Old Cowtown" or "The Old Cowtown of Maple Creek." 1
Melanie Egan
1 Royce E. W. Pettyjohn, Board of Directors, S.W. Sask. Oldtimers' Museum & Archive 2010
Inez Bennet, Grenfell, SK
Inez Bennet grew up on her father's dairy farm and later settled with her husband on a farm at Grenfell, where she raised three children. She crocheted various items as a hobby, learning her craft by trial and error. During the war years, she sent many pairs of socks and mitts overseas to Canadian soldiers. Her daughter Sandy is a horse trainer and riding coach, and when Inez saw wool saddle pads she decided she could crochet them as well, with Sandy adding the silver trim. At ninety years young, Inez now finds the saddle pads too heavy to work with, but she continues to keep her family and friends supplied with smaller items.
Nick Demchenko, Maple Creek, SK
Nick Demchenko is a cowboy born and raised on a ranch in Maple Creek, SK. He became interested in leather work at an early age. He learned how to braid from his father and around 1985 learned horsehair hitching from an older cowboy a man of few words and Nick had to 'pay attention'. Hitched horsehair is not the same as braided horsehair. Hitched horsehair is a series of knots and lasts longer than braided horsehair.
Like many of the skills and traditions associated with cowboys hitching came to North American in the 19th century by way of the Spanish. It was done in bunkhouses on cold, long winter nights. It was also done in prisons as it is very time consuming and requires very few tools, (needle and scissors). The tradition is still carried on in some prisons today.
Nick lives outside of Maple Creek and has a shop in his home where he does leather work, rawhide braiding, silver work and horse-hair hitching.
Linda Kerr, Yorkton, SK
Linda Kerr is a 47-year-old "cowgirl-at-heart" and craftswoman who resides west of Yorkton, Sask. with her husband Ron. She has three grown children, one grandchild and another on the way.
In Lindas own words:
"Horses have always been in my life. My husband even said he married me for better or horse.
Crocheting started as therapy after a car accident and turned into an extraordinary hobby. I started bartering the pieces but soon, much to my disbelief, people wanted to commission these saddle pads creations. When a package arrived from someone with a few scraps of material and a drawing, it was exciting to design and make a saddle pad that was one-of-a-kind. My saddle pads have been to Breed shows and all the way down to 4-H, which I donate to annually. My kids and myself were able to participate in 4-H and I have deep feelings for this organization.
I work at Hackman Feeds in Yorkton, as well as, help take care of our acreage. I spend my down-time on this hobby. Horses are a great passion of mine and being able to participate, even a little, in someone else enjoying these great animals is a pleasure."
Guy Murphy, Maple Creek, SK
Guy Murphy was raised in the small town of Neville, SK south of Swift Current. As a young boy he spent a lot of time with his Grandpa Murphy, who taught him to braid. They used baler twine to make braided gate ropes. Years passed and Guy became manager and rider for a cattle pasture north-east of Maple Creek. The winter months gave him some spare time, so after doing chores he took up braiding again as a hobby. He bought books and read everything he could find on braiding. He once again started with baler twine, then leather and finally rawhide, which he prefers. All of his first braiding horse gear was used at home and then word spread and he began doing pieces for other people. Both his sons, Trevor and Cody have learned to braid and now it's time to teach the grandchildren.
He used to make his own rawhide but now purchases it by the full hide. There seems to be an increased desire for the 'hand-made' and Guy has plenty to do. He's proud to have been a participant in the Maple Creek Cowboy Poetry Gathering and Western Art and Gear Shows since it began in 1989. He makes reatas, bosals, hobbles, quirts, reins and takes requests.
Guy Murphy was featured on Cowboy Country TV, Season 6, Episodes 6 and 10.
William (Bill) F. Wilm, St. Brieux, SK
Bill Wilm was born, raised and resides in Saskatchewan.
Early childhood photos show Bill falling asleep on his rocking horse with a lariat in hand. Looking back, it was evident that the path of his life's work followed his true passion.
At age fifteen, he went to Alberta to become a cowboy and after a few years of gaining experience he returned to Saskatchewan to manage one of the provincially owned Community Pastures a large grazing lease accessible to cattle owners.
Bill is a self taught craftsman. These skills were first honed in the regular maintenance of his equipment. Later, requests from fellow cowboys and horse enthusiasts blossomed into a secondary career. True to cowboy heritage, working tack gave way to equipment with more embellishment. His art of hand carving patterns into leather and silver was developed. Bill is a custom western saddle maker, silversmith, bit and spur maker. In spare time his love of iron work has produced western themed dιcor. Bill's work can be found in homes and tack rooms around the globe.
All rings and shanks are made with stainless steel (unless shown with blued iron and silver overlay). All mouthpieces are handmade with sweet iron, with a copper inlay.
wilmsaddlery.com
Runs Saturday June 19 Sunday Sept 19, 2010
York Quay Centre, 235 Queens Quay West
