Dakota Horse Craft is an exhibit celebrating the craftsmanship and heritage of South Dakota ranch and rodeo culture — featuring classic and contemporary works. Presented in cooperation with the Casey Tibbs Rodeo Center, the exhibition at SDPB's Black Hills Bureau features work by master saddle maker E.C. Lee, K Bar J Leather, Catlin Clifford and more.
An opening reception, featuring live music by Eliza Blue and Jake Jackson, will be held on January 26, from 6-8pm. The reception is free and open to all. The exhibit is the second in a new series of art happenings at SDPB's Black Hills Bureau, a space dedicated to telling South Dakota stories.
ARTISTS:
ELIZA BLUE/JAKE JACKSON
Eliza Blue is a writer, folk singer, and multi-instrumentalist. Her original music has received national press, including write-ups in the New York Times blog and Minneapolis Star Tribune, and she is a regular contributor to SDPB.
Eliza is currently collaborating with Billy Talbot, of the band Crazy Horse, on a new album, set to be released this spring. She also performs with fellow songwriter and banjoist Jami Lynn in the folk duo, The Nesters.
Jake Jackson is a multi-instrumentalist and member of Black Hills-based bluegrass, Americana and jamgrass outfit Six Mile Road.
E.C. LEE
Pierre saddle master E.C. Lee's work was world-renowned in the first two decades of the twentieth century. He started his shop in Miles City, Montana, then moved to Pierre in 1913 near the end of the open range grazing era. Casey Tibbs used E.C. Lee saddles from boyhood into the early years of his rodeo career. Lee's saddles are still highly esteemed and sought after by collectors.
K BAR J LEATHER
K Bar J Leather of Newell makes chaps, chinks, and other cowboy and cowgirl gear at their family-owned shop in Newell. The White House honored their work with an invite to last year's Made in America Product Showcase.
CATLIN CLIFFORD
Catlin Clifford is a bull and bronc rider, actor, musician, leather artist and self-described "Indian cowboy." You may have seen him competing at a local rodeo or in the films Songs My Brother Taught Me, or The Rider. He is the proprietor/artist behind the rodeo-centric Flying High Leather label.
