2023 ARTISTS
ALEXIS REIVA
“When my sister first introduced me to beading years ago I had no idea it would turn into a never ending hunger for mastery. I went from beading hat bands to inlaying my own bead pieces into belts and purse straps. Learning there are endless possibilities of making a piece that will last a lifetime, be useful, bring joy, show what time, hard work and dedication can aspire to. This program has offered an opportunity for me to continue my growth and hone in new skills that I will hopefully get to pass on to others.”
AMANDA ARATA
“I founded Arata Leather and Silver with the idea that precious things should be used for everyday life. Some days are gentle, most are not, but at the darkest something shiny and made with love can be a small reminder that it will all be okay and if we allow it, God will make it incredible.
I’ve always loved shiny things, I enjoy making them, I enjoying wearing them and I enjoy catching them.”
ANN MINDER
“My name is Ann Minder, I live in Bridgeport, CA with my husband Tim and my three kids, Pawahnee, Tsiidopi & Hugwapi. I was born and raised in Bishop, CA and ended up settling just up the road in Bridgeport, CA.
My Passion is beading. I remember growing up and being taught by my Mom and other family members. It has fascinated me for years. I would bead earrings, hair ties, moccasins, key chains, hat bands, necklaces and anything I could put beads on for my family and friends. I am a busy mother but when I have free time I like to sit a create jewelry. I’m excited to show my work in July and meet other artists.”
ANNA MEYERS
“I was born in California, but spent the majority of my teenage years growing up in Montana in between the Bob Marshall wilderness and the Swan Valley Mountain Range. I have ridden horses since I was a young child, and always had a strong draw to ranching and agriculture. My interest has turned mainly to making headstalls and learning how to make bits and spurs. I set out to make tack that looks traditional and correct for the area it’s being ridden in, with an eclectic twist. My customers have become mostly women who cowboy and I very much enjoy working with them and providing them with tack that they and their horse can take pride in. Functionality is just as important as beauty in the things I create.“
BREANNE CRAIG
Breanne is a commissioned based watercolor portrait artist living in Reno, NV. Her portraits range from horses, dogs and cats to people and everything in between. She feels honored when chosen to create custom wedding invites, clients holiday cards, memorial portraits, retirement gifts, and clients return year after year to add to their families timeless collections of custom portraits. She has donated her time to K9 Partners, paints their retired K9’s and creates custom coloring pages. Connecting with clients through her art and the stories they share is what inspires her.
CEILY RAE HIGHBERGER
Ceily Rae Highberger is a working cowgirl from Montana. After graduating from Montana State University with an agricultural degree, she has since worked in the ranching industry all over the Western United States including Wyoming, Oregon, Idaho, California, Utah, and Nevada. What really gets her pumped is being outdoors. Creating art (mainly photography), using the resources she has and fitting it in with the lifestyle she loves is her own personal mission statement. Her brand, C. Rae Photography & Design, is the beginning steps towards facilitating and achieving her dream life.
CHLOE MAE ANDREW
“As a child I always had a drive to create. When I wasn’t making things, I loved working with my hands in the dirt. I was fascinated by the cowboy lifestyle I read about and the western black and white films I grew up watching. In college I met the man who would become my husband and he introduced me to cattle, horses, riding, roping, etc.. I’ve grown to love riding and working cattle. As a new mom I’m figuring out what that looks like with a little one tagging along. The longer I’m a part of this community the more respect I have for the history and traditions at the heart of it. I’ve dabbled in many medias but in the past few years bead weaving has become my focus. At first it was a way of supplementing income, but it’s grown into an area of expression where I can push myself to mature as an artist. I’ve worked hard to make my work my own and find unique methods and fresh inspirations within a heavily saturated art form. I have a lot to learn but I think that that’s the beautiful part of creating. It’s true that there isn’t anything new under the sun, but the individual perspective that each person has to offer is what makes this world so beautiful, and embracing that diversity is what makes an artist. I’m so excited to be a part of this community that is celebrating that!”
CLARA SMITH
Clara is a Western Artist and Graphic Designer from Bend, Oregon. She graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Graphic Design and a minor in Fine Arts. Ever since she was little, Clara was drawing horses and creating. Her love for Western Art and Culture was heavily influenced by her late aunt, Western Artist Joelle Smith, who taught her how to draw and ride horses. Similar to Joelle’s work, Clara strives to document real Western life through her work, documenting culture and traditions of the American Cowboy. The authenticity of her work is very apparent as the subjects are all real people, real horses, set in real places.
DANA + TRACY EKLUND
Tracy and Dana are a two-sister team based out of Bozeman, Montana. After finishing school for Ag Business/Econ and Elementary Education respectively, Big Sky Mohair Cinches was accidentally born after they started making some cinches for horses in the therapy program where they were working. One cinch turned into two and then three and then a few thousand… neither of them thought they’d be eventually doing this full time! They now travel for cinch making classes, are suppliers for other cinch makers, and run a full custom order business. They love opportunities to meet and chat with other makers across industries, and are so excited for the future of “handmade” for all Makers!
JALIN NELSON
“Coming from a small town with not much to do opens up the imagination and leaves a lot of room for creativity. I picked up a pencil at a young age and haven’t put it down since. Growing up on the back of a horse and being surrounded by old school cowboys left me no choice but to pick up the western style art. I’m very passionate about the western way of living and wildlife conservation and I believe that reflects strongly in my work.”
JORDANNE PRUITT
“Jesus lover, momma, and chief She-nanagator at Plum Punchy Purdy’s. I work full time making wild rags and making some silver things. As well as part time at a local feed lot. I enjoy trying new things and learning along the way. I truly love making silver things. Seeing my dreams on metal is amazing. My heart is set on making cowboy gear. I am currently in the process of getting my shop up and running.”
JOYE LEHEN + MARY LENT
“Throughout growing up in the Eastern Sierras, I’ve been encouraged to utilize my culture to create artwork. At the age of eight, I picked up my grandmother’s needle and started making stitches of beadwork. Using my aunties pieces as references, I find myself following a tradition that is my responsibility to carry out onto future generations. I’m still branching out my techniques and patterns yet in every piece, I still honor my family’s craft.”
JULIA HANSON
“Growing up, I was constantly drawing and making art of one kind or another. Looking back, I was also slowly falling in love with the western lifestyle and agriculture through books, stories, and school. I had wanted to try my hand at leatherwork for years before finally making the dive my sophomore year of college. What started out as making things for myself and friends, turned into custom pieces for friends of friends and then for people I had never met. So J Bar Leather was born.
These days I still take some custom orders, but also love to let my creativity flow and make whatever I can think up. I pull inspiration from the high desert around where we live as well as from silver engraving and traditional scroll work. I’m constantly tweaking my designs to accomplish a combination of functionality and beauty.”
KAILEY KLEIN
Enamored with the western lifestyle from a young age, Kailey Klein grew up creating art that celebrated her rural life and the equine partners she ran wild with. Years later, while studying Agriculture at Oregon State University, Kailey discovered the craft of leather work. Kailey is now the maker and western artist behind the sought after brand, Magpie West Leather Co. On a remote ranch nestled in the Rocky Mountains of Montana, she spends her days as a western creative, cowboy gal, ranch wife, and mother. She gathers inspiration for her one of a kind pieces from the wildflowers, livestock, cowboy culture, unique lifestyle, and rugged beauty of the west.
KIM HUNTER STEED
Kim Hunter Steed is a national award winning and published photographer specializing in western photography. She spent her childhood along the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada from Owens Valley to Lake Almanor. This is where her love for the mountains and wildlife began. She dabbled in photography in the early 2000’s and poured her heart into it when she moved to Carson Valley, Nevada with her husband in 2018. Her photographs have appeared in Cowboys & Indians magazine, Tahoe Quarterly, Nevada magazine and Birds & Blooms magazine.
LAURA McDANIEL
Having started her creative journey as a child in 4-H, Laura McDaniel has been a maker for a long time. As her 5 children grew and time freed up, Laura began experimenting again with sewing and Second Half Manufacturing was created. Laura is a native Oregonian and a resident of the cowboy town of Prineville. She is surrounded by amazing resources and the creative inspiration of the western culture around her. Laura’s pieces reflect the balance between rugged leather and the beauty of Pendleton wool. “The biggest blessing I have discovered while stepping into this journey has been the people God has introduced into my life.”
MARY CERISE
“I'm the one woman show behind Hanging Moon Silver, I'm moon to 3 daughters and ranch full time in rural Idaho. I'm beyond grateful for the support and opportunities I've been given by Cowgirl Art Rodear, and I literally cannot wait to attend this year's program. The last two years I tried to attend we've had fire on our range so I'm crossing my fingers and my toes that we've had our fair share of fire and will be ready to roll in July! I am especially looking forward to the face to face conversations I'll have with other makers and artists as well as those amazing and dedicated women behind the face of the Rodear. It's an honor to be a part of such an incredible group of women in an event that really captures the culture of the working west. Cheers to Cowgirl Art Rodear 2023. I look forward to seeing my friends and making many new ones in Bridgeport!”
NEVADA WATT MILLER
Maker, silversmith, entrepreneur, and teacher. Nevada and her husband currently reside in the middle of nowhere, Southeastern Oregon where she spends most of her time fabricating, engravings, and creating eclectic silver jewelry. However, helping her husband and their family on the ranch keeps her sane! Nevada is an active ranching wife seasoned in keeping the leppy calves alive and thriving! She’s an ultra-runner and mom. Nevada is a firm believer in heavy cream in your coffee to start the day and a glass of vino to end it. She now extends her knowledge and passion for the Western trades through Be A Maker School. In addition to being a master maker, Nevada makes some mean biscuits that can only be described as “true love.”
RAMEY REUCK
“I live in a very small (middle of nowhere town) located in Northern California where I spend a majority of my days creating jewelry & cowboy hardware. But if you can’t find me in the shop I’m usually horseback helping my family with cattle.
My love for silversmith started back when I was 17, I messed around with lots of silverware transforming spoons into rings which then led to my interests in engraving. Sophomore year of high school I took a few courses with two very talented and rad artists, Pat Horlacher & Nevada Watt-Miller which helped kick off my silver scratching career!”
SAGE KNIGHT
“I’m from the good old town of Elko, Nevada where I work for my Dad on the Devils Gate Ranch. I love that the shirts I make can be worn to my work and is a part of a lifestyle I love.
I’ve always had a desire to be able to make and design a button up shirt. As a little girl I grew up sketching and designing clothes on paper. Last fall I finally was able to make a button up with the help of a talented neighbor. I’ve been enamored with making shirts since! I love learning new things every time I make a shirt and creating new designs. Being able to see a design I have in my head come to life is truly rewarding.”
SARAH SMITH
Sarah Smith was raised on a commercial cow/calf operation in the foothills of Bakersfield, CA. Over the years she developed a deep passion for creating a variety of items including jewelry, three piece buckle sets and saddle hardware. Sarah has studied under master engravers Jeremiah Watt and Diane Scalese, as well as others. Each piece Sarah makes is handmade, custom to the individual and one of a kind. Her work can be found around the world. Most recently Sarah has studied with Ernie Marsh.
TIA ROSE WATSON
“Hi, my name is Tia Watson. I was born and raised in northern Nevada. I currently reside in Shepherd, Montana with my husband and 3 yr old son, where we run our own businesses out of a home shop. I build cinches and silversmith and my husband is a full time taxidermist, which I also help with. I enjoy showing reined cow horse events, compete in local ranch rodeos and LOVE to rope.”
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