WINDOW TO THE WEST

SCOTT HARDY Embellishing a horse and rider with precious metal is a tradition as old as man on horseback, and deserves the respect of being done one piece at a time by hand.

BACK TO NATURE APPAREL This image of a band of Wildies were photographed by Stan and Keltie Masters, west of Sundre, AB. “Three bands of wild horses had congregated together that day, with over 5060 of them there. The colts were lying in the wildflowers, the mares were grazing and the stallions were fighting. I had never seen so many WINDOW THE Wildies together! It was awesome! We went back again the next day and drove for miles and never saw another one!” tells Keltie. by WHR Writers

MCKENNA PRATHER The embroidery in “Plowing the Fields” is so minimal, yet adds a big impact to this exceptional piece.

WINDOW TO WEST

There’s something so compelling about western art. Meet four artists / artisans who are creating new mediums, for the enjoyment of us all.

TIM HILLER

“The Driving Power of the Prairie Wind,” this life-size sculpture of a draft is impeccably crafted and beautiful beyond words.

ABOVE: Model wearing Scott Hardy. RIGHT: Back To Nature pillow.

Art is appreciated in many different ways. In the western culture, we find it in the detailing of our bits and spurs, fashion, or the pieces we admire on the walls of our home. Art plays a large role in our identity and the way we see the world. Art is additionally good for our mental well-being. From alleviating stress, to helping us emotionally, and allowing for the creation of wealth, there are numerous benefits in owning and appreciating fine artwork. In this article, we introduce you to four Alberta artists / artisans who are developing new mediums and dedicated to preserving our western heritage.

BACK TO NATURE APPAREL

Look good. Feel good. Do good! For Keltie Masters and her husband Stan of Olds, AB, stepping onto the sub-arctic tundra near Churchill, MB, was like turning a page to a perfect canvas. After deciding they should go see the polar bears on the trip of a lifetime, Stan announced he needed a new camera, “…because when he photographed the bears, he wanted to see their retinas!”

That trip happened in 2012 and the experience of seeing both the polar bears and the impact of their declining environment, left a profound impact on Stan and Keltie. Since then, they knew they needed to help make a difference in preserving the delicate balance of nature and the human impact.

“By interacting with nature, spending time in it, seeing it, and appreciating it, we all can reap the benefits of feeling happier and healthier as a result,” says Stan. “If we can help people reconnect with nature, it’s not just good for them, but it’s great for the environment. The result is a reciprocal relationship because the more people care for and appreciate the positive impact nature has on their lives, the more they will want to protect it.”

Alone, their wildlife images are stunning. However, Stan and Keltie were determined to find a new medium that could help them share their photographs in a unique way. The couple turned their passion for photography into a wearable art form, that also supports wildlife rehabilitation.

Through their Back to Nature Apparel, the Masters offer their amazing wildlife images on comfortable high-quality leggings for infants through to adults. They also offer high waisted yoga leggings, as well as plush, velveteen cushion covers. Then, they expanded their line to include silk scarves, canvas handbags and elegant, poly chiffon kimono robes. They have also incorporated their images onto zippered pouches and bamboo-lined beanies, all with the help of a Canadian company. Images include wild horses, bears, owls, moose, elk, lynx, foxes, eagles, wolves and spirit bears – and new designs continue to be developed every day.

The Back to Nature Apparel not only captures the detail of Stan and Keltie’s images, but the garments themselves are high quality products that the Masters are proud to offer. Additionally, 10% of all their profits are donated to a variety of wildlife rehabilitation, rescue and conservation programs. In addition, they offer a unique fundraising opportunity for clubs and organizations to help support their programs. That way, customers can truly feel good about their Back to Nature Apparel, knowing their purchases are making a difference.

To learn more about Back to Nature Apparel, visit the website at www. backtonatureapparel.com or email them at mybacktonature@gmail.com.

SCOTT HARDY

In his early days as a silversmith, Scott Hardy of Longview, AB, built bits and spurs, however a visit to the workshop of an important mentor, prominent western silversmith Al Pecetti, motivated the young Hardy to focus on one path.

Pecetti introduced him to Al Tietjen, a well-known bit and spur maker, who gave Hardy a tour of his workshop. Afterwards, Pecetti offered this advice: “If you truly want to be the best you can be in one of these trades, you owe it the respect to follow it to the end, so pick one and become the best you can be at it.”

“I picked silversmithing within a few days, and from that day on I’ve thought a lot about that, and if I had still been doing the two trades I would be nowhere close to what I’ve accomplished in the silverwork I’m doing,” said Hardy, who works out of his Longview, Alberta shop. “These trades deserve respect.”

This perspective has served Hardy well during his four decades as a silversmith. The fifth-generation stockman was raised in Saskatchewan and came to Alberta in the 1970s, and he began working with silver to supplement ranching. He has created silverwork for celebrities and working cowboys alike, and his work has been exhibited around the world to great acclaim. His achievements are extensive, from receiving the Will Rogers Award for Engraver of the Year from the Academy of Western Artists in 2001, to being selected to represent western heritage and craftsmanship at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. in 2006. An image of the special buckle he designed to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Calgary Stampede became the first buckle to appear on a Canada Post stamp.

Hardy’s philosophy of sharing the elegance of the West through silverwork aligns with his involvement as a founding member of the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association (TCAA). Established in 1998, this group of artisans is devoted to the preservation and perpetuation of bit and spur making, Western silversmithing, saddlemaking and rawhide braiding.

“I don’t know if the people truly understand the troubles that the industry (cowboy arts) is in right now, and if they don’t realize it soon, it could be too late,” says Hardy.

September 30 October 1, 2022

NATIONAL COWBOY & WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM

Buckle, Scott Hardy, Traditional Cowboy Arts Exhibition & Sale 2022