Psullivan66's Blog

I’ve gone large format!!!

psullivan66 — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 23:31:43 +0000

Purchased a 4×5 graphic view camera. Gotta deal as the owner leaving town. and I’m very excited and looking forward to the adventure of learning the large format. Have always admired Mary-Ellen Mark, Ansel Adams etc., now I’ll try to follow in their footsteps. I’ll practice here and take it out to Arizona and shoot my mother………………..not really.

Latest idea, my mother will dress me for a change and style me and we’ll take pictures and see what comes out………..I’m thinking I’ll be a princess. That’ll be a first.

Pasadena Horse Expo – WOW!

psullivan66 — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 12:27:16 +0000

Last Friday, December 30, I was in Pasadena for the Rose Bowl’s Horse Exposition featuring the breeds and mounted groups appearing in the Parade of Roses on Monday. New York could use something this educational, and, ultimately, GORGEOUS. Peruvian Pasos, miniature horses pulling sulkies, and mounted cavalry firing rifles were interspersed with four painted saddlebreds pulling a calliope, American Indian tribes in costumes and horse trappings loaded with beadwork and a group of trick riders called “Cowgirl Chicks” who rescue horses and ride for breast cancer awareness. One Cowgirl Chick stood astride two albino horses as they took a three-foot jump in the packed arena. The finale was a parade of “100 Palominos” – just imagine 50 Roy Rogers and 50 Dale Evans’ in red white and blue glittering outfits – go Pasadena!

RODEO BAR BOOK PARTY A SUCCESS

psullivan66 — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:21:38 +0000

Friends and colleagues joined me at the famous Rodeo Bar on Third avenue and 27th Street here in Manhattan last Sunday for free rodeo chow, beer and margaritas. A slide show of my work (the first time I’ve ever seen these photos projected to a height of eight feet tall) covered one wall. We ordered drinks from a bar in a double horse trailer, parked within what must have been log cabin walls – could the place have been more perfect for this? I had signed copies of the book on sale for holiday giving.

People from different avenues of my life met and mingled, and one asked me to get up and say a few words (like at the Strand bookstore on the third floor). I told the story of the project, and the story of this small town rodeo. People sat and talked, and ate, and sat and talked longer. We had enough great food left over to make goodie bags for those who stayed, and it felt right to sent friends out into Sunday’s cold weather with “vittles” for later on.

Thank you to all who came on Sunday, and all who bought copies of the book for friends and relatives. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Book party for, “An American Rodeo”

psullivan66 — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 23:06:25 +0000

“New York City-based photojournalist, Patricia Sullivan, is not the likeliest person to chronicle the world of horse wranglers, bull riders and rodeo queens — but that’s exactly what she’s done for her recently released, heartfelt book, An American Rodeo. Sullivan, whose fine work has appeared in PAPER, among other publications, documents the cowboy legacy through a selection of action photos and compelling portraits she’s taken over the years in Buena Vista, Colorado. The high-risk sport grew out of everyday ranch tasks and this particular small town rodeo began as a harvest celebration called “Head Lettuce Day.” The book commemorates its 90th rough-and-tumble year. Through the stories she tells alongside the photos, Sullivan’s lens offers a window into the past as well as showing how the modern American West is still very much alive.” – papermag.com

Come celebrate at Rodeo Bar. 375 3rd Ave. at 27th St. 212-683-6500

Sunday, December 11 from 2:00 pm -4:00 pm
Special holiday prices on book and refreshments.

Good books inspire….

psullivan66 — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 22:37:40 +0000

I’ve just finished reading “Flannery O’Connor’s Complete Short Stories.” If I could shoot portraits equal to her prose I’d consider myself a genius. The details in the dialogue transport me back to the south of the 50′s. I can feel the perspiration and smell the mildew. After reading the book I’m inspired to take more photos of my mother and include her friends and more of the objects she comes into contact with daily. It should make the work richer.
Religion plays a big part in O”Connor’s writing, as does anti-religious sentiment. While my Mom wasn’t religious, she though about cost and waste constantly…. and, ultimately, “What is the right thing to do?” She was a saver and appreciated the smallest of things. I need to find ways of fitting that into the work.

Tried and true and new to me.

psullivan66 — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 19:22:42 +0000

Very excited to say I recently purchased a 4 x 5 “Graphic View” camera from someone who’s taking a break from New York. Instead of going faster, I’ll be slowing down the process and doing a lot of portraits. This makes possible something I’ve always wanted to do, take better portraits. The detail will be fantastic. My husband Tom has been my first victim, but others have offered to put their heads on the block.

RODEO BOOK SALE A SUCCESS

psullivan66 — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 15:52:01 +0000

Dozens of rodeo people: local people, and residents of Texas and New Mexico came to my booth at the 90th Collegiate Peaks Stampede and bought copies of
“An American Rodeo,” in hard and soft covers. Some ordered multiple copies. I heard many wonderful comments on the book, and votes of thanks from many parents and friends of rodeo participants. It was beautiful weather for both days, with the rain managing to come down outside of rodeo hours.

I am so glad folks were happy with my efforts. Copies of the book are currently available at Book Nook in BV (719-395-6868). Happy Trails, Everyone! Patricia

Colorado Bound

psullivan66 — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 22:06:08 +0000

Dear Friends, I’m packing up my photography and my suit case and heading to Buena Vista. I’ll arrive next week to set up an exhibit at the Buena Vista Library where I’ll display ten 12×18 color photographs, all images from the book. The exhibit is up june 29- August 13. Hope you can make it. Looking forward to reconnecting with those of you I already know and excited about making new friends. The book will be on sale at the rodeo in both soft and hard cover versions. $29.95 and $39.95 respectively.

Happy Trails! Patricia

Waiting for final review copy

psullivan66 — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 00:04:25 +0000

After receiving letters of permission, and putting the final touches on the layout, etc. I submitted my book to Blurb Nation, the online publisher. I’m expecting a last review copy soon. If approved I’ll order both hard-cover and paper-back copies, and I’ll be selling them at the rodeo, Buena Vista Heritage Museum and Buena Vista Public Library in July.

If there are any angel investors out there looking for a project, here’s your chance to be part of American Western History, let me hear from you.

“An American Rodeo” Press Release

psullivan66 — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 22:02:25 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New York City Photographer Patricia Sullivan Completing Book on Buena Vista Stampede Rodeo for 90th Anniversary

New York, NY (March 6, 2011) – New York City based photojournalist Patricia Sullivan plans a release of her book, “An American Rodeo: From Head Lettuce Days to Collegiate Peaks Stampede in Buena Vista, Colorado,” to coincide with the 90th anniversary of the event on July 9, 2011.

Documenting Buena Vista’s rodeo with her camera since 1997, Sullivan is at work completing her portrait of the small town family rodeo, “starting with kids and ending with cowboys.” Begun in 1920 as a celebration of good harvest, “Head Lettuce Days” grew and changed, but it’s going strong at 90 with kids competing in stick horse races, mutton busting and steer riding. The book contains historical photos, maps and oral histories, as well as action shots of bull riders, bronc riders, barrel-racers and ropers.

Sullivan recently interviewed long time residents who shared stories of Buena Vista’s rodeo with her from the 1960′s, ’50′s and earlier, with details about the lettuce harvest, horse races, bronc riding and cowboy dances. Why did they rodeo year after year? It was fun, their friends were there – and there was the inherent risk of danger.

Contributing writers include nine-time World Champion Ty Murray; 2010 World Champion Timed Event Cowboy Josh Peek, whose career began at the Buena Vista High School Rodeo; and Wrangler Book of the year award winner, novelist Dusty Richards. Interviews with popular stock contractor Buster Webb, longtime favorite rodeo clown Garry “Re-Ride” Miller and current Chaffee County Queen Lexi Koch, among others, paint a wide and detailed picture of this cherished American celebration.

Three exhibits of selected photos from the book are planned: June 27 – August 13th at the Buena Vista Public Library; August 25 – October 15th at the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs and November 3rd at the Cowgirl Hall of Fame, New York City.

The coffee-table style book will be approximately sixty-four pages, with over forty photographs, mostly color. Anyone interested more information or in helping with the project can contact her on her website at www.patriciasullivanphoto.net.