Colorado Bound

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

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

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.

 

Buena Vista trip.

Went out to Buena Vista in February.  Collected rodeo stories and bits of Buena Vista history from longtime residents:  Randy and Carol Sailor, Gary and Betty Merrifield, and Donnie Shake.  The Sailors talked about rodeo in the 60′s and I learned what a “train orphan” was.  Orphans in the east were put on trains to Nebraska where they were met by families needing an extra set of hands who then adopted them.  Sometimes the kids were abused and Randy’s Grandfather escaped his step-parents with a bible and a stolen pony.  Gary Merrifield and his family had a deer living in their house with them for two and half years.  I had to believe it after I saw a few dozen photographs.  Donnie Shake had a picture of his Great Grandfather officiating at the only hanging in Buena Vista history.  I could’ve listened to these people for many more hours.

After speaking to Sammi Snow at the Pro-Rodeo Hall of Fame, I now have a photography exhibit arranged to open August 25 2011.  It will run for six weeks.

 

Date of Exhibit Opening has Changed

The date has changed!  The show is now opening on March 4th.  Still 6-8 pm.  Hope to see you there.

New photography exhibit.

“My Mother as an Indian”
In an effort to explore my relationship with my mother, I asked her if she had any fantasies as a child. She told me she had always wanted to dress up as an indian and run around. So we rented costumes and explored this subject with make-up and props.
Opening March 5 from 6-8pm
Dixon Place Gallery
161 Chrystie St. (N of Delancey)
New York, NY
212-219-0736
Show runs from March 5th thru April 1st

PBR FUN!!!

Went to PBR at Madison Square Garden last Sunday. The best photo I got – the place was packed with a great crowd of fans – I will call “Dances with Bulls” because only a camera can catch it like that!