A mixed-media opening exhibit with cowboy flare is being rustled up at Canmore’s Elevation Gallery.
The opening reception of Canmore Rodeo ’82 (Feb. 28, 2-5 p.m.) will offer stunning action photography, music, poetry, sculpture – and the opportunity to help solve some mysteries.
Photographer Roy Anderson documented the last outdoor rodeo to be held in Canmore during the summer of 1982.
“As a freelance photographer at the time, Anderson recorded the event for Banff’s Crag and Canyon, and preserved the images with the belief they might someday revive memory of a cultural touchstone,” said Elevation Gallery co-owner Phil Baxter.
“This curated collection of 22 from more than 50 black and white action shots, captures a moment in Canmore’s history, which is both amusing and evocative.”
Anderson has been a professional photographer for 35 years, and has made Banff his home since the mid 1960s.
“When this came up I said, ‘I’m going to go down and cover it,’ and I spent two days shooting and I don’t remember them (Crag & Canyon) even using it,” Anderson said. “It took place just west of the Alpine Club, and I’ve been trying to do some research on it. I found out a chap by the name of Doug Richards was the contractor and he was the one that supplied most of the stock and most of the cowboys who looked after it and he attracted the better cowboys he knew through his reputation.”
Anderson remembers the event being a “full-blown rodeo” filled with not only bull riding, but also mutton busting for young up and comers. “I still don’t know and have not been able to discover who footed the bill for it because it must have cost a bundle,” Anderson said.
Due to time and being a busy and adventurous individual, Anderson no longer has the results from the event.
“I spoke to Roland Rollinmud from Morley and in one of the shots during a buckle presentation there’s a First Nations boy who’s winning and he identified him as a person by the name of Holloway … and there is one photograph of, I would say, a 15 to 16 year old boy who is being presented the big trophy,” Anderson said. “The presenter is Kelly Wilson from Banff and he owned the local gas company then and I think they might have been part sponsors.”
Anderson added the only problem with identifying Wilson in the photograph is he no longer lives in the Bow Valley and now resides in Kelowna, B.C.
“I haven’t been able to find out who the kid is. I’m hoping that somebody will be able to come into the gallery and recognize him and others in the photos. The kid would be now late 40s to early 50s.
Anderson also talked with local artist Tony Bloom about the rodeo, with Bloom telling him there was a youth by the surname of Morris who took part in the rodeo and who is now a principal dancer with the Winnipeg Ballet.
“Wouldn’t it be interesting if that turned out to be one of the kids in the photo by the trophy?” Anderson said.
The above is what Anderson has been able to piece together so far, and he encourages anyone who was personally at the rodeo, or knows someone who was, to come to the opening reception to help solve some mysteries while partaking in an important historical art exhibit.
Starting at 3 p.m. during the reception celebrating Rocky Mountain cowboy culture, cowboy poet Ron Gale will read a sample of his newest works, and Canmore’s own Brad Bischoff of The Wardens will offer up some music to match the mood of the day.
And last, but never least, Elevation Gallery is taking the opportunity of the exhibit to introduce Canmore sculptor Cedar Mueller to Elevation’s stable. Mueller will showcase one of her latest animal-inspired sculptures “Copper.”
