Education Program
Read the latest Report from Bit & Spur Maker Wilson Capron
TCAA, in conjunction with the National Cowboy Museum in Oklahoma City, offers two workshops per year. The focus of these professional workshops revolves annually through the four disciplines represented by the TCAA. In addition, TCAA members offer opportunities, on a limited basis, for mentoring in their own workshops. The TCAA also presents a seminar, consisting of three lectures, on the Saturday of the opening weekend of the annual exhibition and sale at the museum in Oklahoma City, where participants also benefit from the opportunity to view the new work of members and visit with the artists about techiques and influences.
Founded in 1998,the TCAA launched its education program with an engraving workshop in 2001. During the past nine years that program has grown to include two annual workshops and a seminar hosted by the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, individual mentoring and TCAA scholarships. The results are impressive:
☆ 103 Craftsmen have received cash scholarships to help further training and education.
☆ $59,700 is the amount paid to participants in this program to date.
☆ 216 craftsmen have been personally mentored in various TCAA members shops and studios.
☆ 220 craftspeople have attended TCAA workshops hosted by National Cowboy Museum.
☆ 45 speakers participated in TCAA seminars to perform free lectures on various aspects of craftsmanship and cowboy culture.
☆ 394 One of a kind pieces have been created by TCAA members for the annual exhibition and sale.
☆ 657 is the number of years experience represented by TCAA members.
☆ 19 members of the TCAA include thirteen elected and six founding members; an important milestone reached in 2007.
Saddlemaking DVD available from the TCAA
Despite its fundamental role in a saddle's architecture, the ground seat is perhaps the most misunderstood element in a saddle's construction. Many riders aren't even aware of its existence. Idaho saddlemaker Cary Schwarz, a founding member of the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association, leads viewers through the process of building and installing a ground seat in a custom saddle, sharing seldom-seen techniques and offering personal insight on this critical step in saddlemaking.
Scholarship Reports
Here are some photos of Annie Weiden and Ty Granger from Australia.This was during our time in my shop. We covered making some of our own sheet silver to produce buckle sets,one for each.While Annie is an accomplished silversmith in her own right and Ty is relatively new to the trade, both had a keen interest in knowing how to make they own stock from ingots.
We spent several days covering the intricacies of how to construct buckles and soldering techniques. Lastly,we spent about a day and a half on hand engraving designs and technique.Unfortunately we ran out of time to actually get to engrave the finished buckles but did some engraving on silver pieces for examples of bright cut engraving. Both took home their buckles home and promised to send pics when finished.Ty has responded with his photos and I am waiting to hear from Annie but have little doubt that hers will be great.
We did spend some of the time on a social level too.We had a little gathering of friends on that Sunday with a pit BBQ cookout and live music from our local friends. We all had a great time and plan on continuing an exchange of Ideas and friendship in the future.I am anxious to hear what Annie and Ty will have to say in their response letters To the TCAA.
~Dave Alderson
The following are written reports from some participants in the Scholarship Program:
Booking Information
TCAA Scholarship fund is maintained through private donations, to make a donation to the scholarship fund please go to Contribution Opportunities.
For more information about booking members for lectures and seminars, please Contact Us.
