Latest News
Luis Ortega Book
Congratulations to Chuck Stormes and Don Reeves on the completion of their book on Luis Ortega. It is published by University of Oklahoma Press and will be available at the High Noon Show with a book signing. Don is a curator at the National Cowboy Museum and has collaborated with Chuck on a comprehensive biography of the most important rawhide braider of the twentieth century.
2010 Winter Newsletter
Our latest newsletter (Winter 2010) is now online and you can find it along with all the rest of our past newsletters by visiting the Newsletters page.
Al Tietjen - In Memoriam: 1928 - 2009
It is with great sadness that the TCAA marks the passing of one of this organization’s most esteemed members; Bit and Spur maker Al Tietjen. Albert Herman Tietjen, 80, of Reno, NV passed away at his home on October 8, 2009, following a brief battle with cancer. Albert (Al) was born in Winnemucca, NV on December 9, 1928 to Henry and Bernadine Tietjen. He was raised on a ranch in Paradise Valley with his two brothers, Herman and Heine, until shortly after his father's death in 1937. Later his mother remarried and the family moved to Reno, NV.
As a young man, Al went into the bit and spur business with his cousin and they opened a shop in San Francisco, CA. He was drafted into the Army in January 1951, and served in Korea thru November of 1952. After returning from the war he was employed by the Ford dealership in Reno, and in his spare time continued to hone his skills as a bit and spur maker. During this time, Al met and married the love of his life, Elsie, in April of 1954. Al later went into the bit and spur business full-time and went on to become a world-renowned maker of some of the finest silver and gold bits and spurs ever made. Over the years, Al was honored with numerous awards for his fine craftsmanship. He received an invitation in 1996 to participate in and exhibit his work at The Gathering of the Living Legends in Calgary, Canada. In 1998 he was an original inductee into the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association (TCAA). Also, in 2001 Al was the recipient of the Governor's Arts Award for Excellence in Folk Arts.
Al is survived by his wife of 55 years, Elsie; son John and daughter in law Cindy; granddaughters Michaela and Amanda; Brother Herman (Anita) of Winnemucca; and several nieces and nephews. Al was preceded in death by his father Henry, step-father Bob Knieke, mother Bernadine, and brother Heine.
Services were held on Wednesday, October 14, 2009, at 10 am at Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church, 1138 Wright Street, Reno, 775-323-6894. In lieu of flowers, you may donate to Saint Mary's Hospice. 18653 Wedge Pkwy. Reno, 775-770-3081 or the American Cancer Society, 800-227-2345
Thanks to the Reno Gazette Journal for this obituary.
TCAA eleventh annual show opens with 75% sell out!
Despite some concerns over the state of the economy leading into the 2009 TCAA exhibition and sale, patrons turned out in large numbers to show their support for the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association and the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. The opening evening saw a 75% sale of the total items offered with more items selling over the following week. In addition to the buyers present at the show, remote proxy bids by phone from across the country were received by the museum staff. Following the opening night festivities, buyers continued to snap up remaining items with calls from collectors coming in as far away as Europe.
The TCAA membership would like to take this opportunity to express their sincere appreciation for the tremendous support the organization has received from its patrons. The pieces exhibited at this year's show are amongst the finest the organization's membership has produced. A few items still remain available for purchase from the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. All of the items submitted for the sale will be on exhibit at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum through December 6, 2009.
2009 Eleventh Annual Exhibition and Sale
The photo gallery for the 2009 Eleventh Annual Exhibition and Sale is online now, go take a look!