A week-end in the past

EDGEMONT – What started out as a trail ride in 1984, has morphed into what has been dubbed the “Best Photographer’s Field Trip Out West.”

Each August Jim Hatzell, a graduate of the American Academy of Art, hosts the Fiddlers Green Studios Artist Ride on his horse ranch near Edgemont. This year the event was held August 24-29.

Fifty artists are invited each year to “gather scrap” of knowledgeable models dressed in period attire as mountain men, cowboys, Indians—you name it—all against the backdrop of South Dakota’s Cheyenne River country. Artists fill out a “wish list” of material they would like to see and the models do their best to pack accordingly.

Families travel from all over to be a part of the artist’s ride, bringing their kids, dogs, horses, even newborns to be a part of the wonderful excitement of stepping into the past.

On their property the Hatzell’s have a mock Saloon as well as an Indian Village set in the late 1700’s.

The property owners open up their garage every morning for breakfast, lunch and cold drinks are provided all throughout the day.

This event is the perfect blend of modern day meets the past. Everywhere you look you are back in the 1700’s. As you open your tent in the morning you may see a horse and carriage ride by. As you head to breakfast you might see a Cowboy having coffee with a Chief.

Each year photographers come with a description of what he or she would like to paint. Artists can create a model look to be portrayed as older, or younger, a model could be asked to sit in a canoe and the painter can paint them in water. The imagination has no limitations to what could be done in this creative element.

The models pose for artists from all over to take their photos to be painted later in their art studios. Everywhere you look you see models dressed in their finest regalia or western wear.

At any point of the day each model will have 30 photographers with their lenses pointed at them, adjusting their pose. As you walk onto set you pass by models on horseback as well as photographers.

It is also fun for the models to help create each scene to bring the artist’s vision to life. Even kids are eager to pose in their best costumes.

Every turn of the head or movement models make, the photographers take a hundred more photos to take home and they will then paint each picture as a portrait to sell in their art studio. 

Some of the models on set are famous actors from recent movies or documentaries. Other models are new to the experience. Each model greets each other with smiles and even as the models make idle conversation, photographers use each opportunity to capture the moments of what is to them another 1700’s portrait that could be painted.

At night there are photo shoots set by campfire. In the morning models dress back into their 1700’s costumes and return back on set for another full day of modeling.

After the Artists ride on the weekend the actors continued to be filmed in a documentary about Chief Gall. 

Models in attendance were; Casey BirdInGround, Lola Gould, Northern Arapaho, Sioux, Jasmine ComesKilling, Oglala Sioux Elgeana RedBlanket ,Lakota, Oglala Marie Zephier, Shash, Oglala Sioux Joseph Brown Oglala Sioux l Emma Swallow, Angelina ComesKilling, Chanel BearKiller, Kimimila ComesKilling, Cayme ComesKilling, Lola Gould, Arapaho Lakota, Jasmine Comeskilling, Oglala Shawntayna Cruce, Oglala Lakota, Thomas White “White Eagle”, Din’e (Dineh), Navajo, Rebecca White, Fiona Lurz, Oglala Lakota, Story Lurz, Oglala Lakota, Kemington Allen, Ryon Reichardt, Xavier Wright, and Tony DuTiot. There were also many more models and photographers from all over.

Kane RunningCrane, Sicangu Model who came with his family to take part in the Artist ride said, “We need our people to be known for our true history.” 

Tory Jayne, Model who was on set with her family said, “I’ve always wanted to model since I was a little girl! It’s just something I’ve always wanted to do. I would tell the next person who wants to pursue a career in modeling to follow your heart no matter what anyone says we are all beautiful.”

Shash Marie, another model on set with her family said, “I never modeled but am close to my aunts- one a talented seamstress and the other one of my BAFs- best aunties forever lol. My cousin brought us and we were both recruited and had an amazing time! The experience was a lot of fun meeting new people and being in the heart of the He Sapa was grounding peaceful and serene. I’m honored to represent our ancestors in a good way and be a part of telling the story of Chief Gall. It feels good for me as it’s a form of reconnecting with culture and nature dressing up and being in nature.” 

Tony DuToit, a model on set explained how he was a descendent from the Huguenots. The Huguenots, from France, were the first explorers, they were friends with the Lakota. The rich from New York came with whiskey and money which destroyed a lot of the relationship that the Huguenots had with the Lakota.

Xavier Wright, another model camping out for the Artist ride, celebrated his 19^th birthday on set. He Said, “It’s a great experience, I love it because it’s portraying the ‘old lifestyle’ but for me it’s my everyday life packing miles, driving teams, and being a cowpoke”

The artist ride has grown over the past years. More artists and models were in attendance this year than last year. This year’s Fiddlers Green Studios Artist Ride was a success and many artists including models expressed that they are eager to come back next year to spend another adventurous weekend together in the past. 

 

(Contact Christopher A. Piña at staffwriter3@nativesunnews.today)

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