The Fight to be "Seen as Green"

by Jayne Skeff

As antiquers, we've known all along that antiques are green. We've known that the wicker basket bought at Target will be in the trash bin long before that Indian basket begins to show wear. We've known all along that the Monterey cupboard will long stand after the Ikea bookcase has bit the dust. We've been preserving and recycling before the word "recycle" hit Webster's. But have any of us really thought about the benefits of being designated "green" businesses. Well head's-up HN'ers!

Ever been to a Green Expo? They're popping up everywhere and I can tell you, there's not one antique dealer to be seen. Is the High Noon Western Americana Antique Show (or any antique show for that matter) a "green" show? Is your antique shop a "green" enterprise? You bet your recycle bin they are!

 
Through his photos, award winning photographer Myron Beck (Los Angeles, CA) inspires us to dream and embrace the beauty that surrounds us in the people we see, the environments in which we thrive and the diverse cultures that enrich our lives.  www.myronbeck.com
 

Get ready Denver 'cause here comes the Cody Old West Show & Auction!


When Brian Lebel, Director of the Cody Old West Show and Auction, made the decision to celebrate the 20th anniversary of this exciting event by moving it to Denver, he not only changed locations, he took the challenge and recreated this event making it bigger and better then ever. Watch out Denver - here comes the most amazing Western Show and Auction(s) (yup, there are two auctions) to ever grace the Rocky Mountains!

And how do you come into town with a new event and make sure it's a smashing success? You do what Brian has done, come in with both barrels loaded, tumbleweed flying - advertising from billboards to print - allying yourself with the city movers and shakers - and making yourself indispensable to the Denver Art Museum, home to the Petrie Institute of Western American Art. Well done, Brian!

The weekend event kicks-off on Thursday evening, June 25th, with a dealer and guest reception hosted by the galleries in the trendy "LoDo" district of Denver.

The show, which opens on Friday, June 26th and runs through Sunday, June 28th, has had a waiting list of dealers for months. This year, the attendees will see many new faces including a whole new group of artisans from across the country specializing in exquisite furnishings for home and lodge. Over 200 dealers in all will fill the Denver Merchandise Mart with everything from the finest Western Americana antiques, art, Cowboy and Native American trappings.

A very special guest at the show will be premier Navajo weaver Mary H. Yazzie. On Saturday and Sunday, she will be demonstrating her hand carding and spinning techniques which she uses to create her works of art - her rugs.

The first of the auctions to take place will be a Western American Art Auction on Friday, June 26th, (6:30 pm) to benefit the Denver Art Museum Acquisition Fund. Over 150 works will be offered. A separate catalog is available for this sale for $12.

The "big daddy" auction will go off on Saturday evening, June 27th at 5pm and wow, what a sale this will be. Bigger and more important than ever, over 500 lots will come to the block including two of the most important Main & Winchester saddles to ever be offered and historic items from the personal estate of Annie Oakley. Art from Will James to Remington, rare Colt firearms, the finest Native American offerings...the list goes on. The catalog itself is a walk through American Western history. (Catalog is available for $30)

From all of us at High Noon, "CONGRATULATIONS BRIAN!" We can't wait for it all to start and we will be there with boots on!

For all the info on the Cody Old West Show and Auction(s), visit www.codyoldwest.com

Auction Buyers: If you want to purchase for resale, be sure to remember to bring your resale license. The State of Colorado requires it.

High Noon 2010 Dealer Update from "T"

Dear High Noon Dealers,

Thank you so much for your support over the last two months. Danny is recovering beautifully and even has a fishing trip lined up at the end of this week. What more could we ask for?

We are both back to work...Danny has slowly worked up to part-time, and as of this week, I'm almost full-time.

I want to thank you all for your patience. I know that I usually have contracts in the mail right about now...but as you can imagine, I'm several weeks behind in my work. Dealer contracts are my first priority when we return from Denver, in early July and you may expect them by the end of August.

In the meantime, here's some basic information for you:

What: 20th Anniversary High Noon Western Americana Antique Show
Where: Mesa Convention Center / 263 N Center St / Mesa, AZ  85201
When: Dealer set up: Jan 29; Show open to public: Jan 30-31, 2010

"Bits & Pieces" was created for me to keep in contact with all of you, so you know what's going on. I'll have more details for you in the July issue of Smoke Signals. Of course, if you have any questions or concerns, you can contact me at the office (310) 202-9010.

Danny & I leave for Denver on June 16th. I hope to see you all at the Cody Old West Show & Auction...it's going to be a BLAST!

We'll see you down the trail,
Theresa:)

PS Robin is busy creating a NEW website for us...once it's up & ready to go, all dealer info & forms will be up there for you. YIPPEE!

 

Ilene and Bruce Johnson
Mystic Warriors


It's no surprise to us that a practicing attorney (Ilene) and daily newspaper executive for 28 years (Bruce) are the foundation behind Mystic Warriors - one of the country's most renowned resources for Northern and Southern Plains Indian art, antiques and artifacts.

Well, everyone has to have a "day job" but their passion for Native American culture goes back over 30 years. Bruce first became interested in collecting and trading during his college days in Montana where his roommate was a Crowe Indian.

Each month, Smoke Signals will give a little insight into who makes High Noon happen. Who really is Rawhide, the man in the High Noon vest who commandeers the High Noon Auction preview room surrounded by a staff of beautiful bright women.

RAWHIDE
Gentleman, Educator, Preservationist

It's not good editorial conduct to refer to one's own feelings when writing a story but in this case, I must. I stared at my screen for over an hour after reviewing my notes from my interview with one of the most engaging, surprising and passionate people I've ever had the honor to interview. I knew that nothing I wrote could do justice to the breadth and depth of this individual we call Rawhide (yes, it's his REAL name), the man who we see in the High Noon and Cody Old West auction preview & check-out rooms. He's the man with the twinkle in his eye, who surrounds himself with a staff of drop-dead gorgeous, bright & hard working young women from Wyoming, Montana and Idaho and who runs those rooms with an iron fist. Who is Rawhide? Wow, I had no idea but I'll do my best to encapsulate a most amazing life in just a few short paragraphs. - Jayne Skeff

Born and raised on a ranch in Montana to hard working parents, his father was "pure cowboy." Growing up, the ranch still used teams with wagons and as Rawhide recalls, "I've backed up more teams than most people have driven forward."

On the cusp of the tractor age, the new mechanical wonders were eventually employed on the ranch, but his father, being pure cowboy, wanted nothing to do with their maintenance or repair. The job of engineering those behemoths in order to keep the ranch running fell to Rawhide. Experiencing this transition from horse to tractor to train is likely what inspired his passion for becoming one of the country's most eloquent and definitive resources on the history of western transportation. His dedication to preserving this important part of American history is what consumes most of his time.

He was the founding board member of the National Stagecoach and Freight Wagon Association whose mission is to preserve these vehicles, which enabled the country move West. He's also the Chairman of the Board of the South Museum of Yellowstone where he spends a good portion of his time.  He has developed Western transportation educational programs for museums across the country and has consulted on and been involved in the production of numerous movies and television shows including PBS Frontier House. Oh, did I mention he is also integrally involved in water development and conservation programs for ranches in Wyoming and Montana? Did I mention he just also happens to own more Yellowstone stagecoaches than anyone in the world?

Who is Rawhide? Complex, compelling, committed to everything that represents the heart and soul of the West. Perhaps it was fate he was born with jaundice to a true-to-heart cowboy father who took one look at him and said, "he looks like a piece of rawhide."

Send event submissions to SmokeSignals@highnoon.com

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