BY Mayzie Purviance Cremer
Sponsored by Two Rivers Gallery
- 40 framed photographs
- Size: 16″ x 20″ – 20″ x 24″ (framed size)
- Available: June 2027 – December 2029
- Crates: 4, 18″ x 18″ x 22″ – 39″ x 31″ 14″ (fourth crate optional)
- Booking Fee: 4 – 6 weeks $700/ 7 – 12 weeks $1000
- Integrative Resources: 26 descriptive text panels on the history of cattle branding, video, optional crate of cowboy gear for tactile tours
EXHIBITION DESCRIPTION
There’s been a magnifying lens on western culture in recent years. People want to know more about it: how we (cattlemen and women) do things and why we do them. Sure, movies, TV shows, and romance novels give the audience a taste of western life — but actually getting down and dirty, working with American ranchers, gives you the whole meal. This exhibit spotlights the intricate details of cattle branding, which I believe best exmplifies the good, the bad, and the ugly of cowboy culture. In its entirety, this collection contains 40 photos and six videos taken at Montana cattle brandings with accompanying narratives from the subjects in the photos for text panels throughout the exhibit. All photos were taken at multiple Spring Brandings from 2022-2025 in or near Sweet Grass County, Montana. I hope these photos give you a fresh perspective on the agricultural industry; I hope they educate you in the practices associated with animal agriculture; I hope they spotlight the heart that beats in the branding crew; and most importantly, I hope they make you appreciate the next steak you eat just a little bit more.
Educational Ideas & Resources
This exhibit pulls back the curtain on a major step in the journey of getting American beef from the rancher’s pasture gate to your plate. In addition to the existing educational components, I believe there is a valuable opportunity for galleries and museums to collaborate with local ranchers and agricultural extension agencies to host lectures by real professionals from the beef industry. Partnering with organizations such as the Montana Beef Council and the Montana Stockgrowers at the state and local levels could help bridge the gap between the public and the people providing our protein. I visited with the Montana Beef Council about partnering on an educational take-home resource to go along with this exhibition. I also think it could be unique to work with each individual gallery/museum who picks up this exhibition on how their community would
benefit most, educationally, with this exhibit. Would they want to host a night of Cowboy Poetry? Perhaps their county extension office would like to partner on a cattle handling workshop. Maybe some of their local 4-H clubs could benefit from a gallery night. The possibilities are endless, and I am more than willing to travel and talk about this exhibit with anyone who will listen!
MAGDA 