Inquiry question: How can I use art to portray my relationship with rodeo?

Artist statement: My portfolio explores my relationship with horseback riding and rodeo. Each piece is meant to either glorify a part of western culture that I appreciate or shine light on an aspect that could be improved or changed. I’ve been riding horses since I was 3 years old, and competing in rodeos since I was twelve. As a result, horseback riding plays a huge role in my life and I spend a lot of time around horses. I’ve always had a huge appreciation for the sport, and I want this portfolio to express how important rodeo is to me. However, I don’t enjoy every aspect of rodeo, and throughout the years I’ve noticed things that I find worrying and occasionally frightening. For example, My Old Friend, expresses the appreciation I have for the bonds I’ve formed with my animals, and how much these partnerships mean to me. This piece is extra special to me because the horse hair used on the vessels came from my horse that passed away last fall. He had been apart of my family for eleven years, and I could barely remember a time when he was not in my life. It’s often said that a dog is a man’s best friend, but in the rodeo world, it’s said that a horse is a cowgirl's best friend, and I wanted to make a piece that represented this idea. On the other hand, You Ain’t No Cowboy represents the judgment people face from not fitting in. The specific instance that inspired this piece, was when I was told that since I wear a helmet while I ride, I am not a true cowgirl because I must be a bad rider if I need the extra protection of a helmet. This is a relatively common idea in rodeo. People are seen as less than for wearing something as simple as a helmet, rather than a cowboy hat, even though the helmet is clearly the safer option. I made You Ain’t No Cowboy in order to shine light on the judgemental aspect of rodeo, in the hopes that this idea will eventually change. I hope that when people look at my portfolio they can see the love and appreciation that I have for all things horse-related, especially rodeo. Also, I hope they see that rodeo isn’t all good, and there are downsides to everything, but that doesn’t mean it's not worth doing.

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