Oklahoma City KEY - Cover Story

National Cowboy Museum Pays Tribute to
America’s Greatest Rawhide Braider

An extraordinary traveling exhibition that pays tribute to the career and artwork of revered, vaquero, rawhide braider Luis Ortega at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum continues through January 9. Developed by the National Cowboy Museum, the Ortega exhibition accompanies the opening of the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association's cowboy gear exhibition and sale.

Ortega (1897-1995) became the most admired rawhide braider of the 20th century when he elevated his craft to extraordinary fine art. Through the special exhibition Luis Ortega's Rawhide Artistry: Braiding in the California Tradition, Museum visitors have a rare opportunity to enjoy an additional gathering of Ortega gear from premier private collections. More than 100 examples of rawhide braiding will be on display. The exhibition also will focus on Ortega's family heritage reflecting the rich Spanish ranching traditions of California.

Rawhide braiding is an ancient craft used to create working gear prized by generations of horsemen. Collectors were eager to participate in this unique exhibit which explores the Spanish heritage of this traditional horse gear and the California style of riding which still utilizes braided rawhide bridles and elaborate hackamores. Ortega was introduced to the art around 1905 by a 100-year-old Tulare Indian while still a youth on the Bar S Ranch near Santa Barbara, California. His mentor had mastered the craft under the tutelage of the Santa Ynez Mission friars, perpetuating a tradition of instruction begun 200 years earlier.

The popularity of Ortega's colorful show bridles reflected the proliferation of public horse shows and reining competitions in the second half of the 20th century. Ortega was the first braider to feature color in his equipment and he set the style within the show ring for many years. The popularity of his show bridles and his exposure as a writer on California horsemanship in Western Horseman magazine revived public interest in traditional California equipment. The Museum is home to Ortega's personal collection displayed year-round in a beautifully designed gallery dedicated solely to his work.

Accredited by the American Association of Museums, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is located in the heart of central Oklahoma's Frontier Country and is one of seven attractions in Oklahoma City's Adventure District at the junction of I-35 and I-44. Membership to America's Premier Western Heritage Museum™ includes year-round admission and a subscription to the award-winning, quarterly magazine Persimmon Hill.

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