Crossing the Great Divide

I got to hang out with the photographers last night in the press box for the “Crossing the Great Divide” show, which featured Jay Snider, Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie, and Wylie & the Wild West (the video above is from another show. I just wanted to share some music this morning with the folks back home). Some quick thoughts about last night’s show:

• Jay recited a poem by Sonny Hancock about roping a bear, which was pretty funny, but it got me thinking about just how many cowboys I know who claim they’ve done just that—and I found the number a little disturbing.

• I could have listened to Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie all night. Such happy music!

• Wylie & the Wild West played a song called “I Get High,” which nearly brought me to tears as I listened to the words and thought about the time I spent in Idaho last fall. When nothing else could heal my heart, my friends knew to make me go saddle my horse. 

Posted by Kristin on 01/29/10 at 08:36 AM
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Rodear at Crooked Creek

Posted by Kristin on 01/29/10 at 01:48 AM
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Jingle Bobs and Jackrabbits

This is another one of the films from the program.

Posted by Kristin on 01/29/10 at 01:39 AM
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Thursday Recap

I knew this morning when I found myself in line for the buffet, discussing the many, many merits of bacon-infused chocolate with one of my heroes, Joey the Cowpolka King, that this was going to be one of those magic days. It all started off with an artists’ breakfast at the Stockman’s, where I saw some old friends and made some fast new ones, including Henry Real Bird, who promised to help me find some Native American translators for the Open Translation Project that I manage at TED.

Then it was off to the Deep West Video program at the Elko Convention Center, where my little film, “Hello, Goodbye! A Guide to Waving in the Country,” was in some very good company. I got to meet most of the other filmmakers and am looking forward to getting to know them better over the next couple days (I will post their films here as the Western Folklife Center makes them available on YouTube). One highlight of the program for me was getting to talk to Gail Steiger afterward. His album, “The Romance of Western Life,” is in heavy rotation on my iPod—in fact, I listened to it for a good part of the flight out here from New York. How cool is that?

Before lunch, I went with Sue Rosoff for a screening of “Challenge of the Champions,” a documentary about Lane Frost and Red Rock. I knew this story, but there is something so powerful about seeing and hearing people who were there tell their own tale. Sue is in the film and many of her photographs are featured (if you haven’t checked out her rodeo pics, you don’t want to miss her website). Today was the last time they will show the film during the Gathering, but you can buy a copy of it at the gift shop.

I saw two fantastic music shows tonight as well, but I’m starting to fade...so I’m afraid I will have to say good night now. See you in the morning!

Posted by Kristin on 01/29/10 at 01:16 AM
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Hello, Goodbye! A Guide to Waving in the Country

As promised, here’s my film, which screened today as part of the Deep West Video program (it’s also happening tomorrow in the Turquoise Room at the Convention Center at 11 am). I’ll post the other films over the next few days so you can see them as well.

Posted by Kristin on 01/29/10 at 01:11 AM
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I Made It!

I left my apartment yesterday at four in the morning to head west for the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering. First I flew to Chicago, then I caught a flight to Sacramento, then I took a car to Woodland to retrieve my pickup, AND THEN I drove to Elko, Nevada.  If you account for time zone changes, I was on the road for a whopping 18 hours. That is how much I love this event!

Posted by Kristin on 01/28/10 at 08:08 AM
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