An Introduction to TCAA
Founded in 1998, the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association (TCAA) is a not-for-profit organization formed to preserve the craftsmanship of fine western gear making. It is the goal of the TCAA to establish a continuous link between the traditional gear making skills of the past and future generations of gear makers.
Through the disciplines of bit and spur making, saddle making, silversmithing, and rawhide braiding, it is the hope of the TCAA that the best made gear will always be seen as it was intended to be used, on the ranch horse and by the cowboy not just behind glass.
Announcement
We've just added a new section to our website that we hope, over time, will provide interesting articles for you to read or print out. We've started with two articles. The first written by Bill Heisman on "Spur Identification" and another one written by Cary Schwarz titled "You're an artist". Please send along some feedback and let us know if articles like these are useful to you.
Latest News
Congratulations to Chuck Stormes and Don Reeves on the completion of their book on Luis Ortega. It is published by University of Oklahoma Press and will be available at the High Noon Show with a book signing. Don is a curator at the National Cowboy Museum and has collaborated with Chuck on a comprehensive biography of the most important rawhide braider of the twentieth century. … read more
Our latest newsletter (Winter 2010) is now online and you can find it along with all the rest of our past newsletters by visiting the Newsletters page… read more
It is with great sadness that the TCAA marks the passing of one of this organization’s most esteemed members; Bit and Spur maker Al Tietjen. Albert Herman Tietjen, 80, of Reno, NV passed away at his home on October 8, 2009, following a brief battle with cancer. Albert (Al) was born in Winnemucca, NV on December 9, 1928 to Henry and Bernadine Tietjen.… read more
Despite some concerns over the state of the economy leading into the 2009 TCAA exhibition and sale, patrons turned out in large numbers to show their support for the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association and the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. The opening evening saw a 75% sale of the total items offered with several more items selling over the following week.… read more
The photo gallery for the 2009 Eleventh Annual Exhibition and Sale is online now, go take a look!… read more
Upcoming Events
There will a TCAA booth at High Noon this year once again. Bill Heisman, Scott Hardy, John Willemsma, Nate Wald, and Wilson Capron will be there. The High Noon event will take place January 30-31, 2010 and features mostly antique Western memorabilia, but there has been some contemporary work shown there as well… read more
On February 16-19, 2010, Chuck Stormes and Rick Bean will teach a flower stamping class at the Museum. Students will learn design layout and execution techniques in a hands-on workshop… read more
March 5-6, 2010, the membership will convene this year in Scottsdale for their annual spring meeting. There is always a full discussion about the mission of the TCAA, namely its education programs and planning for the fall show at the Museum in OKC… read more
There will be a workshop on European leather case making taught by Jean Luc Parisot of Saumur, France on September 21-24, 2010. He will be assisted by Pedro Pedrini and Cary Schwarz… read more
This year will mark the 12th Anniversary of the founding of the TCAA and our TCAA Annual Exhibition and Sale for 2010 will be held on September 25, 2010 at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum… read more