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(L)Jeff Minor and Jon Mendiola scrape the hair off the hide.

Attaching the hide with S-hooks.

Laying out hide in a hoop ring for drying.

Scraping hair from the hide.

Laying the wet hide over a barrel for stripping.

Preparing hide for stripping.

Looking east from Salmon.

Twisting rawhide strips to make rope.

Open View Photography's setup for photographing the work.

Braided rawhide pieces by the workshop participants.

Cindy Kittredge leading a workshop on business practices for artists in rural areas.

(L) Paul Messick and Steve Derricott set the attached hide on a hoop for drying.

Various knots and patterns of handmade rawhide braided items.

Braided rawhide pieces by the workshop participants. Image by Ilona McCarty, Open View Photography

2016 Idaho Rawhide Rendezvous in Salmon, Idaho. Back row (L) Steve Derricott, Cary Schwarz, Mario Johnson, Brett Haskett, Stein and Brad Waddoups, Mike Beaver, Garth Waddoups, Paul Messick, Mike Skinner, Ernie Knight (L Red shirt)Randy Kildow, Steven Hatcher (Idaho Commission on the Arts) Cindy Kittredge, Jean Likens, Jon Mendiola, Bryce Williams, Deana Atterbery, Squeak (Donna) Barsalow, Don Ward (Salmon Arts Council).

Rawhide Rendezvous

April 21-23, 2016

The Rawhide Rendezvous brought together 20 braiders from around the state for a weekend that featured both professional development and technique workshops. Cindy Kittredge, who created the Artrepreneurship Program for the Montana Arts Council, presented her “Marketing Strategies for the Creative Hand” workshop that included strategies for arriving at a fair price, the development of a strong product line, branding and the story behind the brand, finding customers, and building promotional approaches that lead to sales. The second day involved two skill-building workshops led by master braiders and included spinning a rope from rawhide and the hot water scalding method to dehair and prepare a hide. Produced by the Folk & Traditional Arts Program at the Idaho Commission on the Arts, the Salmon Arts Council, and the Sacajawea Interpretive, Cultural, & Educational Center, which hosted the event.

‒ Steven Hatcher, Folk & Traditional Arts Director