Crafting Culture

Owyhee artisans teach tribal crafts at cowboy poetry gathering

Story by Dianna Troyer

Artisans and spouses Robin Egan and R. James Shoshone Jr. never tire of sharing and teaching the beauty of their Shoshone heritage through beading and drawing.

“What I like most about beading is seeing the whole process unfold into a beautiful piece of artwork,” says Robin, a member of the Shoshone-Paiute Tribe. “Keeping a traditional craft alive by teaching others is another joy I feel from beading.”

James, a member of the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe, reflects on his unique pen and-ink sketching.

“You can’t make anyone an artist unless you want to be an artist, but if you do, there’s a lust, a feeling and a heart behind the artwork,” he says.

The Owyhee residents are among more than 40 artists invited to participate at the 41st National Cowboy Poetry Gathering on in Elko. Organized by the staff at Western Folklife Center, the weeklong celebration showcases a rural Western lifestyle and culture with poetry, music, arts, dance, leatherworking, saddle-making and food. Dozens of events are scheduled at seven venues Jan. 26-31.

Robin remembers going to the first gathering in 1985 as a high school freshman when her English teacher organized a field trip. “There were two poets and it only lasted two hours,” she says. “Now, thousands of people come. This year is the first time I’ll do a workshop, so I’m excited.”

James has been attending since 1992. “I’d walk around with my art case and draw, then trade with cowboys,” he says. This year, James says he is honored to have been asked to design a wild rag for the gathering. He drew a cowboy astride his horse surrounded with paisley swirls and geometric patterns. The wild rag will be available in the gathering’s gift shop.

They are grateful their artwork—James’ drawings and Robin’s beaded war horse medallion—is exhibited at the center’s gallery.

Robin and James travel the West sharing their heritage.

“We’re honored to teach our crafts and knowledge to others, from children to adults,” Robin says.

For the past two years, they taught at the annual Native Youth Conference in North Dakota. They have also taught at Montana State University-Billings.

They met as teenagers before temporarily going their separate ways. “I earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Boise State while he worked on ranches,” Robin says. “Later in life, we found each other again.”

JAMES – ALWAYS AN ARTIST

For his workshop at the poetry gathering, James encourages participants to “bring your heart along with photographs of a face—horse or human.”

James is known for teaching how to distill light and form, using lines, squares, circles and tubes while conveying a subject’s spirit and feeling.

“My uncle was an artist and inspired me to become an artist when I was 5 or 6 years old,” he says. “I didn’t have formal training. What I like most is creating something no one has ever created and expressing my own style.”

James was born in Carson City and raised among his mother’s people, the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California. He grew up in Woodfords, California.

“Although I wasn’t born into a cowboy family, I got my first cowboying job at the IL Ranch,” he says. “After that, I worked on several legendary ranches in the Great Basin.”

Combining his love of art and a buckaroo lifestyle, James began creating cowboy art in 1992. His pen-and-ink artwork reflects his tribal heritage and memories of bunkhouse stories or scenes from ranch life.

On his Instagram account, @shoshonejames, James shares how he collects and trades silver bits, rawhide tack and other buckaroo gear. To keep cultural traditions alive, he documents tanning buckskin and tying fans.

ROBIN – A HEART FOR BEADING

At her workshop, Robin has students bead an identification holder with a buckskin backing. “I’ll teach the traditional flat two thread style of beading,” she says. “I’ll give tips, too, on  choosing colors and tell how Native American beadwork showcases individuality and creativity. Certain designs and colors are often specific to a family or tribe.”

Robin began beading 23 years ago for her niece. “She wanted to dance at powwows, so I began making her regalia, beadwork and dresses,” Robin says. “I learned through trial, error, and advice from elders and friends.”

Seeing her skill, people began asking Robin repair old beadwork. “As long as I can match the bead(s), I’ll repair the damages,” she says. “It’s an honor to repair the pieces that were made by tribal members long ago and satisfying to know that the pieces are cared for and put away for safekeeping with renewed beauty.”

Robin has learned to make moccasins and cradle boards as well as how to do other methods of beading, including the one-string method, peyote stitch and loom beading.

“I typically don’t sell my beadwork,” Robin says. “I bead mostly for my family. A few times I’ve beaded regalia pieces for others in a trade.”