FEATURING: Eric Hannig, Justine Nelson-Graham, Tony Pedrini, Bryce Williams.

Roundtable discussion with contemporary gearmakers Eric Hannig (leatherworking), Justine Nelson-Graham (rawhide braiding/leatherworking/saddlemaking), Tony Pedrini (leatherworking), and Bryce Williams (saddlemaking). Listen in as they talk shop, talk trends, and talk tradition. And whatever other topics arise! Q&A at the end of the session.

Hosted by Ian Hallagan.

From the "Big Skies, New Visions" event during the 2022 Wild Ride.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Eric Hannig
Wheatland, WY
Eric Hannig first got involved in leather work at just nine years old, after walking into a Tandy Leather shop with his aunt in Cheyenne, Wyoming. From this early start in the craft, he continues the tradition of fine leather carving and craftsmanship. Drawing inspiration from the Visalia carving of greats like Bill Maloy, Eric blends a multitude of leather carving styles to create something truly unique. Now based in Wheatland, Eric builds everything from saddles and gun holsters to travel bags and iPhone cases.

Justine Nelson-Graham
Weston, WY
Born in the Magic Valley of southern Idaho, Justine built her first bridle at age seven, using green yarn. Her sister’s stick horse wears it proudly to this day. Practicing diverse crafts from leatherworking to rawhide braiding to saddlemaking, Justine has worked with the likes of Doug Groves and members of the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association. Justine and her husband live and work on a cattle ranch north of Gillette, Wyoming, where she splits her time between the outside ranch work and her leather and rawhide shop.

Tony Pedrini
Spring Creek, NV
Tony has been around leatherwork all his life, as the son of well-known saddlemaker Pedro Pedrini. Tony does custom handmade leatherwork, while also being a full-time welder. He grew up in Loma Rica, California, worked at Hamley’s saddle shop in Pendleton, Oregon, and is currently based in Spring Creek, Nevada.

Bryce Williams
Malta, ID
Bryce Williams of Williams Saddle & Tack, LLC, knows first hand the challenges a working cowboy faces of owning quality gear. For the past 11 years, he has been striving to produce high quality saddles and horse gear for the working man and the collector all while filling a hole he saw in the industry. Bryce began building and repairing saddles while working on ranches in Southern Idaho. Bryce was granted the opportunity to complete a saddle making apprenticeship in 2017 and opened his own storefront in 2021 located in Southern Idaho. He is most active on his Instagram account where you can follow daily life as a saddlemaker and overall leatherworker, along with educational videos on proper leather care and debunking industry myths.

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Filmed in front of a live audience at the Western Folklife Center's G Three Bar Theater in Elko, NV, on Apr. 2, 2022.

Made possible by the NV Energy Foundation, Nevada Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, Nevada Humanities, National Endowment for the Humanities, and by the multitude of staff, artists, volunteers, and community members working behind the scenes to make this show happen.

Brought to you by the Western Folklife Center, using story and cultural expression to connect the American West to the world.
www.westernfolklife.org

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