The Southern Ute Museum (SUM) is proud to announce the opening of the Riders of the West: Portraits of Indian Rodeo. This exhibit will be in the temporary gallery. This is the first time this exhibit has been displayed in its entirety, with new objects and artifacts loaned to the museum.

An opening reception will be held on Friday, Feb. 23 from 5-7 p.m. Admission is free. Hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be served.

Riders of the West features an intimate look into Indian Rodeo through the lens of photographer Linda MacCannell. The exhibit features 60 black and white photographs documenting Indian Rodeo from Arizona to New Mexico to Alberta, Canada. This exhibit is based on the book of the same title, written by Peter Iverson. The Southern Ute Museum is honored to bring this book to life with a one-year exhibit running from February 23, 2018 to February of 2019.

Cheyenne Caraway and Jed Smith are the Exhibit Preparators at the SUM. From beginning to end, the installation took seven and half weeks to complete. This exhibit gives our visitors an in-depth look at Indian Rodeo, they explained. Adding that, the gallery space is perfect for this particular exhibit to create a dramatic experience. It’s an accurate representation of early Indian Rodeo, which laid the foundation of what it has become today.

The Southern Ute Museum is operated by the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. The SUM was established in 1971 to preserve and promote Ute culture, and continues its mission in a new modern facility.

The Southern Ute Museum honors and recognizes Colorado’s longest continuous residents through symbolic architecture and seasonal relevance. From the outdoor arbor, to audio-visual presentations, and life-size replicas, a visit to the Southern Ute Museum offers an array of exhibits for the whole family. The museum is open seven days a week.