Western Design Conference 2026

We set up a booth at the Western Design Conference in Bozeman, Montana. 

With the intention of getting out of the Texas heat, and making some new connections with clients and colleagues, we recently took to the long road to the Western Design Conference in Bozeman, Montana.  The conference is a production collaboration with Cowboys and Indians Magazine to showcase western art and design  with a Juried exhibition, vendor booths, fashion show, panel discussions and designer showcases.  The well organized show brought together a mixture of media and approaches, all with ties to the American west, from jewelry to clothing to worn accessories to sculpture, art, painting, metalwork, furniture, installations, automotive restoration, textiles and more.

We had to roll over 200k miles on our old Toyota to do it, but we successfully ventured across this great land to reach our Montana destination.  Any road trip through the west will certainly give you time to contemplate the majesty of the varied landscapes, as well as the human achievements and conquests powered by the western spirit.   Unfortunately, we got little respite from the heat, as summer had intensified across the region.  Some of the majesty of the mountains was also significantly obscured by smoke from forest fires often prevalent in summer, these days.   Despite those facts, and the long first day, just to get out of Texas, we enjoyed some side adventures and exploring some new, regions, towns and cities.  Ultimately, the destination was Brick Breeden Field house in Bozeman, a dome used for sporting events at Montana State University.   Bozeman has undergone significant growth and discovery on the last decades, becoming recognized as an elite mountain town destination and place to be.

The Conference was in its first year in Bozeman after a 31 year run in Cody and Jackson, WY.  By Wednesday night, under the delightful leadership of Allison Merritt, an impressive feat of organization, invitation and execution made for a show primed for success.  An impressive list of vendors showed up in force with professional level installations in each booth accompanied by pedestals displaying juried pieces throughout the thoroughfares. A separate stage area accommodated the fashion show and auction for the opening night party then panel discussions scheduled throughout the weekend.  Lacking recent show experience or prior participation in the event, we came with tempered expectations and a small display of our work to accompany the Mesquite Rocking Chair entered as a juried piece.  We had a good time meeting many new fellow artisans and some design professionals.  Most rewardingly, several visitors became clients or showed interest and compliments for our work.  To close the weekend, we were able to deliver a couple of pieces to happy customers local to the event.  Several other vendors showed disappointment at the size of the crowd in attendance.  We agreed and theorized that the 2 other coinciding local festivals, new location and forest fire smoke may have limited attendance.

It is certainly our hope that the Western Design Conference left some lasting impressions in the minds of those who visited.  It did indeed impress us on many levels and perhaps it will prompt us to put ourselves out in the art/craft world more often.  If nothing else, it was a good experience meeting and seeing new people and places, and seeing what they have to offer.

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