Peter Hay Halpert Fine Art presents in conjunction with Philadelphia’s Episcopal Academy the new exhibition : The Ride of Their Lives by Jonno Rattman. These pictures was taken on assignment for The New Yorker. Rattman is a young american photographer and master printer. This show will run until 18 December 2015.
« Every year the best young cowboys and cowgirls gather in Abilene, Texas for the Youth Bull Riding World Finals. They range in age from 8 to 18 years old. The youngest ride sheep in a sport called Mutton Bustin’ and the oldest ride bulls.
The rodeo was an incongruous mix of sounds, with the howling of cows and boys, the bleats of sheep, and pep talks and one-upsmanships. Bulls snorted and slammed hard against the metal gates separating chutes as riders rosined their gloves, sounding sticky slaps of leather. Dust rose into the air and men spat soupy tobacco to the dirt floor. There was an eternity of preparation for an 8-second–or often much shorter–ride. In the stands, devotees kept careful track of scores as boys sprinted past with popcorn, oversized sodas, and hot dogs. On the arena floor below, bullfighters dressed like clowns with painted faces and oversized pants kept watch as riders leapt from the chutes on the backs of bulls.
Before the big event, kids practice on oil-barrel bulls, mechanical bulls, and the livestock that grazes in nearby pastures. They learn to ride in home-made rodeo arenas, where older generations of riders impart wisdom to make rough rides a little less so. Before every go of it—a prayer. The signs of the region became familiar to me: crosses, John Wayne and cowboy-themed everything. At night, the serenade of cicadas. »
Jonno Rattman
EXHIBITION
Rodeo
Jonno Rattman
Until December 18th, 2015
Episcopal Academy – Crawford Gallery
1785 Bishop White Drive
Newtown Square, PA 19073
USA
http://www.episcopalacademy.org/the-arts/crawford-campus-center-gallery
