Vacation slideshows can be hit-and-miss affairs, but some are unquestioningly more compelling than others. Lisa and Loren Skyhorses, for example, is of standing-room-only quality.
The Durango saddle makers and artisans of all-things leather went east last month way east to the Altai Mountains of Siberia to share their skills with the locals. It is the third time theyve gone to Asia for a cultural exchange; the first two trips were to Mongolia. Apparently, people in the village of Kupchagen, population 300, were happy to have visitors.
We thought thered be about 12 people in the leatherworking workshop, and it turned out to be more than 50, Lisa Skyhorse said from her Lake Durango home and shop where she and Loren create their nationally renowned saddles and accoutrements. Some of the attendees traveled as long as two days from the Tuva Republic to participate in the workshops.
The Skyhorses will share what they taught and what they learned tonight at Toh-Atin Gallery, where their work is regularly featured. They brought two special guests back with them. Chagat Almashev, their guide and interpreter, is one of the heads of the exchange project, which is jointly funded by USAID and the Foundation for Sustainable Development of Altai (www.FSDA.ru). Seremei Kunanakov is a kindred spirit, a master saddle maker and metal worker from Kupchagen who has never traveled outside his country before this trip.
Hes never been as far as Moscow, so its very fun to have him here, Lisa Skyhorse said. Hes a delightful human we dont speak the same language but its been a fantastic exchange.
It wasnt the only first for the locals. The workshops were held at the village school, so the students got involved as well.
A few days later, the principal was so glad we were there. We were the first Americans the students ever met, so that was a marvelous cultural exchange as well, Skyhorse said.
Thanks to the sponsoring organizations, Skyhorse said the couples annual trips to Asia are adequately funded, and theyre able to hold events such as tonights presentation at no charge and with no pressure on the attendees.
Its so nice to just have an event thats not a fundraiser, she said. Its just a great chance to meet these two wonderful men and hear about their incredible home.
ted@durangoherald.com
If you go
Lisa and Loren Skyhorse, Seremei Kunanakov and Chagat Almashev will give a free slideshow and lecture on their leatherworking and saddle-making cultural exchange at 7 p.m. today at Toh-Atin Gallery, 145 W. Ninth St. For more information, call 247-8277 or visit www.toh-atin.com.
