Hard Twist exhibition

Hard Twist: Western Ranch Women: Photographs by Barbara Van Cleve

January 13 - April 24, 2005

The Western expression "Hard Twist" refers to the old-time Manila hemp, tightly twisted lariat rope - hard twisted. The term also refers to a small, compact, physically strong person with resilience, rather like rawhide, which expands and stretches when wet or shrinks and tightens up when dry, but almost never breaks.

The ranch women in the Photographs of Barbara van Cleve are the embodiment of "Hard Twist" -- tough and resilient, but above all an integral part of ranch life. They are the cowhands of yesteryear and the women of modern times intertwined to achieve a new fortitude. Van Cleve captures this strength with stunning beauty and simplicity in the more than 61 black and white photographs on display at the RMWA from January 13 to April 24, 2004.

Van Cleve's own heritage is rich with firsthand experience of the cowgirl life. She grew up on her family's ranch, the Lazy K Bar, founded in 1880 in the Crazy Mountains of Montana. Her parents gave her a camera and home developing kit when she was 11. since that time her passion has led her to become a well recognized American photographer collected publicly in the United States and Internationally.