| When Guy Weadick came up with the notion to hold a rodeo 94 years ago, there's no way he could've predicted the 10 days of Stetson's, drunkenness and divorce-inspiring poor decisions that the Calgary Stampede has become. The civic pride that surrounds the event is remarkable, and there's no questioning the event's formidable economic force, even in this current boom of oil and dollars. But it's little secret that some Calgarians don't exactly jump on the proverbial chuckwagon. Some skip town or hide in their apartments and houses, but most voice their distaste over pints at local watering holes or in the coffee room at the office and leave it at that.
Tyler Seminuk of Pistolero Designs, however, has a theory. "The thing about Stampede is that everyone's into it but no one wants to admit it." It's a statement that probably holds some water. Much of that "Stoopede" talk takes place between gorging at pancake breakfasts and early afternoon drinks "networking" at some corporate party. Seminuk and Jarrod Banadyga are putting their money where so many of our mouths are. "I think the way that Calgary is, a lot of people take the piss out of a lot of things, but are they willing to print it on a shirt and sell it?" asks Seminuk. Point well taken.
Pistolero Designs is the brainchild of the Banadyga, but both partners are unabashed Stampede supporters. They also recognize that after nearly a century of the rodeo, it's about damn time someone had fun with it. So the duo has come up with 12 different T-Shirt designs that offer a sometimes gentle, sometimes bludgeoning take on the Stampede experience. With slogans ranging from "Straight Outta Conklin" to a bag of mini donuts accompanied by the all too famous 'I wish I knew how to quit you,’ the T-Shirts not only offer a good conversation starter, but also articulate the mixed feelings Stampede evokes in so many.
"Back when I was a 'howdy folk,' 10 years ago, I used to see these Brooklyn kids on busses come in, and when they would leave and all be wearing the 1970's design - the classic design that (the Stampede) always uses. That was probably the first inclination that there was a chance to do something cooler," recounts Banadyga. "And I was so obsessed with the Conklin logo and shirt, I offered to pay carnies for their shirts and they wouldn't sell them because they could get fired for it."
Taking this enthusiasm for Stampede - and the Conklin logo - and coupling it with a healthy dose of wit, Banadyga and Seminuk solidified their ideas and passed them off to designer Mike Meadus, who put together the artwork. ("Mike brings us the good shit - he makes everything look great," says Seminuk laughing.) The results of the collaboration are on display and on sale at Broken City's patio for the duration of the Stampede, as well as on their website — www.pistolerodesigns.com - and their myspace page, cheekily put together by Jeannette Sullivan (Young Canadians background? Check! Reference to obscure ride no longer in use? Check! Superdogs? Check!)
Pistolero Designs, while offering a witty form of acceptance of Stampede to many of those people who are afraid to admit it, is also indicative of a trend toward micro-design firms. More and more, people are taking what might have initially been a drunken conversation and turning it into something well designed, printing a relatively small quantity and then abandoning it for the next idea - an attractive commodity in an age of sneaker fetish shopping and people paying big money for tees on eBay based solely on their loyalty to the designer. And though the initial focus is on the 10 days of cowpokes, Pistolero's no different. "We have a lot of (non-Stampede) ideas that are pretty fun, so we're going to look at those after Stampede," says Banadyga.
While much of Pistolero Designs was born of true Grandstand/midway/fireworks faithfulness, they also stem from the always ripe-for-comedy mines of double entendres, carnies and yes, Brokeback Mountain. Perhaps it's yet another sign that Calgary might finally be coming of age. When there's a large enough population to support a shirt that is proudly emblazoned with the slogan "Young Canadian Reject" maybe we can all breathe a bit easier that that at least a certain portion of the city has gained a sense of perspective on the Greatest Outdoor (shit)Show on Earth. |
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