Artist Ride 2011 Successfully Blazes New Trails

The first Artist Ride ever held east of the Mississippi River began with a warm morning sun rising over Menomonee Falls and gently falling onto a Native American tipi.

Models covering multiple cultural and historical time periods all united in one location at historical for the Wisconsin Living History Artist Ride Photoshoot on Saturday and Sunday.

Artist Rides have been conducted throughout the western United States, but this one was located here in Wisconsin to help emphasize historical scenes that from in the upper Midwest.

The original Artist Rides began as an actual ride on horseback and by chuck wagon. Typically today, it is a location that all the participants converge on for a weekend of inspiration. Artists and photographers join in with the models to create historical depictions of life in the 1700’s to the early 1900’s. These scenes are then photographed and later turned into fine art images, paintings, drawings, and even sculptures.

Along with a participation fee that supports the Old Falls Village Historical Society, there was a tipping incentive for the models. All models were paid through tips by the shooters to encourage new outfits and scenes to be photographed. The more scenes and or characters the models can create, the more they can potentially earn.

The uniqueness of an Artist Ride versus a historical reenactment event is that the scenes created cannot be done at a reenactment for a variety of logistical reasons. Reenactments are generally set up as a public educational model and not as a commercial photoshoot set. All models sign model releases so the photographers and artists can sell their work with the models permission. The event is scheduled for photographing and video filming only.

Native American Lakota Indians, mountain men, fur trappers, cowboys and prairie settlers were among the professional models that attended. Watch for more information for next year’s Artist Ride as it develops.

More information can be found at