Untold Cowboy

Written by Evelyn Logan

Photographed by Kalina Lashkova

Even a month later, I remember being absolutely spellbound walking into the Untold Cowboy event. On August 27th, the Untold Cowboy Collective put on an incredible one night only event that was simultaneously an exhibition, magazine launch, video premiere, and community gathering. Strongest in my memory is the awe I felt being surrounded by such amazing work and such passionate people.

"We are breaking the mold, we are reimagining, we are creating our own table." These words came from Megan George, the executive producer of the project and founder of Menelik Media, during the opening remarks at the beginning of the event. George's words as well as those of Atewenna:ron David Dearhouse, a member of Kanien'keha:ka and contributor to the project, set the tone for the night. Untold Cowboy isn't just a platform to showcase the work of talented artists, it's first and foremost a place to share the stories of those most often overlooked and overshadowed in white histories. Attending that event and being surrounded by people who also sought to affirm Black and Indigenous heritage and culture felt very special.

I know that I felt so special that night because Untold Cowboy is special. I was first exposed to the project when I saw an initial editorial shoot on the cover of Suko Magazine Volume 3. I was so drawn to this cover, the sculptural hair, the cool outfits, the Black models; everything about it drew me in. So when I heard about this event and the expansion of this project I was so thrilled, and the team didn't disappoint. From that initial editorial in Suko Magazine, Untold Cowboy eventually yielded a video and a print magazine, filled with images, research, and more. In all, the project came together with the hard work of over 15 collaborators, from graphic designers to stylists to photographers. More than just collaborators, the Untold Cowboy Collective was able to tell a story that spoke to everyone present that night. It was this story, of an unsung piece of Black and Indigenous history that brought us all together that night.

Everyone in attendance got the memo: all outfits were cowboy inspired, western influenced, with undertones of that specific Montreal touch. Everywhere I looked I saw attendees clad in leather, studded denim, camo, and draped fabrics talking, bobbing their heads to the music, and appreciating the work on display. Every time I turned my head I saw a new aspect of the project. When you first walked into the space, life size portraits hung on the walls while screens played short previews of the director's cut short film that was showing in the larger viewing room. Hanging from the ceilings in the gallery was the work of the project's founder and director Oliver Suri-Cernacek (@o___sc), who I had the pleasure of speaking to for a moment during the night.

Suri-Cernacek's work is unique, it was inspired by the outfits of real Black and Indigenous cowboys like Nathaniel Youngblood and Jack Alex. When I asked Suri-Cernacek about his process, he mentioned how proud he was that his work was largely a product of "upcycling and repurposing different elements from other garments." Much like Untold Cowboy itself, Suri-Cernacek's process involves reclamation. While he completed all his designs by himself, he made sure that I knew Untold Cowboy was not a one man show. "Teamwork makes the dream work," he said when I asked how the project was completed. "This project just could not have happened without the many talented people that came together to see it through, most notably the project's director Allan Lambert," he added.

"How is this project personal?" I asked. I had spent the moments leading up to the interview watching Suri-Cernacek interact with friends and family who came to support him and examining the clothes he designed that filled the space. I saw the community that surrounded him and saw the care and detail he imbued into each design, but I wanted to know why this project, why this story was the one he decided to tell. In response, he told me that he was a 2nd generation immigrant who too felt extremely distrustful of colonial narratives. He was just about to tell me more about how he infused aspects of his heritage into his designs when a friend came up to him. "Look at all the people you attract," that friend said.

In a nutshell, that's what made the night so special. Untold Cowboy is a magnificent project that so artfully brings to light a part of history that's often glossed over and forgotten. This event, though, brought together a community that wanted to remember, honor, and cherish the stories of Black and Indigenous people that night and for many more to come. And that isn't something that I'll soon forget.

To follow the Untold Cowboy Collective in future projects, follow them on Instagram: @untold_cowboy.