Book Released at the Great Western Art Show
By Brad Reynolds
This year marks an important milestone in the legacy of Jay Contway. In 2024, the final Jay Contway bronze trophy will be awarded at the Calgary Stampede. To commemorate the occasion, Lynn Contway, wife of the late artist, has published a book detailing Jay’s forty years of contributions to one of the world’s largest rodeo gatherings.
“After I married Jay, I began to realize that he had done something unique,” Lynn explains. Since 1988, Jay had competed in the Calgary Stampede’s Bronze Competition, a contest that determines the fifteen trophies to be awarded in the Stampede’s various rodeo events for the next five years. Despite the large pool of talent, Jay’s bronzes were selected time and time again.
After the 1997 competition (the first Lynn had experienced since their marriage in 1996), Lynn asked Jay how many of his bronzes had been madefor the Quick Draw event in Calgary. “He said, ‘Oh, about ten, I guess,’” Lynn remembers. “In truth, it was closer to twenty.”
Jay went on to produce a total of twenty-seven Quick Draw pieces—the highest number by any artist in the history of the Stampede. Additionally, Jay was awarded twenty-eight rodeo trophy commissions in thirty-six consecutive years, for a total of 219 trophy sculptures for the Calgary Stampede.
“Jay didn’t pay attention to his own contributions,” explains Lynn. “He liked the work; he didn’t recognize what he was accomplishing.” It became apparent to Lynn that if Jay’s legacy was to be preserved, it would be her responsibility to preserve it. She began gathering information on Jay’s Stampede bronzes, the subjects they were modeled after, and the rodeo contestants who took the prizes home. Jay, who was well known for his storytelling, was instrumental in contributing to Lynn’s research until his passing in 2019.
At the Great Western Art Show in Great Falls, Lynn will unveil the product of their efforts. “This book is a historical record of one man’s contribution to the art of rodeo,” Lynn explains.
Jay Contway: The Artist, The Cowboy, His Legacy at the Calgary Stampede is roughly 140 pages of text and images, detailing the stories behind each of Jay’s twenty-eight Stampede bronzes.
Visitors to the Great Western Art Show will be among the first readers to purchase the book ($50.00 American, $60.00 Canadian) and can even get their copy signed by the author.
In addition to the book, a number of Jay’s incredible artworks will be for sale at the show—perhaps the topic of a future publication.
“The Stampede bronzes represent forty years of work, but are only 4% of what Jay produced in his lifetime,” says Lynn. “I’m going to keep on writing.”
As anyone who knew the man can attest, the story of Jay Contway is too large for one book.
The Jay Contway Art Show, under the umbrella of the Great Western Art Show, is March 14-17 at the Montana ExpoPark in Great Falls.