Rowdy Barry featured at gallery reception

Bullfighter Rowdy Barry will ride into Sisters Rodeo a few days early this year to attend an artist reception of his paintings on Thursday, June 12.

Barry was chosen to paint the annual Sisters Rodeo poster, which shows the view of a 2,000-pound bull Barry sees when he is protecting a thrown rider. "The poster has some action," said Barry. "Bulls are something I know very well and I get to see them up a little closer than a lot of people."

At age 41, Barry has been fighting bulls more than half his life. However, his painting career began as a young boy when his mother gave him a paintbrush to keep him busy during snowy winters. A few years ago he began sculpting. In keeping with his rodeo and ranch lifestyle, the subjects for his art are usually horses and bulls.

Barry has worked as a bullfighter at the Sisters Rodeo for about 20 years, so the Sisters Rodeo Association thought he was a natural to paint the annual poster.

"Barry has a sense of adventure in the ring and with his paint brush," said Bonnie Malone, Sisters Rodeo Association Board Member. "I loved the colors in the poster and his unique perspective."

"Barry is one of the most well-recognized bullfighters in professional rodeo. And he's becoming quite a collected cowboy artist too," added Malone.

Barry's original paintings will be shown at High Desert Gallery June 1-15. A special Artist in Attendance reception will be held on Thursday, June 12, 5 to 8:30 p.m. High Desert Gallery is located at 281 W. Cascade Ave.