July 18-27, 2025
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Join us for the most up-close and personal view of the rodeo from the comfort of one of the most beautiful museums, The Lensmen Project: Cowboy Up!. Featuring the photography of Ronnie Dunn, from the highest peaks of country and western music stardom, and Ron Modra, celebrated and world-renowned Sports Illustrated photographer; this show has it all. These two men know how to capture and illustrate the passion and presence of life on an epic scale, and this show is no exception.
The Lensmen Project—from which the exhibit takes its name—is a component of a larger project: an assembly of the world’s most elite photographers, spearheaded by Ronnie Dunn. Each of these photographers carry their own style, presence, and eye for detail. For 2018, the Museum is proud to feature an exhibit on the works of Ronnie Dunn and Ron Modra, which is the first Museum presentation for the project and will bring you, the visitor, as close up and personal as you can come to the most exhilarating moments in rodeo today.
In 2017, these photographers came to Cheyenne Frontier Days to experience the sensation and excitement of the “Daddy of ‘Em All,” and the Daddy didn’t disappoint! Riding the thrills, chills, and spills of the hottest action in rodeo from the famous CFD Press Bunker, these daring artists reached out and seized the power and beauty of the best buckers. You are involved, right in the middle of the dust and the dirt,” Ronnie Dunn said, “[The action] comes right to you in Cheyenne.” Ron Modra added, “It’s the most exciting event I’ve ever been associated with.” Captured in a series of photographs exquisitely rendered in true to life form, there is perhaps no finer look into the soul of rodeo action. Ronnie Dunn put it best when he said, “If a shot’s not exciting, you aren’t close enough!”
The exhibit opens February 9, 2018 and will remain on display until February 10, 2019. It is included in regular Museum admission.