Keith Gertsch
Dublin Core
Title
Keith Gertsch
Subject
Artist; Occupational; Saddle
Description
Profile of artist Keith Gertsch
Person Item Type Metadata
Birth Date
1953
Occupation
Carpenter and Saddle Tree Maker
Biographical Text
Keith Gertsch was born in Midway and raised around cattle and horses. A carpenter by trade, he decided to quit commuting and work at home, using his skills to make horse gear. For several years he built rawhide covered wooden stirrups before switching to building custom saddle trees.
Primarily self-taught, Keith learned by talking with other tree makers and by trying to meet the challenge of building exactly what custom saddle makers needed. Using hand-selected lumber and hides, he works closely with his clients to produce trees with precise design and dimensions. Keith carves each piece of wood, making sure it fits smoothly against the other pieces and then covers the frame with a uniformly stretched rawhide creating a strong, yet light, foundation for every saddle.
Primarily self-taught, Keith learned by talking with other tree makers and by trying to meet the challenge of building exactly what custom saddle makers needed. Using hand-selected lumber and hides, he works closely with his clients to produce trees with precise design and dimensions. Keith carves each piece of wood, making sure it fits smoothly against the other pieces and then covers the frame with a uniformly stretched rawhide creating a strong, yet light, foundation for every saddle.
Collection
Citation
“Keith Gertsch,” Utah Folk Arts, accessed May 3, 2024, https://utahfolkarts.omeka.net/items/show/221.