Ivan McClellan - A New Look at the Old West

Jul 17, 2020

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Ivan McClellan is a professional photographer and the creator of the Eight Seconds Project, a storytelling project with the goal of extending the cowboy icon to include people of color. Ivan started the project back in 2015, after a series of chance encounters led him to an all-black rodeo in Oklahoma. Over the course of photographing the event, he became enamored with the black cowboy way of life and obsessed with documenting this unique subculture. In the years since, the Eight Seconds Project has garnered the attention of iconic western brands such as Stetson and Wrangler, and Ivan's work has helped to tell the story of black cowboys to a nationwide, mainstream audience.

A Kansas City native, Ivan grew up in a tough neighborhood were gangs and violence were the norm. Just after high school, he headed east to New York City, where he studied and worked in the arts for many years. A career transition into the advertising business led him to Portland, where he currently lives with his wife and two children. Ivan juggles many commitments—family, a career in advertising, and his photography projects—but through hard work, mindfulness, and obsession, he somehow manages to keep all the balls in the air and continues to evolve as an artist and storyteller.

Ivan and I connected via the internet for a wide-ranging and enlightening conversation. We started out talking about the genesis of the Eight Seconds Project and how a random conversation at a party started the entire project. We talk about Black Cowboy culture, how he came to learn about the community's deep roots and its ties to the history of the United States and the West. Ivan shares some thoughts on the importance of having creative control over projects, and how hard work, year after year, allowed him to find his true voice as a storyteller. We also chat about mindfulness and how mindfulness practice has improved Ivan's life and creative output. As usual, we discuss favorite books, films, and Ivan offers some timely words of wisdom.

I loved this conversation, and I felt like it got better and better with each minute. Be sure to check out the episode notes for all of the subjects we covered and links to everything discussed. Hope you enjoy!

--- LINKS:

Eight Seconds Project
Ivan on Instagram
NEWSLETTER: Good News from the American West
Full episode notes: https://mountainandprairie.com/ivan-mcclellan/

--- TOPICS DISCUSSED:

4:30 - Background of the Eight Second Project
7:00 - Ivan’s first black rodeo in Oklahoma
9:30 - Publishing his first black rodeo images
11:00 - Working with big brands
15:00 - Ivan’s decision to self-fund the Eight Seconds Project
16:30 - Treating photography as sacred
18:30 - The long road toward creative freedom
23:00 - Ability to pivot into other creative niches
25:00 - Process of becoming a pro photographer
27:30 - Ivan describes his work and process
32:00 - History of Black Rodeo in Oklahoma
35:00 - Why more black riders aren’t in the PBR
39:00 - Shifting into a more equitable “new normal” in rodeo
41:00 - Dealing with the frustration of shifting perspectives
43:30 - Growing up in Kansas City
45:00 - Discovering the need for mindfulness
47:30 - Family’s role in mindfulness
49:00 - Details on Ivan’s meditation practice
52:00 - Mindfulness’s effects on Ivan’s creativity
56:00 - Lessons learned from rodeo riders
59:00 - Favorite books
1:00:30 - Favorite films
1:02:30 - Craziest thing Ivan’s every seen at a rodeo
1:04:30 - Parting words of wisdom

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