The cows of Chicago started it all in this media market.
The latest effort to place animals around a town will be this summer in Woodstock when the Richmond-based Main Stay Therapeutic Riding Program plans carousel horses around the Square.
This fund raiser won’t work without sponsors for the horses and artists to turn them from stark white to something to look at and compare. The following press release is a “help wanted” ad for local artists:
Attention Artists: We invite you to submit designs for this juried exhibition.
“Horses of a Different Color”
Woodstock, Illinois – Summer 2009
A city-wide outdoor exhibition of painted fiberglass carousel horses measuring 5’ x 5’ is being sponsored by Main Stay Therapeutic Riding Program, Inc., in cooperation with the City of Woodstock, Illinois. The purpose of this show is to raise both funds and awareness for the Main Stay program.
For more than twenty years Main Stay Therapeutic Riding Program has offered equine related therapies that have helped people with physical, developmental, social and emotional disabilities.
We hope these beautiful, unique carousel horses will help enlighten and educate all who visit the Woodstock exhibition of the exciting work Main Stay provides. Our program uses horses differently than most people perceive – making them “horses of a different color” in their own right.
An auction of the painted horses will be held at the close of the “Horses of a Different Color” Exhibition. Proceeds from the auction will be used toward the planned expansion of the Main Stay facilities and programs.
Artists 18 years or older may submit one to three designs. Each fiberglass carousel horse measures 5’ x 5’ and weighs approximately 75 pounds. For stability, horses will be mounted to a secure base adding significantly to the weight of the sculpture.
A stipend of $1,000 will be awarded to each accepted artist. This will cover the cost of materials and the execution of design. The rights to the accepted designs will be maintained by Main Stay. Cash prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place, Artistic Merit and Honorable Mentions. As an addition to this memorable event exhibit coordinators are considering creating a calendar of the carousel horses.
Designs:
Artists are welcome to submit designs that add to or alter the original fiberglass structure, although it is very important to consider the outdoor location of the artwork. If your design is significantly different from the right side to the left side of your horse please submit a design of both sides. Artists should use materials that can easily withstand weather and possible vandalism. Please be prepared to touch up and possibly repair your piece of artwork before the auction. A list of artist materials is available below.
The Main Stay Committee is making arrangements for a large heated studio space in Woodstock where the carousel horses will be “stabled” for painting and or decorating. Accepted artists are encouraged to travel to Woodstock to paint their horses. The studio space will be available from March 15 – May 1st.
Calendar:
- Application deadline February 15, 2009
- Notification to artists March 1st, 2009
- Painting begins March 15th thru May 1st, 2009
- Show dates June 3rd – September 7th, 2009
- Auction and Gala Event – TBA (each artist will be given 2 tickets to the gala event)
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The flag painted cow is located in front of a hotel south of Midway Airport. My family thought I was nuts to get off the bus and take a picture of it.