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Art & PhotographySusan Stickle to Be Official Photographer at World Dressage Masters Palm Beach Photos: Susan J. Stickle Photos Wellington, FL – December 23, 2011 – Award-winning equestrian photographer Susan Stickle will be the official photographer at the 2012 World Dressage Masters Palm Beach presented by International Polo Club Palm Beach, which will take place at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center on January 26th to 28th 2012. Stickle, who has photographed the world’s top horses and riders at such events as the Olympics, World Equestrian Games and World Cup Finals, was also the official photographer for the 2011 WDM Palm Beach. Her images have appeared in virtually every major equestrian publication in the English speaking world. “I’m very flattered to be back to the WDM again this year,” says Stickle. “Shooting the likes of Ravel and Totilas, and the many other top international horses that are coming to Florida to compete, is a great honor.” The 2012 WDM Palm Beach will feature a much-anticipated show-down between the defending 2011 WDM Palm Beach Champion, Steffen Peters of the US on Akiko Yamazaki’s Ravel, and the current world-record holding World Champion Totilas with his new rider, Germany’s Matthias Rath. In addition to Totilas and Ravel, a total of 20 of the world’s top horses from across North America and Europe will compete for the biggest purse in North American dressage, €100,000 (US $130,000). The highlight of the WDM Palm Beach will be the Grand Prix Freestyle on the evening of January 28th, where the top eight pairs from the Grand Prix test the previous day will perform their custom-choreographed musical programs. 2011 Capital Challenge Horse Show Reveals Annual Program Artwork by Michael Tang Cover artwork by Michael Tang courtesy of the Capital Challenge Horse Show. Upper Marlboro, MD – September 19, 2011 – The 2011 Capital Challenge Horse Show will run from October 1-9 at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center. Every year, the show’s program and official poster feature new artwork by Michael Tang. Creating the original watercolor for the annual Capital Challenge is always a challenge for Father Michael Tang. One might think that creating a photo-realist image of a horse and rider is as simple as copying a photo, but in reality, the photo is only the beginning. This year’s poster of Scott Stewart and Declaration gave Tang many things to consider. It is natural to assume that a stunning photo of a fabulous hunter could easily be recreated as a painting, but the fact is that in addition to assessing the horse and rider, Tang becomes instantly aware of everything else that goes into creating a spectacular piece of art: lighting, background, and the simple details that render emotion. When Tang begins his work he studies the photo for what he will need to alter in order to create the painting. First, changes often need to be made to finesse a horse’s jumping style; knees might need to be made tighter or squared up. Next, the rider’s equitation might need to be tweaked or garb replaced. Tang explains, “As someone who is a traditionalist (I still wear my Charles Owen when hacking at the barn), I always replace the helmet with a classically styled hunt cap.” In addition to the rider’s gear, the horse’s tack might need some work as well; for example, an elastic girth with fleece might need to be changed to one of proper leather. Equine Therapy: The Horse Exhibit, by Claire DorotikWhile the relationship between horses and humans is one of public fascination and private intrigue, it is also something that evades easy description. Although many have tried to put words to the magical connection that can occur between an equine and his human, sometimes words are not enough. And for this reason, we often look to exhibits such as “The Horse” produced in partnership by the The Kentucky Horse Park’s International Museum of the Horse, and the American Museum of Natural History. For those interested in experiencing a visual depiction of horse and human collaboration, this exhibit is not to be missed. Here is the official press release: Prestigious American Museum of Natural History Sends Its Blockbuster Exhibition to the International Museum of the Horse  Terra-cotta horse from Tamil Nadu, India. Photo © AMNH/D. Finnin LEXINGTON, Ky. (August 29, 2011) – The Kentucky Horse Park’s International Museum of the Horse (IMH), in collaboration with the American Museum of Natural History, announced today that it will host the exhibition, The Horse, from October 22, 2011, through April 6, 2012. The IMH is a major lender to the exhibition. “We are thrilled to be able to bring this world-class exhibition to Kentucky,” said Bill Cooke, director of the Kentucky Horse Park’s International Museum of the Horse. “The American Museum of Natural History is truly one of the world’s great natural history museums, and they did a masterful job in developing an exhibition that not only illuminates the timeless union between humans and horses, but does so in an amazingly entertaining way. We are excited that this will be our first blockbuster-level exhibition while schools are in session. I have no doubt that both teachers and their students will love The Horse.” WHINNY Awards to Honor Horsewoman Elizabeth Shatner
The WHINNY awards are designed to shine the light on people who are using their high visibility to save and protect horses and to promote the horse industry through charitable efforts. Elizabeth Shatner, wife of actor William Shatner, does just that. Born with a love of horses, Elizabeth started riding at the age of five. At the tender age of eight, she got her first horse, a Galiceno pony. By 14, she was teaching horseback riding and participating in young judging competitions with the Indiana Arabian Club, winning several national honors and a scholarship. As a part of the scholarship, she was able to attend a USEF judging clinic. It was during her time as a youth judge that she began to see the beauty of art in nature. She attended Purdue University studying equine and animal science and Butler University in Telecommunications. She eventually became a professional horse trainer. A photo safari trip with her husband in Israel was the spark that ignited her passion for art with photography launching her in another career. She calls her art Flowrosophy, using the nature’s shapes and colors to create pieces that heal the spirit and arouse introspection. Moving back to her love of horses Elizabeth recently unveiled as part of her “Elizabeth Shatner Art by Nature” series the “Unbridled Collection”, a series of digitally painted photographs of horses she has encountered all around the world focusing on Kentucky and the role horses have played in history and their influence on culture. Elizabeth celebrates these “horses in service” by donating portions of the proceeds from the sale of her artwork to equine-related charities. The Horse: Acclaimed Exhibition Coming to the Kentucky Horse ParkPrestigious American Museum of Natural History Sends Its Blockbuster Exhibition to the International Museum of the Horse  Terra-cotta horse from Tamil Nadu, India. Photo © AMNH/D. Finnin LEXINGTON, Ky. (August 29, 2011) – The Kentucky Horse Park’s International Museum of the Horse (IMH), in collaboration with the American Museum of Natural History, announced today that it will host the exhibition, The Horse, from October 22, 2011, through April 6, 2012. The IMH is a major lender to the exhibition. “We are thrilled to be able to bring this world-class exhibition to Kentucky,” said Bill Cooke, director of the Kentucky Horse Park’s International Museum of the Horse. “The American Museum of Natural History is truly one of the world’s great natural history museums, and they did a masterful job in developing an exhibition that not only illuminates the timeless union between humans and horses, but does so in an amazingly entertaining way. We are excited that this will be our first blockbuster-level exhibition while schools are in session. I have no doubt that both teachers and their students will love The Horse.” From the horse’s earliest ancestors grazing on the plains of what is now Nebraska to a magnificent contemporary Deborah Butterfield horse sculpture, the eternal bond between horses and humans is explored in the largest equestrian traveling exhibition ever assembled. The Horse graphically portrays the horse’s impact on trade, transportation, labor, warfare, culture, and sports. It showcases spectacular fossils, models, dioramas, and cultural objects from around the world, including many from the American Museum of Natural History’s world famous collections. 2011 Poster Contest Washington International Horse ShowDeadline Extended to July 31, Midnight! 
Washington, DC, June 7, 2011 – The Washington International has extended its deadline for submitting entries in the 2011 Poster Contest to July 31st at midnight. WIHS, the leading indoor equestrian event in the US, is seeking an original poster design for its 53rd annual event, to be held Oct. 25-30, 2011, at Verizon Center in Washington, DC. The six-day equine extravaganza features the country’s leading horses and riders in exciting jumping competition. The poster contest is open to U.S.-based artists, both amateur and professional, 18 years or older. A maximum of three entries per artist will be accepted. There is no entry fee. Artists submit photos (prints or digital files) of their work (not slides, not original art). The work submitted must be original and may be in any medium suitable for duplicating on posters and souvenir merchandise. Entries should be inspired by the WIHS and reflect an equestrian or horse theme. Artists also should consider the event’s longstanding ties to Washington, D.C. New Exhibition Set to Open at the Kentucky Horse Park“Ancient Bronzes of the Asian Grasslands” Will Be Presented by the Arthur M. Sackler Foundation  An ornament from Inner Mongolia, third to fifth century BCE, from the exhibition. LEXINGTON, KY (June 2, 2011) – Continuing its tradition of offering world-class exhibitions to the public, the Kentucky Horse Park’s International Museum of the Horse – a Smithsonian Affiliate – is making final preparations for its next exhibition, Ancient Bronzes of the Asian Grasslands from the Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, June 24 – Oct. 9. Ancient Bronzes of the Asian Grasslands presents a major sampling of steppe art from the collections of the late Arthur M. Sackler, M.D. Curated by Trudy S. Kawami, Ph.D., Director of Research for the Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, the exhibition presents eighty-five works illustrating the personal decorations and equipment of the horse-riding steppe dwellers of the second and first century BCE. The Eurasian grasslands, also known as the steppes, cover a region extending from northern China westward through Mongolia, to the plains of Eastern Europe. This exhibition focuses on the eastern or Asian steppes whose rolling grassy plains are punctuated by snow-topped mountain ranges like the Tien Shan (Heavenly Mountains), and deserts like the Gobi and the Taklamakan. Werner Rentsch Named the Cover Artist for the 2011 HITS Saugerties Official Show Program © Image Provided. Werner Rentsch's painting “Horse in Red Cooler” will grace the cover of the popular program for the 2011 HITS Saugerties Show Season. SAUGERTIES, NEW YORK (May 20, 2011) — HITS is pleased to announce Werner Rentsch as its cover artist for the 2011 HITS Saugerties Official Show Program. Rentsch is best known for his portraits of horses from all disciplines, including racing, show jumping, fox hunting, polo, farm and wildlife. His paintings are highly sought after by collectors around the world, and this season his piece entitled “Horse in Red Cooler” will grace the cover of the popular program that serves as a keepsake to all exhibitors that attend the horse show. The talented artist has been honored with nine one-man shows and his work has appeared in twelve different museum exhibitions and selected in more than forty juried or group shows throughout the country. His paintings and prints are widely sought after by collectors around the world. He is a full member of the American Academy of Equine Art and served as the organization’s president from 1994 through 2008. He works out of his studios in New York City and at his farm in upstate New York, where he rides his horses and gets much of his inspiration for his paintings. Call for Entries: 2011 Poster Contest Washington International Horse Show
Washington, DC, April 25, 2011 – Let the horses inspire you! The Washington International Horse Show (WIHS), the leading indoor equestrian event in the US, is seeking an original poster design for its 53rd annual event, to be held Oct. 25-30, 2011, at Verizon Center in Washington, DC. The six-day equine extravaganza features the country’s leading horses and riders in exciting jumping competition. The poster contest is open to US-based artists, both amateur and professional, 18 years or older. A maximum of three entries per artist will be accepted. There is no entry fee. The work submitted must be original and may be in any medium suitable for duplicating on posters and souvenir merchandise. The deadline for entries is 4:00 p.m., Monday, May 31, 2011. Entries should be inspired by the WIHS and reflect an equestrian or horse theme. Artists also should consider the event’s longstanding ties to Washington, DC. The winning design will be selected by a panel of judges and will be used to promote the 2011 horse show. The winning artist will receive significant publicity, 100 posters and a package of all other items produced with the winning design, four weeklong passes to the show and the option to have a vendor booth during the show. The artist retains the original artwork. Juliet Harrison Photography News
On May 7th the Local Flavor/Local Color annual Art Show at the Maplebrook School in Amenia, New York will have its Kentucky Derby inspired opening reception. As some of you already know, I started this year off by challenging myself along with a group of fellow photographers, to take a photo every day. Since it was impossible to do that and post each day in B&W, I have been exploring my world in color with my digital cameras. Green Halter (above left) and Ghosting (below right) are two of the images that have come from this challenge. They will be hung at the Maplebrook show. 6 other color images will also be available there unframed in the loose art bins. The reception is lots of fun, the artwork is always wonderful and it is open to the public. It culminates with a great live broadcast of the Derby. The party starts at 4:30 pm. Hope to see some of you there. EQUISCAPE 
I have been invited to have a Solo Show of my work at the Red Filter Fine Art Photography Gallery in Lambertville, New Jersey. The show will feature about 20 of my Equiscape images and will include brand new work as well as some classics of the series. The opening will take place on June 10th. And the work will be hanging in the gallery though July. When I have more details and a link for the show, I will send out a brief email with the info. If you would like a postcard mailed directly to you, please send me your snail-mail address. Once the show comes down, the Red Filter Gallery will continue to represent my work in the future. |
Nashville, TN – The Women’s Horse Industry Network has announced that Elizabeth Shatner has been selected as a recipient of a WHINNY award for her efforts in the horse industry.
