The Trail of Painted Ponies

Attention-getting art got a new face…and legs…and a tail in Zurich in 1999, when local artists painted cow statues (which were subsequently auctioned for charity) for display around the city. The “cows on parade” idea was copied in New York. In Cincinnati, they substituted pigs as appropriate to their beloved Porkopolis; Buffalo artists opted for bison statues, and Columbia, Tennessee (home of the world's biggest mule auction) used “jennies.” In Santa Fe, New Mexico, the chosen animal was the horse, and the Painted Ponies project began. The Trail of Painted Ponies, narrated by Ali MacGraw, follows several of the artists as they create their equine artworks--from the sketch phase to production to saying goodbye at the auction. While some artists personify the spacey artiste stereotype, several are articulate and interesting, including Native American painter Yellowman, whose horse earned enough money for a house--literally--$45,000 for Habitat for Humanity (the grateful homeowner is shown in her new residence almost in tears thanking the artist). As one participant noted, the project promotes state motifs, gets business sponsors involved in the arts, and benefits charities publicity-wise much more than if an individual artist simply made a cash contribution. You can't argue with a win-win-win situation. Recommended for public libraries with active arts collections, and an essential purchase in New Mexico. Aud: P. (R. Reagan)