Two art exhibits currently on view showcase the area’s most popular animal at this time of year — the horse.
“An Equine Jubilee! Celebrating the Horse in Art” continues through Oct. 16 in the Arts Castle, 190 W. Winter St. The exhibit consists of 87 works of art from 50 artists across the United States (13 from Ohio) and Canada. Three of the works are sculptures, the rest are paintings, drawings or photos.
A reception with 10 of the artists will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12.
“Wild Horses — Capturing the Spirit of an American Icon” continues through Oct. 24 down the road at the Arts Castle’s satellite location Gallery 22, 22 E. Winter. These works by three artists represent populations of wild horses throughout the country.
“It’s an exciting opportunity to have a tandem show to share with a county that has such a large number of horse lovers,” said Paula Blosser, exhibits coordinator. “It’s nice to have it here in central Ohio and have it tie-in with the All American Quarter Horse Congress (Oct. 1-25 at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus) and the Little Brown Jug.”
The exhibits are similar in quality to what is shown regularly at the Kentucky Horse Park and other national exhibits, Blosser said.
“There are many who come in who just love horses,” Blosser said. “There’s a lot of foot traffic from people who have never been to the Arts Castle happen upon the exhibit and are very excited to see the amount of beautiful work. It’s a very extensive show.”
Horses were one of the first things prehistoric man painted in caves, and it remains a popular subject for modern artists.
“It’s a creature of such beauty and elegance as it moves, the nurturing between a mother and foal, running around in the pasture,” Blosser said.
Local artist Patricia Getha is credited with starting the jubilee, and this is the third year for it, Blosser said.
For hours and more information, visit www.artscastle.org/equine_jubilee/ or www.facebook.com/theartscastle or www.gallery22.net or call 740-369-2787.
