Lexington
I was recently invited by Cross Gate Gallery to be an artist in residence at Keeneland Racetrack in Lexington,Kentucky. Jewel-toned jockey silks decorated with diamonds and stripes flashed past spectators of competing costumes and fancy derby hats. Though the spring races brought many bidders, I preferred to watch the 5:00am morning track workouts. Gigantic thoroughbreds walking and trotting the dark track with a cloud of warm air rising from their nostrils. I found the stables and the tenderness of the groomers to be my main source of inspiration; the hands behind the winning horse. In contrast, there is also a childhood innocence to drawing horses; a whimsy, a fantasy, a story of rainbows and sunny skies. I wanted to capture both of these narratives in my Lexington series. For those who have never been to Lexington, you will be surprised to find that white fences have been replaced by black curved fencing, red barns now a rich chocolate brown. These two equestrian symbols stand out against the spring greens and rolling pastureland.
