BY ELSIE WALKER
Several years ago, when my friend
JoAnn lived in New Jersey, we used
to go horse backing riding after work
on Fridays. We’d drive out to a ranch
and spend an hour (and sometimes
more) on horseback. There are many
happy and humorous memories
associated with those days (like the
time I slipped under the horse
because I was looking at a handsome
cowpoke instead of watching what
I was doing).
A few Christmases back, JoAnn,
who now lives in Missouri, sent me
a ceramic horse. However, it was not
a figurine replica of a horse you’d see
in the stable; it was an artistic masterpiece. There was symbolism and a story to be told
in the red and green apples that adorned it. The tag said it was, “Apple-oosa” and
explained that its patriotic story was of basic Americana — simple things like apple pie. I
decided to investigate further as this appeared to be one of a collectible series. Looking
online, I found a stable of gorgeous horses, adorned with artwork that drew you into them
as though each had a tale to tell. These are the horses of the Trail of Painted Ponies.
But, the Trail of Painted Ponies is more than just a collectible series. It is about art, about
business and non-profits (many of them animal charities) working together to the non-
profit’s benefit, and about the love of horses.
The Trail of Painted Ponies starts with Rod Barker. In 2000, writer Rod Barker was in
Chicago researching a book. The city had just finished “Cows on Parade” an exhibit of
life-size cow figures decorated in a whimsical way. Set-up in various areas, the purpose
of the exhibition was both economic improvement and community revitalization. The cow
was selected for its many tie-ins with the city. For example, Chicago is home of the
Chicago Bulls basketball team and Mrs. O’Leary’s cow was famous for burning early
Chicago.
Barker wanted to bring the concept of combining the arts and community revitalization to
his town of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
“But, I didn’t want to be a copy cow,” he said.
For the animal, Barber selected the horse, since it has been an integral part of history.
Barker noted that you can go back in early European history and find pictures with
horses. And of course, the horse has cut its niche into the framework of this nation, too.
While other communities were also picking up on the “cows on parade” theme using a
variety of animals, Barber wanted to differentiate Santa Fe’s project. Instead of the
whimsical look the cows had presented, he wanted to go in a different direction. A writer,
Barber wanted the art involved to tell a story. Also, unlike others which were using off the
shelf forms and decorating them, Barker wanted the lifesize “form” to be a work of art as
itself.
“I wanted a sculpture of a horse that was elegant and then have artists put their creative
signature on it,” he said.
“Original art on art,” is how Barker described his ponies.
Another important component of the project was the partnership of business and
charities. Businesses could sponsor the creation of a horse which would later be
auctioned. When auctioned, a percentage of the proceeds would go to designated
charities. A charity could take an active part by promoting its horse, maybe holding an
event associated with the horse.
While Barker’s original vision for the project had been for it to be held in Santa Fe, it
became a state-wide exhibition. The state’s tourism slogan for 2001 became: “Come to
New Mexico and Take a Trail Drive.”
Among those artists who participated in the trail drive was actress Ali McGraw. Barker
explained that McGraw is a friend of the Santa Fe animal shelters. Rather than being
approached to just lend her name and face to a fundraiser, Barker got the idea to
approach her to use her artistic talents to decorate a horse that would later be auctioned
with part of the proceeds going to her specific charity.
A second public auction of life-size horses was held in 2002, where again businesses
sponsored original art ponies which were auctioned with the majority of the proceeds
benefiting designated charities. The partnership that developed between businesses,
charities and artists created, what Barker repeatedly refers to as, “a new paradigm” both
in fundraising and promotion. One which, he said, in many cases continues to this day.
The two auctions raised $800,000 for various charities. Barker is quick to note that was
all post 9/11 donations, when most charities were seeing a downslide in giving.
“But we still had life-size Painted Ponies available for sale, and for several years after that
we continued to show and sell them, with the majority of the proceeds going to the
originally designated non-profits. This is how we worked our way up to close to a million,”
said Barker.
After the auctions, the painted ponies began blazing a new trail…in the collectible field.
“The Trail of Painted Ponies evolved into a different business model. It continued to invite
artists across the country to imaginatively transform original horse forms into glorious,
one-of-a-kind works of art. But it also entered into a licensing arrangement with a giftware
company [Westland Giftware] that had a sterling reputation for creating high-quality
reproductions of original artworks. This is how Painted Ponies figurines came about — a
collectible that has taken the collectible world by storm, said Barker.
The first Trail of Painted Ponies figurines were released in January of 2003; the same
year that Barker moved the Trail of Painted Ponies headquarters to Scottsdale, Arizona.
Counting the latest release (which was announced on June 1) 109 Painted Ponies
collectible figurines have been created. Eight new ponies are introduced every six
months on the Trail of the Painted Ponies website (www.trailofpaintedponies.com).
The “Winter Herd” is announced on Dec. 1 and the Summer Herd, along with the Holiday
Ponies, is announced June 1. Also, six ponies are retired every six months.
The ponies continue to touch artists and charities.
For the artists, it offers them something fresh. Ponies can be two or three dimensional (if
embellishment is added). Here is a new canvas and with it a new challenge.
“A creative challenge that has resulted in nothing less than a new art form,” said Barker,
who added, “I knew that the horse historically had been a source of great artistic
inspiration, but what I didn’t realize was just how versatile a canvas the horse form would
be.”
Most artists come to the attention of Trail of the Painted Ponies through its annual art
competitions or by submission of original designs (through a form on the website).
However, the company’s “paint your own pony” kit has opened up opportunities not only
for artists…but non-profits, too.
Originally conceived to appeal to young emerging artists, the kit has attracted the
attention of hobby artists and charities looking for a unique fundraiser.
“The kit contains a blank Painted Pony form, six paint pots and two paint brushes, and
encourages emerging artists to let their imaginations run wild,” said Barker.
Non-profit organizations can purchase the pony kits at a discount from the Trail of
Painted Ponies. Then the organizations can have celebrities or local artists donate their
talents and paint one-of-a-kind ponies that will not be found anywhere else. These can
be auctioned for the charity’s benefit.
“…on several occasions, [we]worked out an arrangement with a business to provide
them with one of our marble-cast Masterwork forms (standing two feet tall) and match
them with an artist who paints an original Painted Pony that is auctioned off to benefit the
charity designated by the purchaser. We did this a year-and-a-half ago with the Young
Presidents Organization. The Pony sold at auction for $25,500; one hundred percent of
which went to two charities. So we continue to be open to creative partnerships that
benefit philanthropic organizations,” added Barker.
The painted ponies move on. The
figurines are inspiring and their images,
as shown on the website, are adorning
apparel and jewelry, are written about
in books , are available as screensavers
and much more.
And, the ponies are changing the
way people look at art.
“Museums are seeing horses as a
new art form,” said Barker. “Who says
art has to be a square on the wall?”
he asked.
First Published July 2007 in The Animal Companion.
Several years ago, when my friend
JoAnn lived in New Jersey, we used
to go horse backing riding after work
on Fridays. We’d drive out to a ranch
and spend an hour (and sometimes
more) on horseback. There are many
happy and humorous memories
associated with those days (like the
time I slipped under the horse
because I was looking at a handsome
cowpoke instead of watching what
I was doing).
A few Christmases back, JoAnn,
who now lives in Missouri, sent me
a ceramic horse. However, it was not
a figurine replica of a horse you’d see
in the stable; it was an artistic masterpiece. There was symbolism and a story to be told
in the red and green apples that adorned it. The tag said it was, “Apple-oosa” and
explained that its patriotic story was of basic Americana — simple things like apple pie. I
decided to investigate further as this appeared to be one of a collectible series. Looking
online, I found a stable of gorgeous horses, adorned with artwork that drew you into them
as though each had a tale to tell. These are the horses of the Trail of Painted Ponies.
But, the Trail of Painted Ponies is more than just a collectible series. It is about art, about
business and non-profits (many of them animal charities) working together to the non-
profit’s benefit, and about the love of horses.
The Trail of Painted Ponies starts with Rod Barker. In 2000, writer Rod Barker was in
Chicago researching a book. The city had just finished “Cows on Parade” an exhibit of
life-size cow figures decorated in a whimsical way. Set-up in various areas, the purpose
of the exhibition was both economic improvement and community revitalization. The cow
was selected for its many tie-ins with the city. For example, Chicago is home of the
Chicago Bulls basketball team and Mrs. O’Leary’s cow was famous for burning early
Chicago.
Barker wanted to bring the concept of combining the arts and community revitalization to
his town of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
“But, I didn’t want to be a copy cow,” he said.
For the animal, Barber selected the horse, since it has been an integral part of history.
Barker noted that you can go back in early European history and find pictures with
horses. And of course, the horse has cut its niche into the framework of this nation, too.
While other communities were also picking up on the “cows on parade” theme using a
variety of animals, Barber wanted to differentiate Santa Fe’s project. Instead of the
whimsical look the cows had presented, he wanted to go in a different direction. A writer,
Barber wanted the art involved to tell a story. Also, unlike others which were using off the
shelf forms and decorating them, Barker wanted the lifesize “form” to be a work of art as
itself.
“I wanted a sculpture of a horse that was elegant and then have artists put their creative
signature on it,” he said.
“Original art on art,” is how Barker described his ponies.
Another important component of the project was the partnership of business and
charities. Businesses could sponsor the creation of a horse which would later be
auctioned. When auctioned, a percentage of the proceeds would go to designated
charities. A charity could take an active part by promoting its horse, maybe holding an
event associated with the horse.
While Barker’s original vision for the project had been for it to be held in Santa Fe, it
became a state-wide exhibition. The state’s tourism slogan for 2001 became: “Come to
New Mexico and Take a Trail Drive.”
Among those artists who participated in the trail drive was actress Ali McGraw. Barker
explained that McGraw is a friend of the Santa Fe animal shelters. Rather than being
approached to just lend her name and face to a fundraiser, Barker got the idea to
approach her to use her artistic talents to decorate a horse that would later be auctioned
with part of the proceeds going to her specific charity.
A second public auction of life-size horses was held in 2002, where again businesses
sponsored original art ponies which were auctioned with the majority of the proceeds
benefiting designated charities. The partnership that developed between businesses,
charities and artists created, what Barker repeatedly refers to as, “a new paradigm” both
in fundraising and promotion. One which, he said, in many cases continues to this day.
The two auctions raised $800,000 for various charities. Barker is quick to note that was
all post 9/11 donations, when most charities were seeing a downslide in giving.
“But we still had life-size Painted Ponies available for sale, and for several years after that
we continued to show and sell them, with the majority of the proceeds going to the
originally designated non-profits. This is how we worked our way up to close to a million,”
said Barker.
After the auctions, the painted ponies began blazing a new trail…in the collectible field.
“The Trail of Painted Ponies evolved into a different business model. It continued to invite
artists across the country to imaginatively transform original horse forms into glorious,
one-of-a-kind works of art. But it also entered into a licensing arrangement with a giftware
company [Westland Giftware] that had a sterling reputation for creating high-quality
reproductions of original artworks. This is how Painted Ponies figurines came about — a
collectible that has taken the collectible world by storm, said Barker.
The first Trail of Painted Ponies figurines were released in January of 2003; the same
year that Barker moved the Trail of Painted Ponies headquarters to Scottsdale, Arizona.
Counting the latest release (which was announced on June 1) 109 Painted Ponies
collectible figurines have been created. Eight new ponies are introduced every six
months on the Trail of the Painted Ponies website (www.trailofpaintedponies.com).
The “Winter Herd” is announced on Dec. 1 and the Summer Herd, along with the Holiday
Ponies, is announced June 1. Also, six ponies are retired every six months.
The ponies continue to touch artists and charities.
For the artists, it offers them something fresh. Ponies can be two or three dimensional (if
embellishment is added). Here is a new canvas and with it a new challenge.
“A creative challenge that has resulted in nothing less than a new art form,” said Barker,
who added, “I knew that the horse historically had been a source of great artistic
inspiration, but what I didn’t realize was just how versatile a canvas the horse form would
be.”
Most artists come to the attention of Trail of the Painted Ponies through its annual art
competitions or by submission of original designs (through a form on the website).
However, the company’s “paint your own pony” kit has opened up opportunities not only
for artists…but non-profits, too.
Originally conceived to appeal to young emerging artists, the kit has attracted the
attention of hobby artists and charities looking for a unique fundraiser.
“The kit contains a blank Painted Pony form, six paint pots and two paint brushes, and
encourages emerging artists to let their imaginations run wild,” said Barker.
Non-profit organizations can purchase the pony kits at a discount from the Trail of
Painted Ponies. Then the organizations can have celebrities or local artists donate their
talents and paint one-of-a-kind ponies that will not be found anywhere else. These can
be auctioned for the charity’s benefit.
“…on several occasions, [we]worked out an arrangement with a business to provide
them with one of our marble-cast Masterwork forms (standing two feet tall) and match
them with an artist who paints an original Painted Pony that is auctioned off to benefit the
charity designated by the purchaser. We did this a year-and-a-half ago with the Young
Presidents Organization. The Pony sold at auction for $25,500; one hundred percent of
which went to two charities. So we continue to be open to creative partnerships that
benefit philanthropic organizations,” added Barker.
The painted ponies move on. The
figurines are inspiring and their images,
as shown on the website, are adorning
apparel and jewelry, are written about
in books , are available as screensavers
and much more.
And, the ponies are changing the
way people look at art.
“Museums are seeing horses as a
new art form,” said Barker. “Who says
art has to be a square on the wall?”
he asked.
First Published July 2007 in The Animal Companion.
| Following The Trail of The PAINTED PONIES |
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| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| Dog and Pony Show by Gene Dieckhoner |
“The horse is an icon in this
country,” said Barker. “Almost
everyone in this country has a love
for the horse in one way [or the
other]. To me, the horse made the
perfect form.”
country,” said Barker. “Almost
everyone in this country has a love
for the horse in one way [or the
other]. To me, the horse made the
perfect form.”
Lightning Bolt Colt
by Dyanne Strongbow
by Dyanne Strongbow
| Northern Lights by Janee Hughes |