Not too many people know that the bows used for string instruments are fabricated from horse-tail hairs.  Without horses, where would Samuel Barber's exquisite Adagio for Strings be?  Or Niccolò Paganini's celebrated Caprice No. 24?  So, it seems a not-too-big-a-stretch for the Lexington (Kentucky) Philharmonic to celebrate horses, especially their tails, considering that Lexington and its environs are the home to arguably the grandest, most glorious, and most gorgeous horse farms in America.  And the Philharmonic is doing it just in time to coincide with the legendary, much-anticipated World Equestrian Games, which will be held in Lexington  from September 25 to October 10. 

Horsetails 2010  is a superb show and fundraising event that combines visual art and artist, musical instruments, and silky tail-hair from prominent horses; famed thoroughbred farms from Kentucky--and owners of other influential horse-y breeds--were invited to donate tail-hair from many prized equines for the project and then each selected artist participating in the fundraiser was paired with a horse. The event has generated some 50 blue-ribbon-winning works of art which will be auctioned off, and which will likely garner major winner's-circle wampum. Using a small violin form and a bow as a canvas, the artists were asked to create their unique pieces, which clearly celebrate the horse and the music; upon completion, each bow was then strung with the horse hair.  The results-realistic, impressionists, assemblages, collages, mixed media, and so on-comprise a striking panoply of styles and techniques.  Come September 20, the auction will commence.

Lexington's local Cross Gate Gallery, a well-known gallery for anyone who admires and knows sporting art, has been displaying these works locally in Lexington, but 20 of the works are coming northward, for us Yankees to view.  Starting August 1, the local exhibit will be open to the public at the Fasig-Tipton Sales Pavilion at the corner of East and Madison Avenues in Saratoga.  This display, including pieces from Andre Pater, Peter Williams, and Joanne Mehl, will coincide with the opening of the Saratoga racing season, which heralds 40 days of world-class horse-racing.  So, get thee to the gallery, enjoy the wonderful area surrounding Saratoga, and take in some horse-racing and art.

The ultimate auction (which will start in September) will benefit the Lexington Philharmonic's Foundation Partners in Education Fund, a program aimed to benefit Kentucky children though music education.  (Cross Gate Gallery can be reached in Saratoga at 859-421-3426.)

Posted on July 27, 2010 - by