53rd Releases - Design Meanings and Style - 2021 Winter

Wild Blue - Tribute to 9/11 ~ 20 years ago Artist: Rod Barker There have been a number of powerful tributes to the tragedy of 9/11, among them the commemorative public art installation known as the Tribute of Lights: a pair of giant beams of light, installed at Ground Zero, that mimicked the position and shape of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center as they illuminated the night sky over Manhattan. With this image in mind, I conceived of a Painted Pony that utilized the same form that The Trail created for a previous tribute to 9/11 titled "Unconquered," which posed a white stallion triumphantly atop rubble intended to represent the collapsed Twin Towers, with an American flag behind it. But instead of a white horse, this piece would feature a faceted blue horse. Blue because the lights in the Tribute of Lights were blue. Faceted to represent the 43,600 windows that were part of the Twin Towers, as well as the venues on the top floors of the North Tower which were called Windows on the World. The title - "Wild Blue" - borrows the name of a restaurant in the North Tower that was destroyed. A portion of the proceeds, from the sale of this piece, will benefit First Responders Children's Foundation. First Responders Children's Foundation provides financial support to both children who have lost a parent in the line of duty as well as families enduring significant financial hardships due to tragic circumstances.

Crusader Artist: Christopher Paskert The original Medieval War Horse breed is now extinct, but from written accounts we know it was a magnificently powerful creature. Big and strong enough to carry an armored knight into battle as well as its own protective plate-amour made of leather and steel, yet sensitive and agile, and trained to be responsive to leg pressure rather than reins, as a knight needed his hands to wield weapons and hold his shield. Trained also to literally fight alongside its rider, it was conditioned to endure the chaos and noise of battle, to lash out with teeth and hooves at other horses, and to trample men on the ground.

El Charro Artist: Laurie Holman Hail "El Charro"! a tribute to those highly skilled horsemen who are the Mexican equivalent of the iconic cowboy of the American West. Defenders of landowners by helping them protect property and cattle against bandits, and good family men who were respectful towards women and renowned for the way they honored traditional values, Charros gave rise to a whole new style of fashion - tightly tapered suits of leather and suede with beautiful shirts and jackets embroidered with gold and silver threaded flowers, and broad-brimmed sombreros made of horse and rabbit hair with a leather chin strap to hold it in place. They are also recognizable by the horses they ride - tacked out in traditional Mexican saddles with large platter-sized horns that work well for roping livestock with rawhide ropes. Laurie also created the Painted Pony - Tangled.

Fury Artist: Rikki Carter The sky grows dark and ominous as storm clouds roll in. Like creeping celestial creatures, they stretch their silent fingers across the sky and pull their bodies forward to block out the stars. They are alive with color now, breathing purple, turquoise and gold, and their introductory silence is temporary. First comes a low rumble, then a flash of light. The storm clouds seem almost to smirk at each other as they complete their formation, preparing to release their fury into the sky - bright, booming and unstoppable. Then angry stinging bolts of lightning crack across the Heavens, unleashed by the creatures hanging above the earth in the black of night.

Homage to Bear Paw Artist: Cheryl A. Harris The Battle of Bear Paw was the final engagement of the Nez Perce War of 1877. Following a 1,200-mile running battle from Western Idaho into Montana, the U.S. Army finally managed to corner the Nez Perce tribe, who were led by Chief Joseph and whose surrender speech famously ended with the words "From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever." Known for their distinctively spotted horses, the Nez Perce were assured they would be allowed to keep their prized herd of nearly a thousand mounts, but it was a promise that was broken. It wouldn't be until 1937 that the tribe initiated a selective breeding program that brought the Appaloosa back to life. Cheryl also designed Canyon Beauty, Keeper of the Sacred Fire, Navajo Sand Painter, Holiday S'mores, Tin Star Sherriff.

Thunderbird Artist: Janet Snyder The Thunderbird is a dominant icon in Native American Indian culture and art, both highly respected and feared because these magical creatures could be a force for both good and evil. Their flapping wings brought rain and storms, which were good for crops, but the lightning shooting from their eyes could also cause destructive winds, flooding and fires. Throughout history, depictions of the Thunderbird have appeared on totem poles, pictographs, jewelry, carvings… and now, on a Painted Pony. Janet also designed: For Spacious Skies, Spirits of the Four Directions, Santa's Surprise, Bear Merry Christmas, First Comes Freedom, Regalia, Christmas Canter, Regalia, Midnight Glow and more....

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