Many areas in the United States do it. They find an animal to paint. They paint hundreds of them in different styles, formats and costumes and sell them auction style for a worthy cause.
Chicago and New York have painted farm animals such as cows and bulls. .
In New Mexico they have the Painted Ponies. The horse was chosen as the canvas because it was through New Mexico that the Spanish Conquistadores introduced the horse to North America five centuries ago.
The philosophy behind the Painted Ponies was to promote artistic excellence.
It began in the summer of 2000 with Rod Baker a best selling author turned Artistic Entrepreneur. A major sculptor was commissioned to create a horse that was cast in a durable resin blend. A call went out to the artistic community in the southwest inviting famous and new artists to submit design. The response was overwhelming.
In the fall of 2001 the ponies were rounded up and sold through live and Internet auctions as well as direct negotiations. Over $500,000 was generated for philanthropic organizations.
The beautiful and the odd, the whimsical and the scary, simplistic and the intricate are all ways to describe these delightful painted works.
Although they are called painted ponies paint is not always the medium used. Pottery, wood, and iron works are often attached in the costuming. Individual seed beads were once used on a horse done by artist George Monfils in the 2001 Painted Ponies.
The locations where the ponies are displayed in most cases are in the populated areas of the state which are Santa Fe and Albuquerque. But you will also find some scattered in desolate areas where the artist chose to paint it.
After the auctions in 2002 a national licensing agreement was made with King Features where Westland Giftware began crafting the painted ponies’ figurines earning over $200,000 for various charities. These figurines have become the hottest collectible in America according to Giftbeat Magazine, with sales of over 11 million dollars.
In 2003 an award winning documentary narrated by Alli McGraw debuted on Public Television. A Golden web award was given to www.the trailofpaintedponies.com for outstanding design and content.
In 2004 the Collector’s edition of the Trail of the Painted Ponies” was distributed The Trail of Painted Ponies is acclaimed “The New American art Movement”.
In 2005 new merchandise has been introduced such as painted Ponies pins and Fine art prints.
The charities that benefit from the sale of these beauties are New Mexico youth, arts, social cultural, environmental or animal non-profit organizations designated by the sponsor.
What started in 2000 has not ended and what started in New Mexico is growing. During the summer of 2002 a new herd of ponies were displayed in lobbies and parks across New Mexico. Hundred of thousands of dollars were once again earned in the auctions of these works.
The Trail of the Painted Ponies s now expanding and partnering with communities, organizations, and companies around the country bringing funds to nonprofit organizations in need and spreading the beauty of the ponies everywhere.
For more information and what is happening with the painted ponies and how you can participate go to www.trailofpaintedponies.com
Eileen Richardson
