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Horsin' Around Rivendell
Rivendell ReCreation Center of South Wales, New York is a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit corporation dedicated to therapeutic horseback riding programs for handicapped children and adults. Rivendell's compassionate volunteers and gentle horses have been serving the Western New York community since 1984. State of the Art is not "officially" affiliated with Rivendell - we are all just really good friends and at long last I have found a way to help them.
Horsin' Around Rivendell IV Rivendell Fundraiser Sunday May 17, 2009 Doors open 1pm, Auction begins 2pm Valley of Buffalo 2379 Union Road, Cheektowaga 14227 (Between Losson and French) 668-2755 Tickets $5.00/children under 12 FREE Tickets available from the Rivendell folk, at State of the Art, 1781 Hertel Avenue and at the Valley of Buffalo on the day of the auction.
Updated May 11, 2009 The Art Horses have been almost all rounded up now so I can show you photos of most of them. We have added a few new artists this year (to supplement those of us who are a little burned out) and we have some real beauties for the auction. Doors will open at 1pm for the auction preview, a few games, some fun and a yummy snack or two - then the live auction begins at 2pm. I have never been to the Valley of Buffalo but it looks to be pretty easy to find - it is also known as the Buffalo Consistory AASR, the 32nd Masonic Community Center, and the Scottish Rite. It is located on Union Road south of Losson and north of French Roads. The Art Horses are all on display at State of the Art, 1781 Hertel Avenue in Buffalo until the end of the day on Saturday May 16. Shop hours are 11-6, Tuesday through Friday and Saturday 1-5. 832-3900. The 2009 Art Horses
I would like to point out that Dona Michelini's lovely creation this year, Celebrķan and Arwen, are two of the lady elves, mother and daughter, from LOTR's Rivendell. Cool, eh??? Here's a bigger view:
At this year's auction there will also be a dozen Art Horses from previous year's auctions (bought and re-donated back to us!) and there will also be various other horsey art-forms: original paintings, vintage prints, some matted but mostly framed. And mayhap a few surprises....
Updated March 2, 2009 OK, I know. It has been a very long time since I have added anything new to this page and for this I heartily apologize. But the Art Horses have been calling to me again and we are going to put together another Event to try to help Rivendell raise some money for their therapeutic horseback riding programs. April showers bring May flowers and this coming May 17 Rivendell will be bringing you a batch of really beautiful and wondrous floral Art Horses. It has been a long cold winter and a grim year and we all deserve something beautiful to lift up our spirits. What could be better than pretty floral horses?
I bought this horse in a dollar store - isn't she pretty? But we can do better than that - can't we? Paint flowers onto your horse, cover your horse with floral fabric, silk flowers, stickers - or maybe just a hat or a housedress with flowers on them - or think of Robert Vavra's photographs of the magnificent stallion Majestad in the field of red poppies. Run for the Roses. How about a nice Christmas horse covered with nice red poinsettias? I think horses and pretty flowers are just what we need to put a smile on our faces and some cash into Rivendell's coffers. I have several bins of model horses to get us started - if you need a horse or even some materials to get you started call me at State of the Art (832-3900) and I will help get you started. Deadline to turn in finished Art Horses is Saturday May 2, 5pm, at State of the Art, 1781 Hertel Avenue, Buffalo, NY. There is no application form to fill out this year, all I want is a 3x5 index card (I have them if you don't) with your name, address, phone number, email address and age (if you are under 16), and the name of your Art Horse.
Mar's Little Wish List Now I don't want anyone running out and buying any of this stuff - I am the recycling queen, remember? I just want y'all to look around in your junk drawer or your basement and if you happen to have any of these items which you do not need, please pass them along to me at State of the Art. These are items which artists can use in creating the Art Horses and also items which we can use for the night of the Auction itself. Horses (wood, plastic, china, anything!) (see below!) Horse books (all ages, but especially early readers through teenage) Little hats (Barbie size) Fake flowers (silk, paper, stickers, whatever) Curling Ribbon Old or Broken Costume Jewelry Fabric Scraps (even really tiny ones!) Sewing Ribbon odds and ends Colorful Yarn (short lengths OK!) Craft Supplies (anything!) 3x5 metal recipe file boxes (all my plastic ones with "living hinges" died!) Bubble wrap, tissue paper and if you are feeling really generous: We could use some postage stamps. THANKS! :)
Mark Freeland *Rest in Peace*
May 1, 1957-June 14, 2007 Rivendell has lost one of its artist-supporters, Mark Freeland, who created "The Misfits" for us for our very first Art Horse auction back in 2005. Mark was a luminous presence on both Buffalo's art scene and its music scene. His absence will leave a huge void in the hearts of anyone who ever saw him perform or admired his artwork, or anyone who even simply knew who he was - he was a walking embodiment of art and joy and music and life. I don't think I have ever met such a creative person - he was so very bold and his sense of humor was the best. He knew how to bring out the best in people. Mark's enthusiasm was always infectious. Think of Mark as Buffalo's very own Salvador Dali - that is, if Dali could play a blistering electric guitar solo (which I doubt!). To give anyone an idea about how important Mark was to Buffalo's art scene, his funeral brunch was held at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery! High kudos indeed - although if the AK were to buy a couple of Mark's paintings for their permanent collection that would be even higher praise! I shall miss him terribly but somehow I imagine Heaven just became a real jumpin' joint! Mark's music and his two art books are available on his website: www.markfreeland.com
I hope everyone loves the new Horsin' Around Rivendell Logo as much as I do - I began the drawing and graphic artist David Manny made it into a real cartoon for us! Doncha think our new purple Art Horse needs a name???
To view the 2005, 2006 and 2007 Art Horses and see photos from our first auction, click on the link at the top of the page.
"Now the wild white horses play, champ and chafe and toss in the spray." Matthew Arnold
WE ALWAYS NEED MORE HORSES!!!
These are samples of the plastic horses we are collecting - they range in height from 4" to 11" - look for them in thrift stores or your daughter's closet!
Here are examples of some of the wooden horses also found in thrift stores, rummage sales and maybe that box in your garage! This year's auction will be our "Fourth Annual." That means we have an ongoing need to add to our collection of toy and model horses! One of my primary goals for this project, in addition to raising money for Rivendell, is the recycling of all of those poor abandoned toy horses that reside unloved and un-played-with in those dusty boxes in those forgotten corners of attics, garages and basements. You can give these toy horses a new lease on life - just as Rivendell does for their riders! Bring in your toy horses, even if they are broken - I can repair them for the artists to decorate! Broken or missing legs, tails, ears? NOT A PROBLEM! I have been repairing horse statues all of my life (and I am pretty good at it, IMHO!). The toy horses we are seeking can be anything from battle-scarred Breyers to broken Barbie horses. We are accepting just about any kind of horse (except My Little Ponies*) and in any size from 5 inches high to 12 inches high. We are also seeking wooden (scroll-saw) horses, china horses, glass horses and soft (plush) horses this year! (*If you do find any MLPs here is what you can do with them!!!) ;)
(I must admit that I have just found out that there are artists in this world who make custom MLPs and they do a fantastic job so I will no longer be making fun of MLPs.) (But I still don't want them for Horsin' Around Rivendell!) 2009 MLP Update: Check out these famous movie character MLPs from artist Mari Kasurinen (I wish she was from around here - I'd gladly take one of her creations for Rivendell):
If you have any questions please call me (Mar) at State of the Art, 1781 Hertel Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14216. The phone number is 832-3900 and the shop hours are Tuesday through Friday, 11am to 6pm and 1pm to 5pm on Saturday. Email me at framar@framaree.com
"The wind of Heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears."
"God forbid that I should go to any Heaven in which there are no horses." Robert Bontine Cunningham-Graham
HORSE LINKS Herein you will find a choice selection of horse and horse art related websites. If you know of any others of a similar breed, please email so that I may add it to this listing - framar@framaree.com http://www.rivendellrec.org - This is the place that started all of this! Rivendell's website very succinctly explains all of their wonderful programs of therapeutic riding and you may find many a heart-warming story - have a box of tissues handy! http://www.equineextra.com - This site is a huge online horse magazine - with readership and contributors from all over the US and the world! Talk about horse shows, breeding, veterinary issues, rescue organizations - just about anything you can think of that is horse-related - this site is comprehensive to the max! http://rochesterhorses.org - Rochester, New York had a public art project in 2001 with life size fiberglass horse statues. This website contains over 900 photos of those amazing creations - plan to spend a couple of hours scrolling through them all! http://www.trailofpaintedponies.com - This website was one of my inspirations for Horsin' Around Rivendell. It is an ongoing public art project also involving life size horse statues. There are some absolutely fantastic art horses here - and many of them are of a realistic Southwestern theme. Beautiful! http://www.modelhorsejamboree.com/top.htm - This website is for the Tricked Out Pony contest. It is a national art horse competition of model horses. Adults and children compete and the winning pieces are auctioned on eBay. Be sure to check out the photos of previous years' entries. Some absolutely amazing miniature creations! 2005 winners' photos and descriptions are posted.. You can view my horse, "Rhapsody in Blue" with all of the rest of the entries! I won a fifth place ribbon but one of our very own 2005 Horsin' Around Rivendell artists took FIRST PLACE in the Youth Division - Katie Langford - CONGRATULATIONS!!! Tricked Out Pony 2006 is all finished - you can view the stunning entries and see the prices some of them garnered for their charity! WOW! (and WOW again!) http://www.mycarousel.com I received an email from Gary and Sandy from this wonderful website. Antique carousel horses - the spiritual grandsires and granddams of the art horses. The old carousel ponies are proud of their "kids." Check out their website - the lovely old horses are great for ideas!!! http://www.taoofequss.com This is the website for Epona Equestrian Services, specializing in Equine Experiential Learning and Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy. This Tucson based riding center was founded by author, speaker, riding instructor and horse trainer Linda Kohanov who has written two very fascinating books about horses - The Tao of Equus and Riding Between the Worlds. A whole other way to think about the horse/human connection! Highly recommended!!! http://www.millarcom.com/readingproject/ Here is the website that started it all when it comes to reading to horses!!! I have heard of libraries and schools that use service dogs to help children with reading - but horses!!! WHY NOT?!? (I think we should read to them from such classics as The Black Stallion and Misty of Chincoteague and Black Beauty, of course!!) (The only trouble I ever had with reading as a kid was when my 5th grade teacher told me I had read too many horse books and she made me read Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm - UGH!) www.artforhorselovers.com This website belongs to artist Stephanie M. Dunatov who has been a staunch Rivendell supporter since the beginning of the Art Horse project. She does beautiful oil and acrylic paintings, collages and cut-paper creations - and you will always find a horse in there somewhere! Stephanie's unicorns and her winter scenes are my favorites - check them out, folks - she will even do custom work, just for you!
"Run slowly, horses of the night." Ovid
The Message from the Wild Horses "Listen..... Ta-dom... ta-dom... It is the sound of the ancient drums tattooing a rhythm, secret yet known. It calls to you, waking something deep within you. Ta-dom... ta-dom... ta-dom... Louder now, closer, coming for you. Not the kind of drums at first you imagined, taut skins vibrating under sweating palms. 'Tis the earth drum calling, the many hooves dancing across the Mother, her heartbeat echoed in the sound. Feel us, the wild horses, running across the earth, dancing a rhythm so thrilling it speeds up the heart within you. Feel your own heart beating, skipping, and yearning for us, yet timid, afraid. What do we represent to your tribe that you feel the need to fear us, the need to bend and break us? Why? We give ourselves freely to you. We have served you for eons of time, willingly. The evidence is right before your eyes - you have traveled the land and built your cities all over this planet with our help. Yet, still you do not believe we are here as brothers and sisters to you. Still you call us dumb beasts and break our backs with work, and when we can work no more you destroy us as we are too much trouble to keep around for our own ease and peace. What do we represent inside yourself that is so frightening that you covet us, fear us, and hate us at the same time? We represent your power. Feel it inside you now, untamed and untamable, the wild horses of your soul. Do not fear it, or beat it into submission. Claim it! Open your heart to us and let us show you who we are. We have long waited to truly share this earth with you, to share ourselves with you as spiritual beings. We are not less a part of All That Is than you. All beings on this planet are divine and unique and all are here for their own spiritual path. Let us walk this path together. Allow yourself to open to the idea that you are divine, that you are powerful, that you are part of something great and magical. Dance with us on the earth, feel the wind in your hair, feel the fire in your breath, feel the beating of your heart synchronizing with All That Is. Feel the power in your belly churning, whirling, gathering strength. Feel it become a scream, a cry longing to be free. Let it rise in you and send it out into the world - I AM HERE! Ta-dom... ta-dom... ta-dom... Dancing with the earth, feeling the power of the rhythm flowing through your veins, through your every cell until you are more than human, until you are a part of All That Is. Come to us sisters, come to us brothers, come home." The Message from the Wild Horses, is excerpted from "Opening My Wings to Fly" and reprinted with the kind permission of author and animal communicator Tera Thomas, www.hummingbirdfarm.org
Our webmaster, Mike Wilson, has worked himself into the ground trying to keep up with all the Art Horses that have been created for Rivendell: if anyone who reads this knows of a nice paying job for him in the world of website design - please contact me! He is most talented, knowledgeable and dedicated! All text and all photographs copyright 2005, 2006,2007 Mar Penner Griswold dba State of the Art and Rivendell ReCreation Center.
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