HOOFBEATS
& HEARTBEATS:
The Horse in American Art
August 22 - November 21, 2010
Admission: $8 general public/$5 senior citizens
All students and UK faculty, staff, and alumni are admitted free
The exhibition is also open for free on Friday nights from 5 until 8 pm
Museum Hours: Tuesday through Sunday: noon to 5 pm and Friday noon to 8 pm
 |
MAYNARD
DIXON , Wild Horses of Nevada, oil on canvas, lent by Karges
Fine Art Gallery |
The Art Museum at the University of Kentucky will present a groundbreaking exhibition on the horse in American Art to coincide with the World Equestrian Games in 2010. Hoofbeats and Heartbeats will be the first significant exhibition to critically examine the role of the horse in American art, history and culture.
Over 50 paintings and sculptures from museums across the country will be assembled to reflect four themes: The Horse as a Symbol of the Hero, as an Emblem of Freedom, the Horse at Work, and the Horse in People’s Hearts. It will be accompanied by a 100 page scholarly catalogue with 50 color reproductions, contributions by prominent art historians and a welcome letter from Kentucky's First Lady Jane Beshear.
Horses have played a crucial role in building the United States. They have carried generals into battle, forged the trail of westward expansion, hustled for cowboys, and sprinted under jockeys for cheering fans. As such, horses become a meaningful part of American cultural identity symbolizing heroism, wildness, hard work, and prosperity. In art, the image of the horse reflects many larger political, cultural, and philosophical concerns of American society. This exhibition seeks to survey both the image of the horse in American art and how it reflects aspects of the nation’s development.
This exhibition is sponsored by generous support from the Friends of the Art Museum, The Keeneland Foundation, The Marquard Foundation, Wimbledon Farm, as well as UK Healthcare, Becky Faulconer, and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association.
