Author: Tammy Lane • First Posted: Thursday, June 10, 2010

Gallery (click any photo to view the gallery)

Schools’ elaborately decorated foals and horses will be displayed soon at Lexington’s public libraries. Horse Play, Fayette County students’ public art project, will be in place between July 1 and the end of October.

“We wanted the foals grouped where the public had easy access, but where they would also be protected. We were delighted when the library agreed to house them,” said James M. Clark, president and CEO of LexArts.

During the final weeks before summer break, students at every school gathered glitter, jewels and sequins, stained glass, yarn and fabric, and of course paint to put their own mark on their school’s horse. Their themes ranged from nature scenes, geometric patterns and school mascots to a piñata horse and cart and a yellow foal decked out like a school bus!

Since the small fiberglass foals are slightly more delicate, they will be exhibited inside the libraries, while the high schools’ full-size horses will be placed outside the branches.

“Our six locations, extensive operating hours and ready-made audience of parents and children are a perfect combination for allowing more people to see these beautiful student artworks in safe and inviting environments,” said Martha White, the library’s acting director.

Horse Play is an imaginative offshoot of Horse Mania 2010. Next February, the kids’ horses will be auctioned to benefit each school’s art programs, as well as youth-related arts and arts education programs.

Horse Mania, which debuted in 2000, has been brought back for an encore in conjunction with this fall’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Local artists’ near-to-life-size horses will be displayed around the city; the sculptures later will be auctioned to benefit sponsor-designated charities and LexArts public arts projects.

In the archives: Preparations at Clays Mill Elementary and Tates Creek Middle School

Editor's note:

We plan to post an update July 1, the public unveiling, with more photos and a list of which horses are at which library branch.