Horse Fever unveiling draws big crowd

Ocala Star-Banner - October 5, 2001

By BILL THOMPSON
Staff Writer

OCALA -- They didn't race, jump, buck or prance; still, they caused a stir.

With much fanfare, seven decorated fiberglass horses were unveiled on the downtown square Thursday evening, kicking off Horse Fever, Ocala's leap onto the bandwagon of cities staging public, thematic art exhibitions.

An estimated 1,500 people sweated through the muggy conditions, swayed to music and got swept up in a momentary patriotic revel during the 90-minute event marking the first project of the Marion Cultural Alliance.

Ocala joins more than 20 cities nationwide holding such shows to promote local artists, draw tourists downtown and educate the public about art. Exhibits in other cities feature, for instance, sea turtles, lizards and even Charles Schultz's Charlie Brown and Snoopy.

In Ocala, 52 life-size fiberglass horses — all designed by local artists and sponsored by local businesses — will be exhibited around town until March 22. Then they will be auctioned off at a horse event at the Live Oak Plantation in Ocala, with the proceeds earmarked for promoting art and funding charities in Marion County, organizers said.

The high point Thursday came when the plastic tarp was pulled from "Old Glory," a horse painted like the American flag by artist Kimberly Samson.

Mayor E.L. Foster, acting as emcee, told the crowd this horse stood "for something we all believe in."

"It's been a rough couple of weeks, but we're strong and we're courageous," Foster said just before "Old Glory" made its first public appearance. Immediately afterward, the crowd cheered and joined the Central Florida Master Choir, a gospel group, in a boisterous a cappella rendition of "God Bless America."

But that wasn't the only music.

For nearly an hour before the unveiling, the Fun(k) Club treated the crowd to a pop-music medley that included works by the Beatles, Rod Stewart, Billy Joel and Macy Gray.

When they finished, Foster took the stage. He commended the 7-month-old Alliance and its co-sponsor, the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association, for providing "an uplift we need at this time."

Then the covers were removed one by one from the four horses that will be stationed on the corners of the square, as well as from the one to be set up at FTBOA headquarters. A pony that will accompany that one was also shown.

Horse Fever Chairwoman Laurie Menard said two-thirds of the horses were placed at their host sites on Thursday. The rest would be set up over the next few days.

The horses are posed in one of two ways: standing straight up or head down as though grazing.

But that paucity of positions contrasts sharply to the hodgepodge of colors and themes covering them -- an array of simple or intricately detailed artwork featuring expressions of natural or New Age mind-bending scenes that relate the essence of Marion County, the state of Florida or the whirling of the artist's creative gears.

Among the more basic designs are Marsha Schloesser's monochrome entry "Copper Charm," not painted, but overlaid in copper sheets, and Cliff Fink's "Brick City Fever," which, as the name implies, recalls Ocala's history through a brick pattern.

Some of the more involved designs include Sakrantip Blazicek's technicolor "Native Dancer," a conglomeration of stripes that resemble Easter-egg patterns, and Elsie Ruiz's "Horse O' Plenty," painted to show all the fruits and vegetables that grow in Florida.

Other artists, most of whom were not displayed Thursday, were inspired by flamingoes, lilies, constellations, butterflies, tropical fish, golf courses and even Marion County's own horse industry.

Mary "Granny" Wright, a groom at Bridlewood Farm, was like many in the crowd, curious and impressed.

Not knowing what to expect, she came "to catch the fever" and was surprised by how many joined her.

"I've been working with horses all day long, and now I come out and look at horses," Wright said. "I think it's astonishing."

On the other hand, cab driver Walter Nunley said while horses weren't necessarily bad, he thought the event was "extravagant."

"There's a lot of emphasis on the horses and there's a lot of emphasis on the art, but I think we need more local attention on what goes on outside the square," said Nunley, referring to the seedier side of Ocala he sees on his shift.

Still, organizers were happy.

"I can't believe the crowd. The artists did such a good job, and they had such a great subject," said Dick Hancock, executive vice president for the breeders' association.

Said Menard: "I'm very happy because it shows how much people appreciate this project. It's something that everyone needs. Art has carried people through lots of crises."

Bill Thompson covers community issues and can be reached at 867-4117, or at bill.thompson@starbanner.com.

See October 12, 2001 issue of Ocala Star-Banner for original article.