For the past couple of summers Catskill has had a public art display lining their streets featuring artists’ finely decorated and painted cats. Joining their feline friends this summer will be dogs in Hudson, bears in Cairo and carousel horses in Saugerties. The animals debuted Memorial Day weekend and will remain in the streets of the villages through Labor Day weekend.

Saugerties decided on carousel horses because the town is becoming a world renowned equestrian center with Horse Shows in the Sun (HITS). Also, a classic wooden, full size carousel that was housed in Saugerties for years is currently under restoration and will return to the village soon for all to enjoy.

A call for artists and sponsors went out last November. In January the sponsors, made up of a mixture of Saugerties businesses and individuals, gathered at the historic Renwick Clifton House (now a B&B) to pick the works they would sponsor and meet the artists. Designs for either a prancing or jumping horse were submitted. Some reflected a Quadricentennial theme paying homage to the Hudson River and Henry Hudson’s historic voyage. Others incorporated local landmarks, the history of the area including our Dutch and Native American heritage, and the surrounding natural beauty. Some of the artists mixed their own style with local flavor and humor. The designs received were unique, creative, whimsical and truly beautiful.

The main hall of the house was lined with the artists’ renderings for the horses. Sponsors picked numbers from a basket determining the order that they would be able to pick their choice. Over hors d’oeuvres and drinks sponsors lined the hall discussing their favorite renderings with the artists. In all, forty six sponsors chose their horses, which will be on display throughout the village.

The diversity of the artistry that will be on display is amazing! It’s eye candy that will make you smile and hope they do it again next year. For example, Linda Nicholls’ horse, “Galloping Gourmet,” is painted and decorated like a chef, chef’s toque and all. “Heavenly Horse” by Mark Smith pays homage to early navigators who were guided by the stars, and is decorated with a sparkling night sky. Sculptor Alex Kveton has created a large bronze coin around his horse, called “The Penny Horse.” Kenny Rich has turned one of the horses into a rocking horse called “Henry Hudson’s Rocking Horse” while Steve Heller created “Mustang Sally,” a sleek smooth version of a carousel horse running with such speed that fire crosses its body. Mary Boscher has incorporated a cornucopia of floral designs on her horse, “Henrietta Hudson.” Ken Mulvaney has transformed his horse into a Harley Davidson motorcycle called “Harley Horse,” while Diana Cruz-Hasler painted and dressed her horse, “A Midsummer’s Night Mare,” for the evening in nightshirt and cap. There are even two mosaic horses—“River Run” and “Rainbow Round and Round”—created by Lisa Crumrine. And these are just ten of the forty six that will be on display!

“Hors’n Around Saugerties is made possible by a tremendous amount of cooperation between local government, businesses and artists,” says Greg Helsmoortel, the Town Supervisor of Saugerties. “It’s laudable how the village of Catskill shared information based on its Cat’n Around Catskill public art display that has been so successful”.

On September 12 the horses will be auctioned off at the “Merry-Go-Round” gala to be held at Horse Shows in the Sun. Proceeds from the auction will benefit area food banks after each artist receives 25% from the auction of their horses.

Major sponsors of the event include Mid-Hudson Valley Credit Union, WAMC, Stewart’s, John Mullen and Sons, Precision Flow Technologies, Markertek, Marshall and Sterling Insurance and Horse Shows in the Sun.

For more information visit www.horsnaroundsaugerties.com.

For more information about Cat’n Around Catskill visit www.cat-n-around.com.