2011 Original Painting
Mary Shira‘s watercolor painting of the Montpelier Paddock has been chosen for the 2011 Race Poster. This is the second painting chosen for the poster by Ms. Shira, she also painted a start scene for the 2007 poster.
Ms. Shira has a long relationship with horses and with depicting horses in her artwork. She spent four years working at Belmont Park Race Track learning about horse anatomy and conformation. She has had paintings exhibited nationally including the National Art for Parks touring exhibit. Presently she teaches art at James Madison University.
Her love of her subject matter is evident in her statement:
“I often paint horses. . . [The horses] has a long and rich background in the history of art. It is arguably the most painted animal in Western and Asian art. But with the advent of the automobile it became obsolete. Serious artists don’t bother with it. But here it is, a subject loaded with pictorial tradition, but ignored in the art of our time.”
Prints of this painting will be available for sale at the Races on November 5th and the artist will be signing copies and showing other work then. Visit her website at www.maryshira.com.
History of Montpelier
Marion duPont Scott started The Montpelier Hunt Races in 1934 on the front lawn of James Madison's home. The hurdle course features the only live brush jumps in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
With the mansion's architectural restoration complete, come witness the investigation, discovery, and installation of Madison furnishings and décor. Watch as curators bring James and Dolley Madison's home back to life.
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