The annual Equine Art Show is always one of the summer highlights of the season at Emerald Downs. Each year the show fills to capacity with 200 entries in a wide variety of equine disciplines and subject matter, as well as artistic media. The show features talented artists of all ages in over a dozen categories. The Equine Art Show continues to garner praise as one of the most recognized shows in
the equine art world, nationally and internationally. Equine Art 2016 will be held on the weekend of Friday, July 8, through Sunday, July 10, at Emerald Downs. Equine Art is presented under the auspices of the Washington Thoroughbred Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, in conjunction with Emerald Downs and the Washington Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association. The show is the continuation of a long-standing tradition that began in 1980 at Longacres and is now in its 34th year, despite a brief hiatus subsequent to that track’s closure. This year will mark the 17th annual Equine Art Show held at Emerald Downs. For $7 admission, viewers can enjoy the Equine Art Show, live racing, and more! On Friday, July 8, and Saturday, July 9, art will be open for viewing from 5:30 – 9:30 p.m. on the track level. Come out for the art and stay for Emerald’s Fabulous Friday or Ladies Night at the Races on Saturday. On Sunday, July 10, art will be open for viewing from 11:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. The day also features live racing, Wiener Dog Races, and Family Fun Day at the track. Thanks to the generous sponsors of the event, over $7,000 in prizes is awarded to winning artists in the following categories: Stanley A. Gillman Memorial Best in Show Award, Morrie and Joan Alhadeff Purchase Award, The Campbell Award for Oil, Dr. Donald & Beverly Turner and Phil & Sarah Saitta Award for Acrylic, Vivian F. McMurry Memorial Award for Watercolor, Jean G. Barclay Memorial Award for Pastel/Drawing, Dr. Pav Award for Mixed Media, Oak Crest Farm (Jack & Theresa Hodge) Award for Sculpture, David L. Parks Memorial Award for Objet D’Art, The Makors Finale Award for Photography in Memory of Duane Hamamura, A-One Ornamental Ironworks Inc. (Gordy Jarnig & Connie Labrie) Award for Digital Art, El Dorado Farms Intermediate Division Award, Griffin Place Pre-Teen/Children’s Division Award, Equine Art Purse Trophy Purchase Award in Memory of Vivian F. McMurry, Washington Thoroughbred Publication Award, and the Equine Art Committee Poster Awards. In addition, viewer voting throughout the run of the show determines the winners of the popular Angie Crockett Memorial People’s Choice Award. This year’s panel of judges are Gary Faigin, cofounder and instructor at Gage Academy and art critic for the Seattle Times, multiple award-winning artist Kari Nanstad, and art collector and aficionado Paul Heist. This esteemed panel of judges will decide the winners in all media and age categories, plus Best in Show. The show’s purpose is to encourage equine artists and to support the arts in general, as an integral part of all horse-related sports. The Equine Art Show continues to receive entries from talented artists around the US and beyond, including England, France, and Australia. “We are proud to continue the long and venerable tradition that has connected art and horse racing throughout history. In spite of that long history, the artists never cease to surprise and amaze us with their talents and creativity. We are thrilled and honored by their participation,” commented M. Anne Sweet, General Manager of the WTBOA and co-chairman of the Equine Art Show along with Jack Hodge, Vice President of Racing Operations at Emerald Downs. For more information about the Equine Art Show, please contact the WTBOA at 253-288-7878 or visit www.thoroughbredfoundation.org.
