SAUGERTIES, NY (January 29, 2010)—HITS is pleased to announce that work from Equine Artists Alicia Rothman and Mary Bridgman were selected as the cover art for the 2010 HITS Thermal and HITS Ocala Official Show Programs.
Each year HITS issues an open call for artists to submit equine-themed work for consideration for the program covers. This year's submission produced lots of exceptional artwork to chose from, with Rothman and Bridgman's work winning out over 50 entries.
Rothman's 'Orange Horse', an original oil painting on panel, was selected as the artwork for the HITS Thermal Official Show Program. The warm tones, decorative patterns and elegant imagery perfectly captures the spirit of the HITS Desert Circuit, which takes place in the heart of the southern California desert just outside of Palm Springs.
According to Rothman, her approach is unique. "The way I paint is different, I'm very spontaneous. I let the painting happen as more of a fine art piece. I'm always looking for opportunities to share my work with people who love horses, so this was a perfect opportunity for that. I wanted to see what the reaction would be to something less traditional and less 'photo-realistic'. I was really excited when I heard my submission was selected. It's a special piece, and I hope people will enjoy it. It was fun to be a part of this call for art."
Rothman is an award-winning artist and received her MFA in printmaking and drawing from Indiana University, Bloomington, where she was an Associate Instructor of Design, and has a BA from Harpur College at Binghamton University. Her paintings have been shown at Dillon Gallery in Soho and Oyster Bay since 1998 and have been exhibited at Butler Institute of American Art, Muscarelle Museum of Art, National Academy Museum, Laurel Tracey Gallery, Lanoue Fine Art, Boston, Mass., Rice/Polak in Provincetown, MA, Lana Santarelli Gallery in Chelsea and Michael Ingbar Gallery in Soho. Her work is in private and public collections including Binghamton University Art Museum, Muscarelle Museum of Art, Prudential Bache, and the White House. She received a 2002 White House Easter commission representing New York State and a 2003 Hampton Classic Poster commission. She has taught at National Academy of Design School, and the Art Students League and Hunter Continuing Education For more information on Alicia Rothman, please visit: aliciarothman.com.
Bridgman's 'Flying' oil on linen was selected as the cover art for the HITS Ocala Official Show Program. This dynamic image was an immediate stand out from the submissions with its energy, movement and beautifully contrasting dark and light highlights working together.
Bridgman is no stranger to HITS, as she has shown her work at two Equine Art Galas held during the Saugerties shows. She had a desire to experience the art and sport of jumping in order to paint it, so she took to the saddle.
"About a year and half ago started jumping myself," said Bridgman. "I've been riding since I was eight but I hadn't jumped in quite a while. I'm amazed at the power and agility of this animal and its ability to fly over jumps. This piece 'Flying' is from a series of horses that I recently finished that was born out of me learning and observing jumping. The other pieces in the series examine different angles of the horse taking a jump. The series is meant to highlight the amazing power of the animal."
"I was thrilled to get the call that my work was selected for the Ocala program. I'm really proud to be part of the HITS family," added Bridgman.
Bridgman was born in Waterville, Maine and earned a degree from Connecticut College before moving to New York City where she attended the Parsons School of Design. Mary continued her studies at the Art Students League,
The New York Academy of Art and the School of Visual Arts.
As stated in her biography, Bridgman's work draws upon a broad range of cultural influences from Renaissance paintings to Modern approaches to traditional artistic subject matter employing painting, drawing and photography.
Her work has been included in exhibitions in New York City, The Hudson Valley, Kentucky, Colorado
and Virginia.
In addition to Painting, Bridgman freelances as a Fashion designer, Fashion Illustrator and is on the Faculty at the Parsons School of Design and the
Fashion Institute of Technology and resides in Manhattan. For more information on Mary Bridgman, please visit: marybridgman.com
The 2010 Official Show Programs will be distributed on-site to all exhibitors and spectators attending the HITS Desert Circuit in Thermal, California and the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit in Ocala, Florida. The programs feature lots of important information about the shows, as well as great editorial content, including articles and activities geared toward exhibitors and spectators as well as content and advertising from sponsors and popular local businesses in around the communities that surround the horse shows.
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