The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
High Hopes to hold Horse Show Days
Therapeutic riding program celebration
OLD LYME >> High Hopes Therapeutic Riding in Old Lyme is hosting its annual Horse Show Days from May 20-26, celebrating the achievements of its riders and participants over the last academic year.
The event is a week-long celebration of the work and progress of each class throughout the week, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Each class will be presented with the award ribbons by distinguished members of the community for their performances.
High Hopes will also host a bake sale and rider demonstrations. The event is open to members of the community to give them an opportunity to learn about one of the top therapeutic riding centers in the nation.
Horse Show Days is informal and child friendly, giving visitors the flexibility to stay as long as their schedule allows. High Hopes staff is offering attendees a chance to meet the horses and watch a therapeutic riding class in session.
High Hopes is located at 36 Town Woods Road in Old Lyme.
For more information and directions contact Karena Garrity, 860-434-1974, 119 or visit www. highhopestr.org.
High Hopes is one of the oldest and largest therapeutic riding centers in the United States, operating since 1974 and accredited by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, International (PATH Intl.) since 1979.
High Hopes is committed to providing the highest quality service to all who might benefit, regardless of their financial means.
day’s collectors. They are a great way to really get familiar with an artist’s style and sensibility. Drawings and etchings by listed artists from the past can be a great addition to any collection. They are affordable and imminently engaging,” says “We have quite a selection in this show of works on paper that reveal artist’s sensibilities in a way oils just can’t,” said Jeff Cooley, owner of The Cooley Gallery.
Among the historic works will be drawings by Charles Harold Davis (1856-1933). In his day, Davis was considered among America’s greatest painters. He was the founder of the Mystic Art Association and lived in nearby Noank.
Platt Hubbard (18891946) was an artist from Old Lyme who among other things did a series of etchings of trees. Far from “wooden,” Platt’s etchings call out the individuality of each of his subjects.
Works by the “Father of American Impressionism”, J. Alden Weir (1852-1919) include interiors and portraits in this exhibition. Thomas Nason (1885-1971) was known as the “Poet Engraver of New England.” The etcher and print maker gained wide recognition with his illustrations in “The Wood-Pile: By Robert Frost” a book of poetry by the famous American poet. Nason’s prints embody the moody changes in atmosphere and somber introspection inspired by the New England hills and fields that surrounded him.
Works by contemporary artists will also be included in this exhibition. Wellknown photographer Peter Harron who lives and works in Essex has traveled around the world photographing poetic landscapes in black and white.
Miniature landscapes in charcoal by Donna Levinstone will hang alongside paintings by Hartford artist Zbigniew Grzyb.
In the award-winning movie, “Like Notes of Music,” Christian Brechneff’s life and art comes to the screen. There are scenes in the film when Christian is free-hand drawing voluptuous flowers in India ink from a glass tube or pipette. Employing a glass tube to deliver the line on the paper seems an unnecessarily difficult added challenge but Christian’s facility with the medium and the expressiveness he gains illustrate the delicacy and boldness of black defining form. The seemingly random sweeps of black over white by Michael St. Germain belie the discipline they require.
“Black and White” opens May 27 at The Cooley Gallery, 25 Lyme St. in Old Lyme and runs through July 2. There will be a gallery reception on Saturday, May 27, from 5 to 7 p.m. The public is welcome.
Founded in 1981 and located in the heart of historic Old Lyme, the Cooley Gallery specializes in fine American paintings from the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries, including the Hudson River School, American Impressionism, and select contemporary artists.
Regular gallery hours are noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays. Call 860-434-8807 or v is itwww. cooley gallery. com for additional information.