July 1, 2009, Hampton Falls, New Hampshire
-- Commissioned to
design the 20th anniversary cover of the Fidelity Investments Jumper
Classic program book, equine artist Gretchen Almy is putting the final touches
on an oil painting of the nation's top Grand Prix rider, McLain Ward and Goldika 559 - the winners of the 2008
$75,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix. A unique gesture of
the Jumper Classic, the original painting will be presented to McLain during
this year's Grand Prix ceremonies as part of the award he received
for winning last year.
The 2009
program book is being produced for the five-day elite show jumping event held
over Labor Day weekend this year, from September 2-6 at the Silver Oak Equestrian Center
in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire. Following a tradition started by the show
management, the prior year's Grand Prix winning combination has the honors of
being portrayed on the glossy cover of the colorful booklet. Portraits of such top riders as Kent
Farrington and Margie Engle have been immortalized on the Jumper Classic
covers.
There's a new
twist on this year's cover, however, with a new look that show jumping fans can
watch evolve through social media. Not
only does the cover portray the two-time Olympic Gold Medalist in his first
victory immediately following the 2008 Olympics - the artist has posted updates
of the painting's progress on her Facebook page.
"I'm
incredibly excited that this year's cover has a different look and feel," said
Almy, who has produced original artworks for four Fidelity Investments Jumper
Classic program books. "It portrays
McLain and Goldika in the victory gallop instead of taking the jump, as the
covers usually do. McLain has seen and
approved the work and I've been posting updates on Facebook to allow people
insight into the process of creating an original work of art. This is not a traditional commission, it's a
specific event showing a famous horse and rider and should be shared with the
masses!'
Ward and many
of the sport's most notable riders drew crowds last year as they competed for
the blue ribbon and prize monies at the Jumper Classic's first event held at
its new location in New Hampshire. For the past 19 years, the show was held just
north of Boston in the South Hamilton, Massachusetts
area.
The full-color
booklet contains detailed descriptions on the 2009 event and features profile
articles on several of the elite riders whose successful show jumping careers
heighten the excitement and sharpen the competition at New
England's only AGA-sanctioned Grand Prix, the highest level of the
sport with the richest prize money.
Through their advertising, sponsors like Hermes of Paris and Porsche Cars
North America, Inc. make it possible to produce a souvenir-quality book that is
given to VIP ticket holders and sold on the show grounds where thousands of
spectators throng to see their favorite athletes and the spectacular horses.
Meeting the
winning horse of the 2008 $75,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix was a
memorable experience for Almy, who prefers to interact with her equine
subjects. "Most of my work is focused on the personality of these talented
athletes. It's always a special treat to
meet my subjects as I did with Goldika and get a feel for the mare. She
seems like such a sweet horse, with a very kind eye, it was nice to see her
persona off the field and away from competition," Almy said.
Almy's
attention to detail is appreciated. "Just the fact that Gretchen Almy has produced our cover art for four
years says something about how much we appreciate her unique talent for
capturing that moment when the horse and rider express everything this show is
about - athleticism, grace, and power in a colorful and exciting venue," said
Melissa Lovasco, President of the Jumper Classic.
Possessing an
uncanny feel for the personality of the horse that is reflected in her art,
Almy works in oils, graphite pencil, or a digital medium to create highly
detailed portraits that her clients treasure.
Since her first encounter with a horse at the age of six, Almy has honed
her artistic skills with a passion for the equine. Never far from horses, she credits her
foundation in riding to trainer Robin Bacon (now Greenwood)
whom she rode with at Old Salem Farm in New
York as a teenager.
She also worked as an assistant groom for Bacon's students, including
Grand Prix rider Georgina Bloomberg who was just riding ponies at the
time. After her years of intercollegiate
riding, Almy's career with horses would land her a two-year stint as a wrangler
at a ranch in Wyoming. Traveling south, she assisted event rider
Dorothy Trapp at a farm in Kentucky,
and later returned to the east coast where she managed a dressage barn. An avid rider to date, she half leases a horse "Stradavarius" in Middleborough
that she rides 3 days a week.
Dogs are also
a big part of her life, and Almy applies her skills to canine portraiture that
captures the essence of each individual.
When not working on commissioned pieces, she explores her fascination
with large canvas work and abstract expressionism of the equine form.
Almy has a BA in Fine Arts from Randolph-Macon
Woman's College in Lynchburg, Virginia
and spent a semester studying art in Florence,
Italy. Through
her company, Gretchen Almy Designs, located in Middleborough, Massachusetts,
she offers portraiture in graphite, oil, digital color renditions, and candid
photography. She also has her own unique gift line and online store, an
extensive licensing line, and creates product designs for a nationally known
greeting card and t-shirt company.
For more information about the Jumper Classic
please visit www.jumperclassic.com
or call 978.283.7708
files.