Decorated ponies make their debut

By Irma L. Bravo
ARIZONA DAILY STAR

The first herd of decorated ponies from the Tucson-Pima Arts Council Ponies del Pueblo project was unveiled Sunday at the Family Arts Festival Downtown.

Ten life-size polyurethane and fiberglass horses were on display at La Placita Village outside the entrance to the Tucson Convention Center Music Hall. The ponies are part of a project to raise funds for nonprofit groups.

"This is the first public unveiling, and sponsors, artists and nonprofits are here," said Enrique Pérez Gómez, public relations coordinator for the Tucson-Pima Arts Council. "It is a fantastic program because nonprofits are struggling for funds."

Forty ponies will eventually be on display in the Downtown area until November.

The ponies will then be auctioned, and proceeds will go to different nonprofit organizations.

It costs $6,000 to sponsor a pony. Program sponsors pay for the pony to be cast, designed and painted.

One pony, titled "Pony Express," unveiled Sunday was covered with about 40,000 postage stamps. Another artist depicted his ranch life on the Navajo Reservation by painting a scenic design of cows and blue skies.

Tom Philabaum, an internationally known glass artist, created a bright silver pony with pieces of glass.

Elizabeth B. Smith sponsored three ponies after learning that this type of program had finally arrived in Tucson. "In 1976 in Switzerland, I saw the same idea with lions, and New York had cows," Smith said.

Local artist and gallery owner Diana Madaras also had one of her ponies on display Sunday.

"I was in the founding committee for the project, and I'm active in a lot of community charity events," said Madaras, 48, owner of Madaras Gallery.

Madaras said her pony, "Arizona Prince," took five weeks to paint because each design on the horse required three coats of paint.

Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup also attended the ceremony and said the Arts Festival is a time to celebrate artists.

"It is about supporting our nonprofits and about supporting our city," he said.

Spectators were amazed by the beauty of the ponies.

"I think they are fantastic and the artists did a great job," said Keith Manning, 29. His wife's (Connie Manning, 28) employer, the Saguaro Ranch Development Corp. sponsored a pony to benefit the Marana Arts Council.

Among the nonprofits that will benefit from the project are the Metropolitan Tucson Convention and Visitors Bureau; Boys and Girls Clubs of Tucson; Tucson Symphony Orchestra; Alzheimer's Association Desert Southwest Chapter; Tucson Museum of Art; Marana Arts Council; and the Humane Society of Southern Arizona.

Contact reporter Irma L. Bravo at 629-9412 or ibravo@azstarnet.com.