"The Horse in Art"

The setting for this review is the North Light Gallery situated at Armitage Bridge, just outside Huddersfield and the subject is a solo exhibition by equestrian artist Carol (Caro) Ward.
Caro is an exponent in the structure and movement of the horse producing huge drawings and studies of these animals having researched and explored equestrian anatomy during her time at University which shows in her execution and rendition of these magnificent animals, a fact which was unfortunately unrecognised at the time due to art schools obsession with theoretical abstract art.
We are reminded of the saying "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" but the beholder needs to see the beauty.
In this exhibition she explores the horse and its relationship with humans through various stages of history in contemporary form, yet in part it takes on an almost allegorical rendition which reminds one of Walter Crane`s "Neptune`s Horses" whilst another takes us to an age of chivalry with an almost mythological unreality.
In contrast to this display of raw energy, in some of her recent work it almost appears that this energy has been spent and it time to relate to a gentler period.
Minimalistic brush strokes carefully executed over a Mosaic of almost cavalierly thrown splashes of colour create an impression of horses charging through the canvas from another dimension into reality, yet this is relaxing artwork making the viewer feel at ease.
An unusual feature during this exhibition will be tuition by Caro in drawing the horse, quite literally with a live horse as a model, it`s concept and actuality being made possible with the open minded experimental attitude and cooperation of the gallery, helped of course by having a gallery able to cater for this type of life drawing, but "If you have it, Use it" which is something that we hope they will continue to do.
The exhibition runs from the 5th March to the 29th May 2010.
Further information about the gallery and the exhibition can be found on http://www.northlightgallery.org.uk/ e:northlightgallery.co.uk
Caro can be contacted on http://www.caro-artist.co.uk/ e:info@caro-artist.co.uk