COUNTRY ARTS
‘HORSE FEVER’ STILL RUNNING STRONG COUNTY-WIDE PUBLIC ART PROJECT FILLS OCALA WITH COLORFUL EQUINES
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tanding 6 feet, 5 inches in height from tip of the ear to the ground, and 8 feet long, these horses are made of fiberglass and have a clear-coated finish to protect them from the elements. The horses—88 in all, located throughout greater Ocala, Florida—were designed and decorated by local artists as part of “Horse Fever.” It’s a series of events that took place during the past 15 or so years, with new horses added each time. The
horses are vivid, colorful and unique—because each was painted by an individual artist who offered his or her own vision. And the theme was obvious, because Ocala is known as the “Horse Capital of the World.” Examples of the works include a horse decorated with large, colorful flowers and stunning dragonflies; another in early Americana style, with soldiers and the flag. One horse’s design features a small-town setting,
THE HORSES ARE VIVID, COLORFUL AND UNIQUE— BECAUSE EACH WAS PAINTED BY AN INDIVIDUAL ARTIST WHO OFFERED HIS OR HER OWN VISION.
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F LO R I D A C O U NTRY D e c e m b e r | J a n u a r y 2 0 1 9
PHOTOS COURTESY OF CITY OF OCALA CULTURAL ARTS
Written by: Ava Isabel Grace
