Painted Pony Prize
In 2001, The Trail of Painted Ponies Inc., the organization that conceived of and produced a New Mexico-based public art project, invited artists around the Southwest to submit designs for imaginatively transforming life-size fiberglass horses into original works of art. These artworks were sponsored by businesses and individuals who, in turn, selected a non-profit organization to be the primary financial beneficiary when the Painted Ponies sold. The Sylvia
Toth Foundation sponsored "Unity" and selected Futures for Children to be the beneficiary.
The Trail of Painted Ponies made a special effort to involve premiere American Indian artists in the project, and to attract artwork that reflected the American Indian experience. "Unity" is perhaps one of the more extraordinary artworks produced for The Trail of Painted Ponies. San Diego-based pop artist Georges Monfils created a design that captured the coming together of two cultures: the early Spanish explorers who brought the horse to this continent and the Native tribes whose societies were transformed by the arrival of the horse. Monfils did it in an exceptional way. Rather than "painting" his Pony with a brush, he covered it with seed beads�over 1,500,000 seed beads, applied one at a time. So remarkable was this achievement that "Unity" was nominated for an award from the Guinness Book of World Records. Since 2001, The Trail of Painted Ponies has toured "Unity", drawing attention to the artist and promoting its beneficiary, Futures for Children. In March of 2005, Bill and Peggy
King of Stanley, New Mexico decided to add it to their art collection and, in the process, support Futures for Children in a spectacular way. We sincerely thank the Trail of the Painted Ponies, the Sylvia Toth Foundation, and George Monfils for such innovative support to Futures for Children.
We warmly welcome Bill and Peggy King to the Futures for Children family and look forward to sharing with them the student stories of success their generous $10,000 gift will support.
For more information on The Trail of Painted Ponies, please visit: www.trailofpaintedponies.com
