Book created to help preserve Saratoga Race Course

Race Course Reflections was commissioned by the Preservation Foundation and illustrated by Skidmore Graduates Ashley Halsey and Helen Susan Edelman. Proceeds raised from its sale will benefit the Preservation Foundation through the sale of the original artwork and the limited-edition book, Executive Director Samantha Bosshart said.

"We are really excited about the book and hope that it will raise awareness about the different areas at the track that most people don't usually have the opportunity to see," Bosshart said.

The illustrations in the book are all of original watercolor prints by Halsey - a devoted equestrian and an artist who specializes in watercolor painting. In order to create the illustrations featured in the book she visited restricted areas of the track, including barns, recreation buildings, the training gate and the clubhouse entrance.

"It was a privilege to study the culture behind the scenes, especially the complex personalities and interconnected roles of individuals in this setting," Halsey said in a press release.

Aside from her work on Race Course Reflections, Halsey also designed and authored "Saratoga: A Historical Guide" and painted a sculpture for Horses, Saratoga Style 2007.
The illustrations are also accompanied by quotes from interviews with people possessing strong connections to the track throughout the years, including race course announcer Tom Durkin, jockey Pat Day and horse owner Marylou Whitney among others. Local journalist Helen S. Edelman conducted the interviews that helped to shape the book's content.
"Saratoga Race Course is a vivid symbol of this city that excites people as a visual and sensory experience," Edelman said in a press release. "The track and the horses also evoke powerful emotions. I culled quotes that represent these multi-dimensional responses."

Support for printing the book came from The Nordlys Foundation. The foundation's executive director Barbara Glaser, the editor of Skdimore's SCOPE Quarterly Magazine, also helped with the editing and was the one who recommended Halsey to illustrate the book.

"The Nordlys Foundation is proud to support a project that features a young, local artist, highlights the preservation efforts of the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation, and celebrates the historic structures at Saratoga Race Course," Glasser said in a press release.
In May 2007, the preservation foundation previously formed the Saratoga Race Course Coalition to advocate for a thoughtful, balanced approach to the preservation and modernization at the Saratoga Race Course after it was listed on the organization's "10 to Save" list.

So far the organization does not have any numbers in terms of how much the book has raised, but Bosshart said it has been well received so far and they hope it will be a big hit at the track next summer. The book was published and made available in December. All proceeds generated from the sale of the book and the 16 original watercolor paintings by Halsey will be used toward advocacy efforts at the track, Bosshart said.

The book is currently available for $12.95 at Borders Books, Impressions of Saratoga, the Preservation Foundation's office on Spring Street and online at www.saratogapreservation.org.
Each of the 16 watercolor paintings in the book are also available for purchase. So far four of them have been sold but the 12 remaining paintings can be viewed online and purchased at the foundation's web site listed above.

Established in 1977, Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that promotes the preservation and enhancement of architectural, cultural and landscaped heritage in Saratoga Springs.

Mimosa Gallery to showcase "10x10=$100"

Michelle LaLonde believes that "good things come in small packages."  That's why the owner of Mimosa Gallery, 70c Beekman Street in Saratoga Springs, decided to curate "10"x10" = $100," an exhibit of small works, no larger than 10"x10", that will retail for no more than $100.  The show will be up in time for First Night on New Year's Eve and remain on view through February 15.  A public reception is set for January 10 from 5 to 8 p.m.

The show will include landscapes, still lifes, and portraits; as well as pottery and small sculptures. The pieces also showcase the talents of artists who typically create larger work.