King to produce bronze sculpture for Barbaro’s memorial

Alexa King’s clay model of the Barbaro sculpture that will one day be airborne in bronze (Reed Palmer Photo/Churchill Downs) Roy and Gretchen Jackson, the owners of 2006 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Barbaro, announced Thursday that they have selected renowned equine sculptor Alexa King to portray Barbaro in bronze. The statue will become the focal point of Barbaro’s official memorial and burial site at Churchill Downs. The Jacksons introduced King and unveiled a clay model of the bronze statue during a news conference at the Kentucky Derby Museum. King’s design features Barbaro and jockey Edgar Prado in mid-flight between strides nearing the finish line in the 2006 “Run for the Roses.” The larger-than-life-sized statue will be attached to a horizontal bronze rail that will support the 1500-pound artwork, creating the impression that Barbaro and his rider are suspended in air. It is the first time that an equine statue of this size and scope has been presented in this manner, with all four of the horse’s feet off the ground. “Roy and I want to portray Barbaro as we remember him best — a beautiful racehorse and an athlete,” Gretchen Jackson said. “Part of our direction to the artists who submitted designs for consideration was to depict Barbaro’s unique racing action. We envisioned him in motion as he began to distance himself from the field at the close of the Kentucky Derby.”

“Nearly 100 artists initially inquired about the project,” said Leonard Lusky,
project manager for the Jacksons. “The selection process lasted four months, and
the search was narrowed to only 10 who were then asked to submit a
one-third-scale model, featuring the Jacksons’ requirement that all four feet be
off the ground — quite an engineering feat given the potential size and weight
of the finished sculpture.”

“It was a difficult decision,” Roy Jackson said. “Each of the artists
submitted such beautiful work. The models represented an amazing array of
talent, but it was Alexa’s interpretation of Barbaro that immediately stood out
and evoked the memories and emotion that we hoped to capture in bronze.”

“It is an honor to have been chosen to create such a special work of art that
I know will have great meaning, not only for the Jacksons, but for fans of
Barbaro and the Kentucky Derby around the world,” King said. “This commission is
one of the most challenging and fulfilling that I have ever undertaken, and I
look forward to capturing the moment that Barbaro became part of Kentucky Derby
history and won the hearts of racing fans everywhere.”

King has distinguished herself as an equine sculptor, winning praise and
recognition around the world for capturing the essence and dynamics of her
equine subject in three-dimensional bronze artworks. A sculptor with 26 years of
experience, King is known for her ability to convey a sense of depth and emotion
in the horses she recreates as living forms in motion. King’s interest in art
began as a child with her mother serving as her first tutor. King studied oil
painting and portraiture under the noted portrait painter, William Ashby, and
credits her early experience as a painter for her ability to understand how
color and light play into the patterns she casts into her sculptural forms.

King’s sculpture of Barbaro will be placed outside Churchill Downs’ Gate 1
along with Barbaro’s ashes, which will be interred beneath the bronze, sometime
next year. As part of the media briefing, the Jacksons, King and officials from
Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby Museum also unveiled a bronze marker,
featuring Barbaro’s likeness, which will mark the spot where the memorial will
be constructed in a garden area outside Gate 1. The garden area is currently
home to a large magnolia tree and other plantings that will be relocated to
another part of the racetrack grounds prior to the memorial’s installation.

“The Churchill Downs team is delighted with Roy and Gretchen Jackson’s choice
of artists, and we look forward to working with Alexa King on transforming her
vision from a clay model into a lasting tribute to Barbaro’s indomitable spirit
and his greatest triumph under our Twin Spires,” Churchill Downs President Steve
Sexton said. “We believe Barbaro’s memorial will become a gathering place for
horse lovers of all ages, and Churchill Downs is proud to serve as Barbaro’s
final resting place.”

Barbaro’s heroic struggle created a swell of national attention and support,
especially in the hearts of children. To honor this connection to children
around the world, the Kentucky Derby Museum will host a student exhibition of
sculpture called Barbaro: Expressions of Love. These works of art should
celebrate Barbaro’s courage in the face of a long struggle.

“Barbaro brought the passion for racing beyond the industry, igniting emotion
in children and inspiring those who had never seen a race,” said Lynn Ashton,
executive director of the Kentucky Derby Museum. “A large part of the Museum’s
mission is education, and Barbaro’s story spread knowledge about racing and
Thoroughbreds worldwide in a way that we could never have achieved through other
means. We hope to honor this legendary horse with the exhibit and student
sculptures.”

The Kentucky Derby Museum is accepting submissions for the exhibition
beginning immediately, and continuing through March 15, 2009. Visit
www.derbymuseum.org for details on how to submit. All pieces meeting the
requirements will be displayed within the Museum.