FINE ART EDITIONS RELEASES THE GYPSY COLLECTION

BY JOHN S. HOCKENSMITH

GEORGETOWN, KY.—A photographic collection of over 100 giclee prints depicting the magical world of the Romani Gypsies of England and their beloved horses has been released by Fine Art Editions.

The Gypsy Collection encompasses John S. Hockensmith’s colorful travels with a Gypsy family on the annual pilgrimage to Appleby Fair, a gathering both boisterous and spiritual that is rooted in more than 300 years of history. Along the 60-mile, horse-drawn journey through the picturesque villages and misty moors of northern England, Hockensmith captured luminous landscapes, pensive portraits and intimate details of a culture seldom seen by those who are not Gypsies as well as the grace and beauty of their powerful but gentle horses.

“I’ve never been drawn into a subject quite like this,” said Hockensmith, whose equine photography has gained world renown. “The experience was beyond the bounds of my imagination. It’s no exaggeration to say that it was life changing as I lived with the Gypsies and their horses, experiencing both their strengths and the challenges of their lives as seen through the prism of their view that happiness lies in the here and now. The awesome strength yet kind gentleness of these horses, which are typically marked in bold black and white patterns and are adorned with luxurious manes and feather, is unforgettable.”

Several of the images in the collection have been included in Hockensmith’s book, Gypsy Horses and the Travelers’ Way, released in June 2006, and also are showcased in a solo exhibition of the same title at the International Museum of the Horse at the Kentucky Horse Park from June 17 through September 10. Many of the images are unique to the collection.

The prints are available in limited edition quantities of 25-250 and are printed on Somerset 505gm archival watercolor paper or stretched canvas sealed with UV protector. The print sizes range from 6” x 8” to 32” x 40” with retail prices from $125 to $600 each.

Two special box sets of 40 giclee prints on 13” x 19” archival watercolor paper will be limited to an edition of 25 and priced at $2,000 for each set.

John S. Hockensmith specializes in equine photography and owns a studio and gallery in Georgetown, Kentucky. His work has been exhibited at the International Museum of the Horse, the Headley-Whitney Museum and many galleries throughout North America.

For more information about the Gypsy Collection, visit www.finearteditions.net or call 800-972-8385.