March 19, 2013
The Sporting Art of Juli Kirk
Autumn Avenue by Juli Kirk, oil on canvas, 20 x 20 inches
Juli Kirk is a classically-trained artist who prefers to work from her imagination. The results to me are both Impressionistic and Expressionistic—the former where the play of changing light on realistic shapes and visible brush strokes stimulate the viewer’s imagination, and the latter where moods and feelings are evoked.
Kirk lives and paints in Easthampton, Massachusetts and Warrenton, Virginia. She is a cum laude graduate of Boston University’s School for the Arts and has also studied art at Queens College (NY), New York Studio School, Cabrillo College (CA), and the University of Santa Cruz (CA).
Juli continued to paint daily while raising three children, riding for a sale barn, running a boarding stable where she gave riding lessons, and training horses on a freelance basis. She was taught to ride by her mother, who was a show rider competing in her youth at the top shows, including Madison Square Garden. Juli got into racing on the fair circuit in western Massachusetts and eventually traveled to Virginia to work with a cousin, Sharon Maloney, who broke racehorses. During that time, a broncy horse at the sale barn bucked her off. The fall resulted in severe back problems.
Trainer Jimmy Day Sweeps Open Races at Warrenton
Open Hurdle winner Sulwaan (#8) ridden by Paddy Young leads second place finisher Sporty (#3) ridden by Mark Beecher over the last fence. / Douglas Lees photo
Jimmy Day-trained horses swept both Open Races at the Warrenton Hunt Point-to-Point at Airlie Race Course, Warrenton, Virginia on Saturday, March 16, 2013. With Paddy Young in the irons for both races, Sulwaan owned by Magalen O. Bryant and Triple Dip owned by Daybreak Stables won the Open Hurdles and the Open Timber Races respectively.
With a half mile to run over hurdles, Sulwaan and Sporty left the field behind and made it a two-horse race, but Sulwaan drew away after the last fence and won easily. In the timber race Zulla Road led after the last fence, but Triple Dip put on a burst and prevailed by a nose.
Dr. Ian Harrison Honored in Virginia
Dr. Ian Harrison of Berryville, Virginia was named Veterinarian of the Year by the Virginia Horse Council. Dr. Harrison was honored at a luncheon on Saturday, March 16, 2013 during the VHC Annual Meeting and Educational Seminar held at Wyers Cave, Virginia on the campus of the Blue Ridge Community College. Australian-born Dr. Harrison graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Master’s Degree in surgery. In 1983 he came to the U.S. to complete a surgery residency at the University of Pennsylvania, New Bolton Center. Although he originally intended to return to Australia, his plans changed after meeting Ginny, a veterinary technician at New Bolton Center, whom he married. From New Bolton Center, Dr. Harrison joined the faculty at Auburn University in Alabama. He was promoted to Associate Professor, but soon after, he and Ginny decided to move north to be closer to Ginny’s family in Delaware. After working in private equine practices for a while, Dr. and Mrs. Harrison opened Harrison Equine in Berryville, Virginia where Dr. Harrison is a Board Certified Equine Surgeon. He has a special interest in upper airway diseases and sports medicine. The couple live in Rippon, West Virginia. The Virginia Horse Council serves as the umbrella organization for Virginia equine interests. The Council lobbies the state legislature on issues affecting horsemen, horsewomen, horses, and related industries. Posted March 19, 2013
Read More
