Heather Roddy’s “Where the Turf Meets the Surf”
A popular program that brings a series of local artists and their works into ready contact with racing fans at Del Mar is back on the calendar for the 2018 racing season.
The sessions will be presented in the entranceway to the Clubhouse/Turf Club area of the grandstand, just inside the admission gates and alongside the picturesque fountain that graces the entry. Artists present their works for sale, sometimes create art right on the spot and interact with fans throughout the afternoon. Each artist takes a full racing week -- Wednesday through Sunday – to show off and discuss their wares.
The group of artists is Amy Treadway, Michelle Gonzalez, Celeste Susany, Heather Roddy and Dominic Az Bonuccelli/Remy Haynes. Treadway, Gonzalez and Roddy have taken part in “Artist of the Week” programs previously. The others are first-timers to the weekly affairs.
They’ll present their art according to this schedule:
Amy Treadway – July 25 to July 29
Michelle Gonzalez – August 1 to August 5
Celeste Susany – August 8 to August 12
Heather Roddy – August 15 to August 19
Bonuccelli/Haynes – August 22 to August 26
Treadway, a locally based artist who especially likes horses and cars (“one horse under saddle or 450 horses under the hood”), has been featured in dozens of local galleries and also worked at the Booth Western Art Museum. She is into bright, vibrant colors that represent a strong feel of energy. “Electric” is the way her work has been described. She has been well received previously as part of several “Artist of the Week” programs.
Gonzalez works out of her studio in Spanish Village in Balboa Park where she offers her art and leads classes for artists to be. Her mediums of choice are watercolors and acrylic. One of her specialties is plein air landscapes, or painting in the great outdoors. She, too, proved to be a well-liked favorite at her earlier appearance during “Artist” weeks.
Susany is recognized as one of the nation’s premier equine artists. She has lived and worked out of Saratoga, New York, of late, but is in the process of relocating to her roots in Southern California. Her works have sold world-wide, but her first showing of equine art was at a Del Mar yearling sale in 1983. Subsequently, she painted several Pacific Classic winners for Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and other pieces of her art still grace the track’s walls.
Roddy is the San Diego-born daughter of two artists who has a studio right in Del Mar. She thinks big, she paints big and she’s sold her work to art collectors all over the globe. She seems to paint best for an audience and has a special touch as a teacher of art. This year she’s all over Del Mar: A whimsical painting of hers is on the covers of the track’s programs and Media Guides; another is hanging in the Turf Club, and she will paint an 8’ X 12’ beauty live on-site as part of the track’s Opening Day activities.
Bonuccelli and Haynes run a unique new gallery in the highly popular Cedros Design District, just down the road from the racetrack in Solana Beach. They currently are featuring an extensive photo display of equine art with horses of all kinds, shapes and sizes presented in tasteful fashion. The pair also will be part of the CARMA “Hoedown” fundraiser this coming Sunday in the Del Mar paddock following the races.
Del Mar’s 36-day season will run from July 18 to September 3. Racing will be conducted on a Wednesday through Sunday basis throughout the stand right up through closing on Labor Day Monday.