Artist Nick Cave launches Horse Sculpture installation in New York

We love it when people get creative with their love of horses; and you can't get much more creative than this!

Renowned American artist and sculptor, Nick Cave - not to be confused with the fantastic Australian musician of the same name - this week unveiled a horse-themed live art installation to celebrate the centennial of New York City's Grand Central Terminal that already has captured the imagination of the city's many thousands of daily commuters, and not to mention us too!

Running until the 31st March, HEARD NY, is a combination of performance art and sculpture which involves 30 costumed horses (or Soundsuits) grazing, moving and dancing on the main floor of the Vanderbilt Hall, to the sounds of live music from around the world. 

The horses, although operated by pairs of live performers inside carefully-constructed costumes, the figures take on lives of their own, flitting in and out of moments of still movement and seemingly random choreography. The performances, spread throughout the day are intended as a colourful representation of how important Grand Central Terminal has been in bringing many different people from vastly different parts of the world together through its transport network. 

But above all, it's also meant to provide an escape from the regularity of every day routine, and the hustle and bustle of the big city, and instead serve almost as an momentary escape from the grind for anyone with a child-like imagination and a of course a love of horses!

Each costume is uniquely designed, with each 'horse' being decorated with a mask made from hand-selected textiles from all over the world, almost giving each one its own fun identity! The piece has also been performed in other locations, so keep an eye out!

In the meantime, however, let your mind run free in the fields of your imagination and watch this great video of HEARD NY below!

Using Horses as Therapy

Michael Hamm looks like your typical cowboy, but Hamm's life has been anything but normal.

Hamm- a Vietnam War veteran- is a former drug smuggler and convict.

"Some guys came to me and said we've got a business you can get into that will make a lot of money with your airplane- importing exotic plants from Central America," says Hamm.

"My first run, I came back with a thousand pounds of marijuana. They slammed the prison door shut and I didn't think I'd ever see the free world again."

Hamm did see freedom...then turned his life around. Hamm now operates a prison ministry and uses his life story to counsel both kids and young adults.

Hamm also uses horses on his 11-acre farm near Elberta as therapy and guidance for troubled kids.

Cross Roads Ranch provides "equine therapy"- an experimental therapy involving interactions between at-risk youth and horses.

Hamm hopes to expand his non-profit equine therapy program to a residential ministry and treatment facility for non-violent criminal offenders.

Cross Roads Ranch is holding a benefit rodeo May 24th and 25th at the Baldwin County Coliseum in Robertsdale.

Hamm says he'll need at least six thousand bucks a month to keep the facility up and running.


If you live in or around the Crieff, Perthshire area, make sure that you check out Crieff Hydro Hotel's very own Riding Centre, Set within 900 acres of beautiful Perthshire countryside at the foot of the Knock of Crieff, the Crieff Hydro Riding Centre boasts a unique and idyllic setting for horse riding enthusiasts of all levels.