No horsing around, residents can help out by donating a glove

A horse is a horse of course of course -- unless Bill Stewart has something to do with it.

The Hamlin resident and renowned local artist decided to take a step away from his usual medium, clay sculpting, and head down another track. Stewart was approached by Rochester Red Wings General Manager Dan Mason to proceed with an idea that Stewart had submitted to Rochester's Horses on Parade campaign.

The campaign is a community project spearheaded by High Falls Brewing and Dixon Schwabl Advertising in which 150 fiberglass horses have been purchased by local groups, decorated by local artists, will be on display around the city this summer and then will be part of a charity auction in September.

Stewart, a former SUNY Brockport professor and long-time baseball fan, got the idea to cover a horse with baseball gloves. Stewart said baseball mitts have long been referred to as "horse hide," hence his plan to cover the horse with gloves.

"I wanted to get away from painting," said Stewart, who has some of his work on display at the Memorial Art Gallery. "I thought that this would be something different." Stewart stopped short of completely covering the horse in an effort to get the community involved in the project.

The Red Wings will be collecting baseball gloves from the community to complete the horse. People are encouraged to write their name, or their children's names, on the gloves. Stewart's glove-covered horse will be on display at Frontier Field.

Along with being a baseball fan, Stewart is fond of Rochester's team and the history of the Red Wings. His interest in the team makes the project even more intriguing for him.

"It's exciting that this horse will, in some way, become a part of Red Wings history," said Stewart. It also will be an important part of the fundraising auction that will take place in September. According to Renee StLouis, of Dixon Schwabl, the project has been galloping along quite well. "It really has been fabulous," said StLouis. "We've had horses decorated with shoes, pajamas and even car parts."

For more information on Horses on Parade check out www.highfalls.com.