An art extravaganza featuring over 100 top New Mexico and Native American artists will be officially launched in early June of 2001. The Trail of the Painted Ponies is a statewide public art/cultural project in which select artists, sculptors and graphic designers were invited to paint, decorate, artistically transform life-size fiberglass horses. From June through October 2001 these "equine artworks" will graze the public landscape throughout the state. Colorful herds will be "corralled" in Carlsbad, Artesia, Roswell, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Los Alamos, Taos and Eagles Nest, and visitors are being encouraged to "saddle up and take a trail ride."

At the end of the project, on October 1st, 2001, the Painted Ponies will be rounded up and sold at a live and Internet auction at www.gopaintedponiesauction.com with the proceeds going to New Mexico youth, arts, cultural, and social non-profit organizations.

"Our intention with The Trail of the Painted Ponies is to diversify tourism, giving visitors a major new attraction," says project leader Rodney Barker. "This will also raise the profile of our talented and diverse, world-class arts community."

Barker predicts that more than 3 million people will take a "trail ride." Part of his enthusiasm is based on the promotion of The Trail of the Painted Ponies as a "colorful detour" on the 7th anniversary of Route 66.