Chicago Artist Kay Smith is a local Chicago connection to Disney's movie “Secretariat,” 10-8-10

Sept. 25, 2010 - PRLog -- Subject: Entertainment News Story Idea: Chicago Artist Kay Smith brings a local Chicago connection to the Disney movie "Secretariat," opening October 8, 2010

www.kaysmithartist.com
Kay Smith / Artist Laureate of Illinois
Chicago, Lincoln Park
(773) 935-5759

Press Release  
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  Saturday, September 25, 2010

Contact: Danny Lena Publicist   Phone: (312) 735-2482

Chicago Artist Kay Smith brings a local Chicago connection to Walt Disney's  movie “Secretariat,” opening October 8, 2010

In 1979 Chicagoan Artist Kay Smith was commissioned to capture in a water color painting the energy and spirit of Super Horse Triple Crown Winner Secretariat
• Who: Chicago Watercolor Artist Kay Smith was commissioned to paint the The Great Thoroughbred Horses of the 20th Century. These paintings were then re-produced in the Great American Sports Book (Hall of Fame Press). Kay lives in Chicago's Lincoln Park in a home built in 1875 and is Internationally known for her American Legacy Collection.

• What: A story Idea for your viewers about Chicago's local connection with Walt Disney's movie “Secretariat”

• Where: In 1979 Artist Kay Smith was commissioned to do a painting of Secretariat live and on location in Paris, Kentucky the home of Secretariat Claiborne Farms, www.claibornefarm.com

• When: October, 8, 2010 in movie theaters across Chicagoland

• Why: During your local coverage of the “Secretariat” movie release, Kay can talk to your viewers' about her personal experiences with Secretariat. Their day began with the super horse's little pal and protector, a scruffy, low slung little mutt (whose trust she had to earn,) met her at her car and walked her somberly and purposefully to Secretariat's stable. Here he supervised her movements and when time was up he walked her back to her car.

Her sessions with Secretariat were mixed with fun and seriousness. Secretariat would pose elegantly. He knew his best pose was head up and ears forward. He liked posing. But he was accustomed to photographers. It puzzled him that this person had no light bulbs popping. He would break his pose and turn his head to observe Kay in wonderment. Then return to his pose head up and ears forward.

In his stall he dropped the prima donna role--he was relaxed. At first he ignored Kay and went about eating his breakfast. But his curiosity was keen and he checked her out every day. He played a game with her paint tray pushing it out of her reach. And, oh yes, knocking her straw hat off her head was a sport he thought he invented. The straw hat did not last through the two weeks she spent at Claiborne Farms.

The people, the place and Secretariat were magical. Secretariat was funny, playful, and genial. He had a huge personality and knew who he was.

• How: Kay Smith can show your viewers a few of her watercolor paintings of Secretariat as well as chat on many of the humorous and intimate details about the energy, spirit and the heart of Super Horse- Triple Crown Winner- Secretariat.

Search GOOGLE for "Secretariat" images and 9,350,000 results pop up-- but you will find few individuals who can honestly say "I knew the heart of Super Horse-Triple Crown Winner-Secretariat, the greatest super horse of the 20th century. An individual who saw the heart, the life, the energy, the spirit of Secretariat as revealed by observation through her window of art.

For nearly four decades Kay Smith has chronicled our American story in Canada, England, France, Italy, Spain and the length and breadth of the United States through commissions and assignments from publishers to paint in watercolor those sites, landmarks, shrines, monuments, battlefield, heros and unfolding events that shaped America and our American culture. This body of works on paper is known as The Kay Smith American Legacy Collection.

She is an exuberant watercolorist whose master oeuvre, The American Legacy Collection, is the largest collection of historical subjects painted on site and in watercolor medium ever accomplished by a single artist. In l994 the Lincoln Academy of Illinois named her Artist Laureate of Illinois, (a life time appointment), "whose achievements brought honor to the state because of her identity with it."

Call now and setup an interview with Kay Smith Phone: (312) 735-2482



Web Links:

Press Release Page
http://www.kaysmithartist.com/Artist_Laureate_Kay_Smith_T...

Super Horse Triple Crown Winner Secretariat
http://www.kaysmithartist.com/Super_Horse_Triple_Crown_Wi...

Lectures, talks & art events by Kay Smith
http://www.kaysmithartist.com/Lectures_Talks_and_Events_b...

YouTube link - Secretariat - Belmont Stakes 1973
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoFquax2F-k&feature=player_embedded



YouTube Link - Disney Movie Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlfWTBZeaXs&NR=1&feature=fvwp


Story-line / info on the Disney Movie Secretariat
Despite her lack of experience, housewife and mother Penny Chenery (Diane Lane) agrees to take over management of the family Thoroughbred farm after her father falls ill. Successfully navigating her way through the male-dominated world of horse racing, Chenery, together with veteran trainer Lucien Laurin (John Malkovich), fosters a gifted colt that ultimately crosses the finish line into history as a Triple Crown winner in 1973.

MPAA rating: PG
Release Date: Oct 8, 2010
Director:
Randall Wallace
Starring:
Diane Lane
John Malkovich
Dylan Walsh
Scott Glenn
Dylan Baker