I met up with Monique Rae on a drizzly Sunday morning, in nearby San Juan Capistrano. She was scrambling to put up a tarp over her latest artistic endeavor–a life-sized mustang sculpture, replete with hummingbirds, butterflies, and native plants.
The overall design suggest Monique’s personal interests, as well as the environment in which she paints. When completed, the sculpture will also bear some resemblance to her mustang, Hawk.
As we talked, Monique flitted from one penciled sketch to another, dabbing yellow paint on the horse’s tail and splashes of color along its flank.
Her face was radiant, no doubt a reflection of the happiness that comes of expressing one’s self through art.
The sky darkened. Fat raindrops slanted through the trees and spattered wet polka-dots onto the empty adirondack chair. But the wild mustang was safely corralled, as were we, inside her impromptu art studio.
Monique was a whir of motion for the entire length of our visit. When she wasn’t painting, she was feeding the hummingbird rescues she’d nestled into a cozy carrier on the front seat of her car. An acknowledged hummingbird rehabilitation expert, she provides nourishment for her babies with syringes that mimic a mama hummingbird’s slender beak.
Monique, I learned, is one of 10 artists currently lending their time and talents to Wild Horses SJC, which honors San Juan Capistrano’s storied past as a rural equestrian community, while also raising funds for Return to Freedom, a wild mustang sanctuary in Santa Barbara County. Her contribution to San Juan Capistrano’s mustang collection will be featured at the Eco Garden Expo on Los Rios Street, from April 23-24.
The wild mustang is an American icon, symbolizing freedom and untamed beauty. In broadcasting its plight, we help preserve its habitat and thereby increase its chances for survival. With that in mind, Wild Horses SJC plans to display its equine “herd” around town before auctioning them off. Concurrent with those efforts, project leaders hope to wrangle support for a nation-wide awareness campaign, aptly named Horse of a Different Color.™
Everyday people, doing extraordinary things…this is how change eventually comes.
Beautiful art!
(And–I have to ask. Do you know the name of the trees with the splitting bark in the second to bottom picture? They have them in Santa Barbara, too, only my husband doesn’t really know tree names, and can never answer my question when we are out there. 🙂 )
They’re eucalyptus trees. Don’t you just love the split bark?
Come out West again–Santa Barbara or Orange County–and I’d be happy to accompany you on a nature walk… 🙂
Interesting. I think it’s just the angle of the picture, then. I’m very familiar with eucalyptus, but this picture is making me think of a different tree–the one with the bark that seems to loosen like a loose roll of toilet paper. Spongey, almost. Possibly Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cajeput)? (Trying to google a description here.) In any case, both are really interesting and eye-catching trees!
You sparked my curiosity, so I called the owner of Goin’ Native Therapeutic Gardens, where that shredded-bark tree resides. And you know what? You’re absolutely right! It’s a Melaleuca. But oh geez, I forgot to ask which species… 🙂
There’s a health food chain or something called Meleleuca in Idaho Falls. But I didn’t realize it was also the name of a tree. They are so unusual-looking! I always want to go squish them and see if they are as spongey as they look. Good to know what they are!
PS Google “Goin’ Native Therapeutic Gardens” in San Juan Capistrano. That’s where I snapped these photos. The owner can probably identify for you the exact species, and she can certainly describe for you its texture. 🙂
I’d like to paint one of those horses! Monique sounds like a special person. Thanks for this look into someone else’s busy and creative life, Melodye!
Your entry would be amazing! I love all the images you post to FB and your blog. Just guessing here…would your sculpture include images of your beloved lake and garden flowers?
As an interesting aside, I thought it was fun to see news reports out of India today. In this link, you’ll see the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (William and Catherine) putting the finishing touches on a baby elephant sculpture for charity, during their royal tour of India.
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-36034876
What a wonderful article Melodye and great pictures as well.
Thanks, Carol. I really appreciate that you introduced me to Monique in the first place. I keep her contact information nearby, in case of a hummingbird-related emergency, and I’m glad to help bring wider awareness to the Wild Horses, SJC project.
you find such interesting people to blog about. “Horse of a different color.’ My father used to say that!
I love that expression, don’t you? Even more so, now that I know about this project.
This area (yours, too) is filled with “interesting people” who have amazing stories to share.