Description 2010 RC deWinter ~ All Rights Reserved
___________________________________________ These large, strong oxen are barely breaking a sweat as they haul the two-plus tons on the stoneboat during an oxen pull. Their trainer/driver runs alongside, shouting encouragement.________________________________________ Note the crop in the driver's hand. For those of you concerned about animal welfare, as I am, please know that the crop - or plain old stick, used by most drivers - is generally employed only to direct the animals into position; rarely is an animal struck, and then only lightly to get them to pay attention.
I cannot speak for other states, but Connecticut has a strict code in place as far as conduct during pulls and other animal events, and it is rigorously enforced. In any case, the people who compete in pulls are proud of the time, training and grooming they have invested in their expensive stock, and would be mightily embarrassed to be thought mistreating them.
In the many years I have been observing and photographing pulls in Connecticut, my overwhelming impression is that the participants respect their animals and more often than not will pull their teams out of an event rather than push them to compete when they are tired or clearly cannot handle the weight on the boat.________________________________________ Digital oils from an original photograph that caught the action of this team which, because of their maturity, size and years of experience, will go on to pull many more tons before they are through for the day.
RC DeWinter, Fairfield, CT Member Since December 2008 Artist StatementHello and welcome to my portfolio on Imagekind. Here's a bit about me:
RC deWinter is a Connecticut writer/digital artist whose artwork has been published in many print and online journals, including, among others, The American Muse, Fine Art Photography, Poetry Nook, 2River View, Pink Panther, Official Feature Online Entertainment Magazine, Garden Tripod and also used as set décor on ABC-TV’s “Desperate Housewives." In 2013 Ms. deWinter she was one of six finalists for a Shorty Award, the national social media awards, in art. Ms. deWinter is honored to be the first digital artist invited to exhibit at the Arts of Tolland Gallery in Connecticut. Her 4-week solo exhibition was an unqualified success. Her poetry publication credits include The New York Times, Uno: A Poetry Anthology, 2River View, Another Sun, Pink Panther Magazine, Pilcrow & Dagger, Plum Ruby Review, Poetry Life and Times and numerous other print/online publications. If you enjoy my work, please spread the word, and thank you for stopping by.
Don't miss my beautiful original artwork calendars printed in the USA on heavy stock. Always available - you choose the starting month and year: Original Artwork Calendars by RC deWinter