NORWICH – The Chenango County Council of the Arts will be presenting the work of Smyrna artists Kim Cook and Jeanne Joslyn in a show dedicated to equine art. The show will open Friday, June 13 with a reception from 5-7 p.m. in the Mariea Brown Gallery at the Council of the Arts, 27 West Main St., Norwich. The opening is free and open to the public and is being sponsored by Leatherstocking Equine Center.

Cook’s passion for photography and riding began at a very early age, with her first camera (and pony) at age 10. She began shooting photographs of friends and her animal, even taking her camera to school beginning in the 6th grade. Working first with a Kodak instamatic, then on to a manual Yashica 35mm, then to a Minolta 35mm as an adult. She now shoots almost exclusivly digital, for it offers more creative freedom. Prefering to shoot with the beauty of natural light, she believes photography is a true form of art,  a blending of vision and technique. She strives to  capture the “soul” of her subjects, envoking emotion and a feeling of the moment.Cook specializes in Equine & Canine Photography. 

Joslyn was born at a very young age. She was encouraged in all things creative by her loving parents and her far too numerous siblings. She attended Oswego State University where she majored in art and studied figure drawing and sculpture. While there she had the wonderful experience of studying art abroad for a semester in Siena, Italy. Tragically, shortly after college she was kidnapped by accountants and taught to be “practical.” For many years she lived by their evil doctrines. Until one day, while sitting under an apple tree she was struck in the head by a coconut. Then suddenly it dawned on her that life was far too short to be practical. She left the bean counters to their beans and took up sculpture, drawing and painting. Even now as she passes accountants in the street you can hear her say, “But for the grace of a coconut, there go I.”