(20 May 2014)

At the end of May there will be an art exhibition and auction in aid of the Italian Horse Protection association to support their work battling for the welfare of horses and other equids.
Art, history and solidarity unite in this event thanks to Alessandra Bianchini, a lifetime activist for equine welfare, and owner of the Porcellino Gallery in Florence.
Artists from all over the world will be exhibiting their works showing horses in liberty, and then putting them up for auction in aid of IHP. All the artists taking part have dedicated their professional lives to the world of horses.

Art and solidarity are traditionally part of Florentine history. Horse Utopia continues in this noble tradition thanks to Porcellino Gallery Art Boutique B&B. Porcellino Gallery is unique, a luxury boutique B&B inside an art gallery, on the first floor of of the XVI century Palazzo Cavalcanti, in the very heart of the town just a few steps from Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio and the Uffizi Gallery and overlooking the loggia of the Mercato Nuovo, also called ’the Porcellino’, which gave it its name.
The exhibition will be open to the public from 18 to 28 May from 14.00 to 19.30, Porcellino Gallery, Piazza del Mercato Nuovo 4, Florence.
The auction will take place on 29 May in the prestigious Palazzo di Parte Guelfa, Piazza di Parte Guelfa, from 10.00 to 18.30 and will be followed by a cocktail for invited artists, buyers and personalities.

Italian Horse Protection is an ONLUS organization working for equine welfare throughout Italy. It runs the first rescue centre for mistreated equids in Italy, and those legally seized on the basis of Law 189 (2004). The centre was established by decree of the Ministry of Health on 23 December 2009 and currently hosts 72 ponies, horses, donkeys and hinnies. IHP aims to improve the lives of equids in Italy through changes in attitudes and laws, through educative activities, action against mistreatment and the promotion of new legislation. The Association receives no government funding, relying totally on donations from the public and from associations.

Works exhibited and auctioned are by:
Riccardo Biondi, Italy; Gabriela Boiero, Argentina; Anne Bowen, UK; Mary Brun, Italy; Madeleine Bunbury, The Caribbean; Jan Schuster Callus, USA; Gerard Cammarota, Italy; Lorenzo Campostroni, Italy; Robert Clark, USA; Sarah Clegg, UK; Tony O. Connor, Ireland; Jana Fox and Oleg Dyck, Germany; Martina Gates, USA; Benedicte Gele, France; Sheona Hamilton-Grant, Germany; Astrid Harrison, UK; Juliet R. Harrison, USA; Mary Herbert, UK; Ellie Hesse, UK; Maike Josupeit, Germany; Frédérique Lavergne, France; Susan Leyland, Italy; Marco Manzella, Italy; Annamaria Maremmi, Italy; Stefano Mariotti, Italy; Laurence Martaguet, France; Elizabeth McCrindle, UK; Jane Monsson, USA; Kathi Peters, USA; Laetitia Plinguet, France; Maureen Prottey, UK; Laurence Poitrin, France; Riccardo Ruberti, Italy; Alessandro Secci, Italy; Silvia Serafini, Italy; Renske Schuilenga, Netherlands; Bridget Tempest, UK; and Lesley Thieli, UK.