Marie Christine Maitre de Tarragon
Trust ME,
bronze 50cmX60cm
The Inside Story
While training Steeple-chasers in Washington, Pa. I was asked to train a handsome, somewhat awkward, large and powerful thoroughbred named Big Mac.
We were training across hilly terrain and " Big Mac" started galloping too strongly. I "sat down", as we say in training jargon, deeply, in an attempt to slow his speed, and as I started to rein him in, to my horror, the bridle snapped where it connected to the bit.
Now, at a full, downhill gallop with a dangling bridle.
Ahead the trail ended at a high bank above a pretty creek. With no option to pull up Big Mac at that speed, I mentally prepared myself for a rough bath.
To my surprise, just feet from the edge he gracefully executed a 90 degree turn, that any cutting horse would envy, smoothly finishing the trip along the edge of the stream...
"Trust me, he said, I can turn."
Marie Christine with Tennessee
Born and educated in France.
Boarding school in St Alyre France
Finishing school at the Holy Child in Neuilly- Sur -Seine.
Baccalaureat, with honors [literature -philosophy]
University :Paris-Vincennes [literature, Philosophy]
IN THE US:
Bellarmine college under Bob Lockart, art department, Louisville, Kentucky-
Graduate work: three years at Clemson University art department,mainly foundry, molds and casting work.
Multiple workshops at the Scottsdale art school with Grant Speed, Jerry Cox,Veryl Goodnight, and
Sandy Scott.
Multiple one woman shows, and expositions in
KY, SC, NC, FL.
Representation today: The Art Center, Aiken SC Bascom Art Center, Highlands NC
A lifetime of training, jockeying race horses and steplechasers, in Utah and Kentucky, and finally training and showing reining horses at my farm in South Carolina, so naturally horses have always been my companions and best models.
Now, back in Burgundy, in the family Chateau de Parthey, a classified historic monument,
with my husband Michael, a landscape painter, inspired and energized by the history, architecture of the region, we love to share the house with creative people for a cultural immersion.
Now, I am finishing the project of the life size fountain with four horses-
A restoration of murals in the summer salon; Gilding of antique art frames for
the music salon and the
creation of a garden sculpture in curated stone.
People are warmly welcome in this magical place to create, to write, to play for long or short stays.
Over the years Marie-Christine's work has been acquired by collectors around the world, including France, Japan, and the United States.
This includes not only her Bronzes but an extensive array of drawings, paintings and murals on silk.
She has a permanent installation in Louisville Kentucky of twelve life size horse heads in a fountain setting.