Saddle Up: Horses in Children's Literature

In one of my favorite Seinfeld episodes, Jerry upsets his distant cousin, Manya, when he says that he hates anyone who had a pony when they were growing up. As it turns out, Manya and all of her friends had ponies growing up in Poland. Jerry quickly changes his tune: “Who wouldn't love a pony? Who wouldn't love a person that had a pony?” And he’s right. Who doesn’t love ponies? Or horses of any kind, for that matter?

If you didn’t have a pony as a child and you don’t hold as much animosity about it as Jerry did, check out the “Saddle Up: Horses in Children’s Literature” exhibit beginning next week. The exhibit will showcase horse books from the Richmond Public Library’s Martha Orr Davenport rare book collection and original art, books, and horse memorabilia on loan from private collectors. A public reception tonight from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Martha Orr Davenport Special Collections Room kicks things off, but the exhibit runs through May 30. This is the perfect opportunity to introduce children to the grandeur that is the Library of Virginia. Opportunities for viewing “Saddle Up: Horses in Children’s Literature” include Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Richmond Main Library, 101 E. Franklin St.


In other art news, check out “Visions of a Dream: The Chicago Freedom Movement” photography exhibit in the James Center Atrium, 1051 E. Cary St. Photographer Bernard J. Kleina’s images, brought to Richmond by Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia, depict the civil rights struggles of the 1960s, focusing on the issue of housing in Chicago. The exhibit through April 28.