FEBRUARY 2019 THE RIDER /45 Photographer & Horse-Lover Dorothy Chiotti Wins


Equus Film Festival Award For Best Equestrian Photo Journal Fine art photographer, horse-lover and


Mono resident, Dorothy Chiotti, recently re- ceived a WINNIE Award for Best Equestrian Photo Journal from the prestigious EQUUS Film Festival held in New York City (Nov.29- Dec.2) for Unsung Heroines of the Horse Indus- try, her short film tribute to women who work behind the scenes in the equestrian world. Inspired by her showcase at Urban Gallery


in Toronto during the ScotiaBank CONTACT Photography Festival last May, Dorothy used her images displayed under the title Barn Mavens to form the basis of this short film high- lighting women working with horses. Her large- format photos are known for their qualities in colour and light, as well as their sensitive depic- tion of day-to-day barn tasks and interactions with horses. “I’m thrilled to have received this


award from the EQUUS Film Festival,” says Dorothy. “To have my photography honoured by this extraordinary international festival ded- icated to the horse is simply wonderful.” Chiotti’s work, which covers everything


from equestrian lifestyles to travel, can be viewed


online at


www.aimwellcreativeworks.com and she wel- comes commissions for equine portraits so if you have a special 4- legged friend you’d like photographed, Dorothy will be pleased to chat with you.


Glenda Fordham The Rider


Real Estate Agent Directory Central Ontario


The Rider Recommends The Adventures Of Ludwig & Imogen


Written by Beryl Tsang Illustrations by Meredith Wolting The children’s book is available from Ama- zon.ca Any Harry Potter fan will know what a


hippogriff is…do you? If not, it’s a cross be- tween a horse and an eagle and one stars as the lead character in a new children’s book, The Adventures of Ludwig (the imaginary beast). Imogen is a young woman living in a large city with lots of noise, people and dis- tractions. Along with her imaginary pet hip- pogriff, Ludwig, they enjoy waffles, pizzas and navigate their way through traffic and around the playground near their urban home.


The 32pg book makes for an exciting read-along with mum or dad, and the colour-


The Rider recently spoke with Beryl and Meredith who told us…


Who was your inspiration for Imogen…and why a hippogriff? Beryl: My inspiration for Imogen is the hap- less urban single woman who is working at a job that is predictable and not very exciting (which she likes). She is someone who wants to live a simple “milquetoast” life except that her imagination gets the better of her and this 100lb Hippogriff just sort of drops into her life without any warning. Why a hippogriff? Being Asian, I’m awfully fond of Qilins, Phoenixes and Dragons but not terribly fa- miliar with Hippogriffs. The actual Hip- pogriff that inspired Ludwig is the statue that sits outside of the Lillian H. Smith Library in downtown Toronto.


ful pictures help kids imagine the world Imo- gen and Ludwig inhabit…perhaps they, too, have an imaginary friend who accompanies them on their flights of fantasy.


With parents giving smartphones or tablets to their youngest children for amusement (or babysitting), do you think the art of parental storytelling needs a boost? Meredith: One of my earliest childhood mem- ories is of my parents reading to me and doing different voices for dif- ferent characters. This is such an important bond- ing tool for parents and children, and I truly be- lieve that it influenced the way I learned to speak and is the reason I now have a career in art and performance. Tech- nology will never replace face to face connection or the magic of live the- atre. Beryl: I am a big fan of making art, reading, sto- rytelling and writing ac-


cessible. I think that it’s important to engage children creatively and as a parent, I found bedtime stories, listening to talking books while we did chores or travelling to be great ways encouraging and inspiring imagination.


Meredith, as the book’s illustrator, what at- tracted you to this project? Meredith: As soon as I heard that someone was looking for an illustrator for a children’s book about a hippogriff’s adventures in the city, I knew I had to apply! As a child, I was always writing stories and drawing pictures of unicorns and dragons, so illustrating a children’s book about magical creatures is truly a lifelong dream come true! Is there another book of further adven-


tures with Ludwig and Imogen in the works? Beryl: There are definitely plans afoot for a new book, especially as Ludwig hits all the Hippogriff milestones like learning to fly, fin- ger-painting and going to his first birthday party.


Brant County


Teri Davidson Broker/Owner


Over 36 yrs full-time experience • Canada's Most Referred Realtor


Serving: Brant, Haldimand, Norfolk, Ox- ford, South Dumfries, North


Dumfries, Ancaster, Flamborough, Cambridge and Woodstock.


Associate Realty Brantford Inc.


519-752-4116 • (519) 647-3330 teridavidson@execulink.com


Erin, East Garafraxa, Caledon & Surrounding Areas


Broker


Harnessing Country Living For You 1-800-268-2455 • (519) 939-SELL (7355)


E: jguagliardi@royallepage.ca • jacquelineguagliardi.com


Erin, Caledon & Surrounding Areas


Meredith (L) & Beryl (R)


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