Mayor Pro Tem Denis Weber presented Fred Stone, renowned equine artist, with a proclamation during Wednesday evening's City Council meeting.
"I've been wanting to do this for a long time," he told the gathering as Stone came up to accept his award.
Friend and Cultural Arts Council member Constance Jolcuvar paid tribute to the 35-year Old Agoura resident, saying this is the highest honor a citizen can receive."
Stone's internationally recognized poster titled Partners, which depicts a fireman and his search dog, has now raised over one half million dollars for the ASPCA, Canine Search & Rescue, the Oklahoma Memorial and the families of firemen who died on 9/11. This poster now hangs in the White House.
Following the reading of the proclamation, a humbled Stone said that he was surprised by the award since he "never reads" any of the press that's written about him.
The proclamation coincides with of Stone's 12 original paintings. This show will be held at at the Thousand Oaks Community Gallery (2331-A Borchard Road, Newbury Park). Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday April 27, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 28.
"This is only the second exhibit I've had in 35 years," Stone later told Agoura Hills Patch. "I've never had this many originals to put up."
The exhibit is in support of and will benefit the Greater Conejo Valley’s Tourism Initiative in which the visual arts are expected to play an important role. This event is made possible, in part, by the cooperative efforts of the the Westlake Art Guild, the City of Thousand Oaks Cultural Affairs Department and the City of Agoura Hills’ Cultural Arts Council.
a great exhibition of his art.p And he has an obvious love for animals.