OklahomaHorses Magazine Nov/Dec 2020

20 OklahomaHorses • November/December 2020 EQU I NE ART I S T S J ust south of Tulsa, in the town of Mounds, you will find a gravel road off the highway marked with a unique bouquet of metal flowers reaching toward the Oklahoma sky. It is the symbol for Holly Fisher’s art studio and blacksmith shop. Upon arrival, one can’t help but notice the open studio is surrounded by horses. I was greeted with a smile and a welcoming wave. “I dusted off this chair for you,” Holly said, pointing to the chair at the edge of the cement, facing out of the shop toward the horses. A few glances around the studio reminded me of the first few scenes in the Tim Burton movie “Edward Scissorhands.” Though there were utilitarian blacksmith tools and a magnificent forge in the middle of the room, it was surrounded by thoughtfully arranged metal items, machines and forged metal horses that worked together in an odd yet whimsical way. The following Q&A is a look into Holly’s artwork, where she strives to find balance both physically, energetically and sacredly through the horse. Q. HOW DID HORSES INFLUENCE YOU WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER? A. Horse was my first word spoken and will probably be my last. My first horse, Cheyenne the Wonder Horse, needed new springs every fall. I think I rode him pretty hard, but he was a sturdy guy. I can vividly remember the yearning feeling I had when I saw a horse. The desire to be close to the horse and know the horse was physically and emotionally overwhelming. My sister and I played pretend cowboys, making whatever we could ride our hardy steeds—the porch rail, our bicycles, a log, etc. Later on, my mom provided us with a steamer trunk and an old, ratty saddle so we could “ride” inside. Trunky was awesome! We ran at full gallops with our posse, chasing down bad guys on the reg. My cousin, who witnessed (and heard) many of my and Trunky’s adventures would always holler, “Keep on trunkin’!” at me when she walked past. I was smitten. I was obsessed. I was everything and all things horses. I went to horse camp for a few summers, which was the highlight of my life. … I wished I could be at horse camp every day for the rest of my life. Looking back, I think I’ve almost made it back there. Finding Balance THE ART OF HOLLY FISHER WRITTEN BY: Jennifer Hustis Holly Fisher