The Surf Meets the Turf
bronze sculpture by Célou Bonnet

L'Envol
bronze sculpture by Célou Bonnet

Célou Bonnet Embraces the Challenge - by Sarah H. Crampton

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Célou Bonnet encounters life's adventures with the ease of someone who is always up for a challenge.

Currently the challenge of creating fine bronze sculpture replaces the challenge of galloping and encouraging the finest Thoroughbred racehorses to win. Anyone with the courage to sit astride the fastest Thoroughbreds as they are propelled down the track at lightening speed by the sheer desire to run must also possess the courage to create fine bronze sculpture and thrive in the fine art world. I doubt Célou would say she is courageous. She is simply not afraid.

She realized fabulous success as a jockey including winning the Oaks at Epsom, England, the Prix de Diane at Chantilly, France, and the King George and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot, England. In 1978, the stable she worked for in France moved to New York.

After meeting the famous racehorse trainer, Charlie Whittingham, Célou was offered a job at his racing stable whenever she could get to California. She started packing. Her face is aglow when relating stories about Whittingham. Although he was her mentor with racing horses, to Célou he was much more like a father.

Charlie Whittingham had confidence in Célou's ability to meld with the most sensitive horses. A petite woman, Célou's strength and value as a jockey was her instinctual ability to perceive what the horses needed. She admired Whittingham's willingness to listen to the opinions of a groom, a farrier, or a jockey. He related to everyone on the same level. He would consult with her while deciding when a particular horse was ready to run.

Whittingham often assigned Bonnet to ride the difficult horses. She once rode a problem filly to the track and just patiently allowed her to walk and trot around at will. At times the horse would stop and just look. Célou sensed that the horse had finally just realized she was at the track. On their next gallops she felt something click, an awareness of her settling into her job as a racehorse. With more rides with Célou she began to run races and win.

Célou stayed in California, became a licensed racehorse trainer and began her career as a sculptor. She leads life in a casual down-to-earth style, still occasionally gallops a horse at a local track, and is charmingly generous with her smiles.

Commissioned by the town of Fallbrook, California, where she lives, she created a life-size bronze titled "Bonjour", of a young boy endearingly holding a pet rabbit. The sculpture is prominently displayed to welcome people in the center of town. When you see the bronze of the young boy, his smile ­ all the joy and serenity of Célou is there. It is impossible to withhold a smile when you set your eyes on it.

Not surprisingly, she most often chooses the horse as the subject of her sculpture. The sunlight of her native southern France, the gallops on her beloved racehorses, and the hands-on experience at a foundry have all helped to evolve the sculpture of Célou Bonnet. She chooses to leave in the somewhat rough impressions of her fingers, instead of smoothing it out perfectly. Like the sculpture of Rodin, Bonnet's work is more concerned with emotional expression and she deliberately chooses to leave out some detail. Meeting this current creative challenge, her sculpture solidly delivers the essence of the horse.




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