Background
She was born in Paris, Kentucky, in 1922.
She was born in Paris, Kentucky, in 1922.
Her work also included jewelry design, paintings, bronze sculptures, and portraits. Examples of her work can be found in public and private collections worldwide, including the Kentucky Derby Museum and the art collection of Queen Elizabeth World War II She earned her bachelor"s degree from the University of Kentucky, graduating magna cum laude. She also taught English.
Adalin Wichman served as the adverting director for Keeneland, a Kentucky thoroughbred horse racing facility, from 1969 until 1989.
The first Eclipse Awards, featuring Wichman"s trophy, was held in 1972 to honor the 1971 racing season. In addition equestrian pieces, Wichman also created other non-equestrian works as well.
She created the Foucault pendulum clock, which is displayed in the rotunda of the Lexington Public Library. Wichman designed a two-sided bust of the Kentuckian historian Thomas Doctorate. Clark, which is housed at the Lexington History Museum.
Her painting of Lucille Caudill Little can be found hanging in the Little Fine Arts Library at the University of Kentucky.
Adalin Wichman died from a brief illness at her home in Lexington, Kentucky, on March 10, 2013, at the age of 91. Her husband, William, died in 2000.
Wichman designed the Eclipse Award Trophy in 1971, which are awarded to horses and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to equestrian sport. In 1971, Keeneland"s J.B. Faulconer asked Wichman to create a bronze statuette to serve as the prize for the Thoroughbred Racing Association"s Eclipse Award. Wichman based her design for the Eclipse Award Trophy on an 18th-century painting of the undefeated English racehorse, Eclipse. Wichman was awarded the Milner Award in 2011, the highest prize awarded by the Kentucky Governor"s Awards in the Arts.
