Animals Inspire Art

Puppy love through the ages

Think puppy love is a relatively new phenomenon marked by designer dog attire and day trips to the doggy spa? Well, we beg to differ. Our culture's connection to dogs dates way back. See for yourself at Feathers, Fins, and Furs, a new multimedia exhibit created by the students of John Hopkins University. Curator of the museum, Catherine Rogers Arthur offers, "This is an opportunity to view Homewood in a different way and imagine the nonhuman family members that trotted the halls and scratched the furniture."

The exhibit uncovers early America's relationship with domestic pets through a collection of antique art pieces. Examining the artwork provides valuable insights into the roots of American pet-parent relations. Many of our modern day practices stem from century old traditions. Arthur comments, "We found evidence of dogs eating off of utilitarian stoneware like kitchen crockery — not dog bowls."

Feathers, Fins, and Furs can be seen at Homewood House, 3400 N. Charles St., Baltimore through March 11, 2007.

Photo thanks to the Examiner

Canine Celebrity Art Project

The Grammy's Go to the Dogs

Artist David Hevel uses dog sculptures to represent his latest creative project, "Diva Hound Smack Down at the Grammy's," scheduled to open at the end of the month at the Byron C. Cohen Gallery of Kansas City. The piece uses model replicas of several breed types to make playful caricatures of the stars. Speaking of the picture in the upper left, Hevel offers, "I’m making a hairless Chinese dog that’s supposed to be Barry Manilow."

Hevel's inspiration for this show is a culmination of sheer interest in exotic animals and slight mockery of this year's Grammy Awards ceremony. Among his other celebrity muses in past shows are Tyra Banks as a giraffe, Brittney Spears as a baboon and Mariah Carey portrayed as a goat.

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Photo thanks to the Kansas City Star

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