Dog Art Today

Tag: Allison Conant

  • DreamDogsArt Inspires Tattoos!

    Remember last July when I created this collage for my friends Allison and her niece Valerie to give to Valarie's sister, Kathleen?

    Oliverblog

    In my description I noted that the three birds…

    Birdsblog

    …represent several things: first, the Three Graces of Ancient Greece – Charm, Grace and Beauty. I thought these were good descriptions of Oliver himself. Second, they stand for the idea of past, present and future — a lovely thing to think about when you're turning 23. And, finally, they represent Kathleen, Valerie, and Allison. Perhaps the birds are flying in different directions, but they are united by their gorgeous colors, and they form a triangle, one of the most powerful shapes there is, and a symbol of your special bond.

    Well Allison, Valarie and Kathleen loved the bird symbols so much look what they did…they got tattoos!

    Valarie chose a black and white interpretation of the birds as beautiful swallows…

    Bird_tattoo_1

    And Allison and Kathleen took the idea a step further interpreted them as a garuda, one of the four dignities in the Shambhala Buddhist tradition…

    Garuda_tattoo

    They are thrilled with their new tattoos and very appreciative to Frank Matinez of Onizuka Tattoo in L.A.'s Little Tokyo who did such an amazing job and made the painful process a true pleasure.

    Needless to say, I am very honored.

  • Kara Walker: Wow!

    Kara_walker_scape_dog
    Scape

    Yesterday, Allison Conant, Lisa Oxley and I went to The Hammer Museum to see the Kara Walker Exhibition: My Complement, My Enemy, My Oppressor, My Love.  I felt, perhaps, how viewers must have felt when they started to realize the magnitude, the variety, and the brilliance of Picasso’s body of work in the mid-20th century. 

    But, even that is not saying enough about what Walker is accomplishing.  Picasso may have been breaking new ground as an artist, but Walker takes you back over familiar territory and makes you look at the parts you refused to see — makes you look at a reality that history, time, and social graces have conveniently wiped away.  And as shocking as her violent, grotesque, and taboo subject matters are (rape, sodomy, defecation, pedophilia), what’s even more shocking is the elegance with which she presents these subjects, thus drawing you in by there beauty and making you not just look at, but truly absorb the truth of slavery, racism, sexism and tolerated violence in our society.
    Kara_walker_cut
    Cut

    It was a profoundly moving experience, especially coming to it after watching Barack Obama tackle the same issues as elegantly with words as Walker does with pictures.  Also, experiencing the exhibition with Lisa, a brilliant artist in her own right (see her dog portraits here), and Allison, a great literary mind with a Masters in American History, was the perfect accompaniment.  The images are so intense and her work is so overwhelming, I was fortunate to have some insightful friends to hash it out with afterwords.  If you get a chance to see Walker’s work, go!  And let me know what you think.  Trust me, you’ll need to talk about it.

    Kara_walker_uncle_tom
    The End of Uncle Tom

    Oh, there were only two dog art pieces in the show, Scape (above) and The Dogs which I couldn’t find a picture of on the Web.  As far as small creatures go, Walker seems to prefer pigs, rabbits, and monkeys in her tableaux.  It’s something I’d like to ask her about, as every cloud, drop of blood, and blade of grass is operating on 2-3 levels of meaning.

    Read more about Kara Walker’s life and work in this terrific and rare interview by Lynell George of The Los Angeles Times .

  • The Perfect Evening: Dalí, Dog Art, and Cheese (oh…and some red wine too) PART II

    To continue our adventure…After the Dalí exhibit, Allison and I crossed the street to go to see our friend James Panazzo at his Lawrence Asher Gallery Christmas party. Kris Kamm, our other friend, met us there too. You may remember James and Kris from the pig roast escapade.

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    James (center) and friends

    Steve_kramer
    LAG owner Steve Kramer with his daughter Jennifer (right) and family friend

    I hadn’t seen the gallery’s latest show and was pleasantly surprised to see several wonderful dog works on display.

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    Allison, Kris and Me in front of The One by Kim Kimbro

    Prey_blog
    Prey by Kim Kimbro

    Barry_baldwin_post
    Artist Barry Baldwin with his intriguing English Girl statue.

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    English Girl close up

    Eventually we felt a little peckish and Kris recommended we to go to Lou, a tiny wine bar nestled between a Laundromat and a Thai massage parlor near Vine and Melrose Ave.

    Lou_exterior
    Lou exterior

    Because the windows and door are covered in fabric, I had no way of knowing that inside is one of the coziest, coolest restaurants in LA. With no reservations, we sipped some wine from the 25 wine-by-the-glass menu and hovered near the bar. I had the Lirac Syrah which was just right for a rainy night.

    Lou_interior
    This is the entire restaurant. My camera doesn’t do justice to the low warm lighting, but you get the idea. It’s like being at someone’s dinner party.

    Eventually seats opened up at the bar and we had the perfect spot to chat with owner Lou Amdur, to watch him meticulously pour his flights of wine, and to discover that he’s a former financial biz guy who always had a passion for wine and cheese.

    Lou_amdur
    Lou Amdur

    I like wine too, but I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE cheese, so I was thrilled by this new find, not that I would ever doubt Kris, who is always on LA’s inside track. But…we all were a little disappointed with the food. The pig candy (bacon with savory/sweet seasoning) and the macaroni & cheese were cold. And the cheese board was bizarrely uninspired. Granted, by this time I was starving and anxious to inhale a hamburger (not on the menu) and the room was slammed with standing room only patrons. And there are many raves for Lou at Yelp. So maybe it was an off night. Plus, Lou was so nice and the place has such an inviting speakeasy feel, I would definitely go back. But I was glad I had the fixings for a turkey sandwich when I got home.

  • Step It Up and Stop the Machine!

    Allison_kris_2

    My friend Allison is one of those teachers they make movies about. She’s always looking for ways to engage and intellectually challenge her students beyond the classroom. And I know she has made a profound difference in many of their young lives.

    This Saturday, she’s orchestrated an event that combines three of her passions: teaching, art, and the campaign to save the environment. As part of the Step It Up November 3 day of action to stop global warming, she’s organized an exhibition of her students’ artwork inspired by the Thoreau quote, “Let your life be a counter-friction to stop the machine.”

    I can’t wait to see what these young minds come up with. If you’re in the Los Angeles area, please stop by and show your support. Here are the details…

    What: The Verdugo Hills Multi-Media High School and the School of Visual Arts along with Step It Up, Allison Conant and Alexandra D’Italia present Stop the Machine! Art Show.
    When: Saturday, November 3, 2007, 3:00 PM
    Where: NoHo Gallery LA. 5208 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91601

    Step It Up is a grassroots organizations founded to promote community action to raise awareness to stop global warning and get our representatives to cut carbon 80% by 2050. There are going to be thousands of local events across the country this Saturday. To find one in your area visit their website.

    You can also think globally and act locally when it comes to your pet. Here are some ideas to reduce you and your dog’s carbon footprints.

    Recycled_dog_toy

    Recycled bone and ball from Planet Dog the Maine-based product design company devoted to socially responsible initiatives. Available at Branch, a super-cool sustainable living design site.

    Big Shrimpy beds:

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    blanket:

    Big_shrimpy_blanket

    and toy:

    Big_shrimpy_toy

    Seattle-based Big Shrimpy uses SmartFill, a 100% recycled pre-consumer poly fiber diverted directly from the waste stream to create long-lasting, durable pet products that reduce increased consumerism. Smart idea, since my dog’s destroyed plush toys could fill a garbage barge. Their motto — love your pet, love your planet — says it all.

    Harz_training_pad

    I think this is my favorite find, Hartz Clean Earth Biodegradable Training Pads. Darby is beyond using these, but I was pleasantly surprised to find one of the largest pet-product companies going green. Check out their entire Clean Earth line that includes shampoo, odor and dander removers. Great move Hartz. Thanks for being an eco-friendly leader in the pet biz!

    P.S. Purchase a Step It Up T-shirt here.

    Step_it_up_shirt

    (Photo at top: Allison Conant and our friend Kris Kamm at a Lawrence Asher gallery opening.