Bill Wright "Girls with Their Dogs" 1998, laser light print. Havana, Cuba.
I've wanted to feature The Grace Museum's exhibition Best Friends: The Dog as Subject in Fine Art Photography since the show opened on August 13. But I didn't post about it because I couldn't find any images. Then, on Saturday, Brian Bethel of the Abilene Reporter News wrote about the show and included these photographs along with the stories behind the shots. The personal collection of photographers Bill and Alice Wright's dog-centric pictures (including some of Bill's own work) is more profound, funny and soulful than I even imagined. As Bill puts it:
"…all the photos 'speak to so many different emotions,' he said,
although sense of fellowship permeates many — the conventional label of 'man’s best friend' being easily apparent."
I love that word, "fellowship," applied to our relationship with dogs. It conveys equality and mutual reciprocation, not a master/owner attitude. I've never heard our bond with dogs described that way and I think it is just perfect.
Lawrence McFarland, “Kodak, I-70 Overlook, Looking West from Highway
161, Wolcott, Colorado 1978,” selenium toned gelatin silver print.
Adam Jahiel, “Fritz Merek and Snooks,” 1994, selenium toned silver gelatin print. Battle Mountain, Nevada.
Best Friends: The Dog as Subject in Fine Art Photography runs until September 18, 2009. Visit The Grace Museum for more information. Visit Bill and Alice Wright's website to see more of their work.
