UK photographer Jo Longhurst is one of only four photographers shortlisted for The Grange Prize, Canada’s only art competition voted on solely by the public. The winner receives $50,000.
Jo’s nominated work includes The Refusal, her series on Whippet show dogs being bred to perfection, and Other Spaces, which explores the physical and emotional experiences of elite gymnasts. There are interesting parallels between both portfolios which explore ideas of perfection, competition, and rules of societies. And I think her inspired installations and unique framing add to the intensity of her vision.
It seems that when Jo began studying at the Royal College of Art in London in 2001, she was warned no one would take her seriously if she worked with cute dogs.
Wouldn’t it be neat if we could all help Jo Longhust win $50,000?
Click here to vote. (Note: you do have to enter your email and confirm your vote in your inbox. But it’s not too much of a hassle.)
Suspension (1)
Vincent
A-Z (detail)
Monique
Space-Force Construction No.3 (India)
Watch Jo discussing her work and see her Whippet muses, Vincent and Terence:
Russ Noto is a Scranton-born artist who got his MFA at Savannah College of Art and Design. Fellow artist Leigh Jackson of Noisy Dog Studio sent me his link. She is obsessed with his paintings. So am I.
Anna Pugh, born in 1938, is one of England’s leading folk artists. She is sometimes compared to Grandma Moses. I see Maude Lewis crossed with Heironymus Bosch.
According Lucy B. Campbell Fine Art, the gallery that exclusively represents her, Anna Pugh has painted over 200 works in the last 20 years, yet demand still outpaces production. “[Pugh] has obvious empathy with the countryside, and with dogs and plants
in particular. The tremendous demand for her paintings is a reflection
of their spellbinding charm.”
I discovered Anna Pugh’s work on the blog of another talented UK dog artist, Anna Wilson-Patterson.
Another Place
A Bit of a Whizz About
Balancing for Beginners
Dad’s Dog
Icarus
The Bliss of Grass
Hot Day
Chasing Clouds
This last image, Chasing Clouds, reminds me of Tamandra Michaels’s heart dog, Borias, who recently passed away.
I confess, I’m not big on discovering new bands. I still refer to song compilations as “albums.” Luckily, I have people in my life like my cool cousin-in-law Scott Lavinder who send me videos I might enjoy.
I love love love love love Real Estate’s “It’s Real.” Click here to watch (if you are receiving Dog Art Today via email and can’t view it).
It is such an unbridled celebration of dog love and of kitsch and nostalgia — the figurines, the collectible plates, the super 8, the paneling, the polyester upholstery, and exposed brick.
I think a lot about kitsch when I write about dog art. This blog has been my attempt to show that dog art is serious art, but now, something is happening in the art world. Kitsch is becoming serious. Or at least it is being taken seriously.
Ben Valentine of Hyperallergic just wrote a post about dog art, or rather dogs as art, arguing that…
If you think about it, your dog is a blank canvas — primed with beautiful fur, unique contours and a stunning face, just waiting to blossom into a work of art. While you were looking at and sharing cute dog pics and LOLCats at work, some creative producers were inspired to turn their own dogs into something more, something better. I have collected prime examples of dog art to celebrate the talent and creativity that some dog owners have poured into their pets. (full article)
And speaking of William Wegman (yesterday’s post), today, NYC gallerist Jen Bekman is offering Wegman’s very kitschy Weimaraners sailing print,Vacationland, and the 8″ x 10″ size has already sold out.
Another confession: I try to avoid kitsch, defined by Merriam-Webster as something that appeals to popular or lowbrow taste and is often of poor quality, here at Dog Art Today because to me smacks of laziness — nostalgia masquerading as originality.
But Real Estate’s “It’s Real” is so far over-the-top, it is, as the song says, “real.” And it makes me reconsider my anti-kitsch artistic world view.
P.S. It also makes me feel better to know what Tavi Gevinson is talking about on her mood board song list, where she lists Real Estate. If you haven’t heard of Style Rookie Tavi Gevinson you will.
Thanks, Scott. You rock! (do people still say that?)
The title is taken from the Rainer Maria Rilke novel The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge:
For the sake of a few lines one must see many cities, men and things. One must know the animals, one must feel how the birds fly and know the gesture with which the small flowers open in the morning. One must be able to think back to roads in unknown regions, to unexpected meetings and to partings which one had long seen coming ….
"Stroll upstairs and be captivated by the breathtaking video of canine images throughout history by Moira McLaughlin of Dog Art Today. I walked through Strathmore mansion twice, hating to leave the memorable depictions and celebrations of dogs. I admit I stood and watched McLaughlin's magical video four times. While you can view a short version at Dogs Art Today's website, to stand in the glowing light of beautiful Strathmore gallery, inches from the crisply filmed, mysteriously unfolding images is a must." — Sarah A. Ferrell, Fredricksburg.com.
The Strathmore Unleashed! exhibit has ended, but you can view the film below. It is the full version, though the one on view at Stratmore was on a loop. See a list of all the dogs and artists here.
Before I was a dog artist I wanted to be a filmmaker.
Artist Clair Hartmann dropped me a note to let me know her painting Shore Leave sold for $1800 at the “Strathmore: Unleashed!” exhibition in Bethesda, MD.
At 40″ x 30″ Shore Leave is largest painting Hartmann has created to date. The prolific and highly accomplished artist who honed her craft at the Wilmington, NC farmers market says she “is thrilled to sell a painting at such a fancy gallery!!”
I am sure Shore Leave’s new owners are equally thrilled. Click on the image to see it larger. It is an exquisite painting.
“Strathmore Unleashed!” is a multimedia celebration of dogs in art. I (Moira McLaughlin) worked as an advisor on the project. The exhibition runs until June 23, 2012.
Colorado artist Dana Hawk continues to delight with her love of patterns, humor, and, of course, dogs. Here are some of her new works recently featured in Artist's Magazine's "Dog Daze" article.
