I am thrilled to announce that the exhibition I have been working on as an advisor, Strathmore Unleashed!, is opening this weekend, April 28, 2012 at Strathmore, the fine arts and cultural center in Bethesda, MD.
My involvement with Strathmore Unleashed! began in February when curator Harriet Lesser contacted me looking for dog artists who depict "an alternative approach to our relationship with our dogs." She wanted work that expressed a "depth of feeling and intensity in a mostly non-verbal way." She also wanted to include my video tribute to 5,000 years of dog-centric artwork entitled "Dogs in Art."
"Yes," I told Harriet. "I would love to be involved."
Not only was this a meeting of the minds between Harriet and me, both artists who take dog art seriously, but it was also a tremendous opportunity for me to look back at the last five years of my blog Dog Art Today. I reviewed every single article, over 1200 posts, and thousands of artists. I was reminded of works I had forgotten and fell back in love with old favorites.
I gave Harriet a four-page document of artists to consider, and she did the outreach and coordination. When she sent me the list of her selections that included Jane O'Hara, Clair Hartmann, Anna Dibble, Kaththyn Freeman, David Corcoran, Marjorie Weiss, Heather LaHaise, Kent Ambler, I was so proud to be a part of this prestigious group. I was also excited that she chose to include my sister Sheila Cameron's work. And since my parents' dog, Minnie, and my sister Regan's dog, Logan, are both in my "Dogs in Art" video, Strathmore Unleashed! is truly a family affair.
Strathmore Unleashed! will also feature five doghouses, from futuristic polypod structures to scale models inspired by the Sydney Opera House, photographs by the iconic William Wegman, large scale installations by Dale Rogers, and a fiber sculpture by Ann Citron.
Most exciting is that for the opening reception on Thursday May 3, 2012 Strathmore Unleashed! will host a special Yappy Hour from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. for dog owners to bring their pets to the exhibition. It is free and open to the public.
Strathmore Unleashed! runs from this Friday April 28, 2012 to June 23, 2012. The exhibition also includes an art talk, a children's drawing session, and special tours.
If you're in the Washington D.C. area, plan a trip to Strathmore Unleashed! Please send photos if you go.
View the invitation.
Read the press release.
