Puppy love is eternal
One of the leading galleries in Sydney, Gallery Sally Dan Cuthbert, staged a kind of impromptu exhibition…a Dog portrait competition. So random, so joyous!
Kate Mills, Michael Brand, David Meagher
I thought I’d taken a screen shot of the casual sounding Instagram post that drove my involvement in this (its since been deleted), but it just said something like its your last chance to enter the dog portrait competition, all you need to do is email an A4 image with your name & a short message, for a chance to win a prize from Furry Family and framing of the winning work by Graphic Art Mount
I took a print of this artwork into the gallery, but given the off the cuff nature of the idea, something was lost in translation and there ended up being some further general randomness in entries, including sculpture! And Puppy Without a Pearl Earring was included both as a print on A4 paper & in her artist proof giclee print on canvas, already framed.
The result was a low-key, no bells & whistles (although curated by Heidi Melamed) which made for the most uplifting exhibition of all time. Not an overstatement. It filled me with such joy &…hope, somehow. That good, good things are still here. The reciprocal unconditional love that exists beyond & outside Covid was given time in one of the leading contemporary art galleries in Sydney. The the simplicity of purpose & emotion ended up feeling pretty - sort of softly - powerful.
Janet Lawrence, Abigail McGorey, Noel McKenna, Heidi Melamed
Sally Dan Cuthbert is - in my estimation - Sydney art world royalty and it was an honour & a privilege to be here. The breadth of this show was its strength, from internationally exhibited professional artists to 8 year old Abigail with her beautiful painting of her dog, Jude (my pick for people’s choice). Dogs know no societal barriers & it was celebrated with abandon. Its one of those things born from the new world of Covid Time, exceptional, inclusive and boundary porous.
To my embarrassment I cant find a photo of the winner! But it showed the artist snuggled up on the couch with his friend and it was beautiful.
Digital giclee print on matt canvas, dark oak frame
Oh yes I did
One of my finest works, this print was further immortalised as a fabric design, as detailed here
And now for….
My favourite photo bomber
Final words: I loved this project and I dont think they’ll get away with this again, it was the heat of the moment in conception & realisation, without terms & condition or glossy production. Lighthearted love. So much applause, thank you Sally and Furry Family!