Dog Art Today

100 Years of Dogs in Vogue

The Duchess of Windsor wearing Mainbocher and accompanied by a greyhound by Cecil Beaton American Vogue, June 1937

In 1930, Vogue proclaimed, "The next best thing to having the world at your feet is to have a dog at your heels."  Now, author Judith Watt sifts through the Vogue archives of the last century and discovers how dogs reflect and complement women's changing lives as their place in the world evolves.  Her book Dogs in Vogue: A Century of Canine Chic comes out next week.  The photos are fantastic but the story they tell is even better: The reasons may change, but for women, dogs have always been in vogue. 

Lady Diana Cooper at the British Embassy in Paris by Cecil Beaton, 1946

The investment guide to suits by Hans Hammarskjold, September 1954

Jean Shrimpton and Bertie by Eugene Vernier, February 1963

Princess Radziwill with Thomas, her pug, by Henry Clarke, August 1960

Vogue's eye view: sun body special in the Bahamas by Alex Chatelain, May 1979

A right royal to-do by Mario Testino, December 2001

Read Judith Watt's article about her book in The Independent here.  It will be available next week here.

The Invisible Dog Walk

Last Sunday Improv Everywhere teamed up with with The Invisible Dog art space (housed in the former invisible dog leash factory) to coordinate 2,000 invisible dog walkers blanketing Brooklyn for fun and mayhem.  Here are some great photos from Agent Chad Nicholson.  See more on flickr.

P.S. The Invisible Dog art space is having a fundraising dinner on October 1, 2009, and their No Longer Empty exhibition opens on October 3, 2009.  Click here for more information.  I dig their groovy poster:

Love Story: The Orangutan and The Hound

Did you see this?

It reminded me of one of the most popular posts I ever ran, Elephant and Dog: Best Friends Forever.

Via The Huffington Post.

G-20 Black Dog

Photo by Erika June Christina Laing

My sister Regan lives in Pittsburgh where the G-20 just wrapped up on Friday.  She sent me this photo by Erika June Christina Laing from her flickr site of one of the security dogs.  What a shot.  She also reported that several of the protests turned into sports rallies, with chants breaking out of "Go Pens!" and "Here we go Steelers, here we go!"  That's Pittsburgh for your.  It's all about the sports. 

Will Michael Vick Play?

Michael Vick is eligible to play football this Sunday when the Eagles meet the Kansas City Chiefs.  Mark Maske at The Washington Post delves into the locker room drama.  I will be interested to see if any anti-Vick T-shirts make the broadcast.

Hat tip to Andrea Lechner-Becker, PR/Marketing Coordinator for renowned dog artist Ron Burns, for sending me the above graffiti image from Yahoo Sports.

Ester Curini on the Nose

Some times a dog artist get the nose just right.  I think Italian-born self-taught artist Ester Curini is one of those people.  Her paintings make me smile.

Hat tip to B.L. Ochman of PawFun for sending me this link.  Ester is her neighbor.

Jen Bekman's Dog

I don't think Jen Bekman has time for a real dog right now as she works tirelessly to bring affordable art to everyone via the internet through her brilliant 20 x 200 project.  But this little guy, Maynard the Bulldog,  purchased at Woolworth's in 1989, brings great charm to her cozy, eclectic apartment.  If you're feeling that Autumn nesting instinct or you are still putting off actually hanging your artwork, stop by Design*Sponge to see Jen's place.  Trust me, you will be inspired.

Blue Dogs Named After Blue Dog

Prints of George Rodrigue's new silkscreens, Are You Lonesome Tonight?, 2009

Speaking of health care, did you know the Blue Dog Democrats were named after George Rodrigue's iconic Blue Dog?  I didn't.

Here's the story:

The term “Blue Dog” is reputably a reference to paintings of Cajun artist George Rodrigue, which feature a blue dog. So of those paintings hung in the offices of two Louisiana representatives who were among the original founders of the coalition. Members explain that “A blue dog is our mascot because when dogs are not let into the house, they stay outside in the cold and turn blue,” meaning that moderate and conservative Democrats felt left out of the Party which they believe had shifted to the political left. They also claim that they were “choked by the Democratic party until they turned blue.”

Read full article by Richard Mays via The Sun-Times.

Also, George Rodrigue is now on a book tour for his new children's book Are You Blue Dog's Friend?   Click here to see if and when he is coming to your city.

And finally, I just discovered his wife Wendy's terrific new blog, Musings of an Artist's Wife.  I especially like this post on seeing art as opposed to just looking at it.  Stop by and say hi.