Dog Art Today

Elliott Erwitt: Dachsund Photo and Twitter Contest

No words can express how much I love this newly released photo by Elliott Erwitt, one of the greatest photographers of the 20th and 21st century.  The fact that Erwitt has devoted some of his extraordinary talent to photographing dogs, makes him, IMO, the greatest dog photographer ever.

Readers of this blog know I have featured him before and raved about him often.  But there has been a limited amount of his images available on the Web.  That has changed.  This week, German publishing house teNeues announced the launch of a new Elliot Erwitt Website featuring never before seen exclusive Erwitt photographs and a chance to interact with the iconic photographer himself via Twitter.  Here's how it works; visit the website and choose a photo.  Click on the photo to take you to Twitter where you write a caption for the image.  Then, Elliot Erwitt will choose his favorite and the winner will receive a copy of one of his books.

I am not surprised that Erwitt has embraced social networking.  His photographs are exceptional because he looks at life with fresh eyes every time he takes a shot.  Experimenting with  new technology and paths of promotion is an extension of that openness, that inquisitive nature.  And it is yet another aspect of what makes him the best.

P.S. teNeues promises to release more Elliott Erwitt dog photographs as the Website evolves.  I will keep you posted.

More posts about Elliot Erwitt:

"First Contact" at Silverstein Photography

Elliott Erwitt's Needle Felted Dog by Domenica More Gordon

Goodbye, Dudley

Fabulous Lounging Beardie by Moira McLaughlin, 2005

My sister Kathleen lost her dog Dudley last weekend.  He was 15.  That is quite old for a Bearded Collie, especially since he was diagnosed with cancer four years ago.  At the time, Kathleen thought that he might not make it for much longer, so she looks at his later years as "extra time."  But it's never enough is it?  Dudley had a long life, but it is still shocking that he is gone.  He was part of the family and we are devastated.

Every dog lives a full life if they are loved, but Dudley's was exceptionally large.  He was raised in Hollywood by parents who were "in the Industry."   He adored hanging out on Larchmont Blvd., the chic Hancock Park main street where every shopkeeper, banker, and cafe owner knew his name.  And he had his share of celebrity admirers, too.  Once, Lily Tomlin stopped by Kathleen's office and Dudley bounded up to greet the actress who is herself larger than life.  He gave her a big, joyful, glad to meet you hello and she was immediately charmed, exclaiming, "Dudley, you are fabulous!"

I am not surprised.  "Fabulous" is the exact word I used to describe him in a collage I made in 2005.  I called it Fabulous Lounging Beardie.  When I heard the news that he was gone, I looked back to see what I had written about him then.  It was spot on:

Quite possibly the most fabulous Beardie in Hollywood.  Days are filled with lunches, boutique shopping, and exclusive parties.  It takes tremendous energy to be an L.A. dog.  A nap on a designer chaise is not a luxury, it's a must.

Dudley was an awesome dog and he was a star.  But that is not to imply he was spoiled or haughty.  He was simply the life of the party, and he made you feel like it was a party just because you were there.  He will be deeply missed by everyone who knew him.  Rest in peace, sweet boy.

Another Pierre Bonnard Dachshund

I thought I'd seen all the Bonnard Dachshund art works, but this one, part of  the Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C. , is new to me.  Bonnard gets the Doxie paws and erect stance just right, as well as the intense determination.  You just  know this little guy is going to get some table scraps any moment.  I also love the woman's striped shirt.  And the bottle of wine.  Clearly, Bonnard knew what was important in life.

Thank you, Philip Koch, for taking this photo and sharing it on your blog.

P.S. Click here to see one of my favorite posts featuring Pierre Bonnard and Pablo Picasso and their Dachshunds.

Buddy the Hero Dog as a Work of Art

Sometimes great art happens inadvertently.   This morning, I watched this video captured by an Alaska State Trooper's dashboard camera and I burst into tears.  It is so haunting, beautiful, dramatic, and primal.  It is the essence of dog love and it is a masterpiece.

Here is the story from James Halpin of the Anchorage Daily News:

Alaska State Troopers plan to recognize a German shepherd named Buddy for what they say are his "valiant actions" guiding an officer to the scene of a fire earlier this month.

Buddy's owner, 23-year-old Ben Heinrichs, was working on a vehicle in a shop outside the family's home in the Caswell Lakes area the night of April 4 when a spark from a heater ignited gasoline and gave Heinrichs flash burns to his face and second-degree burns to his left hand, he said.

He went outside and rolled to put out the flames. Buddy, a 5-year-old companion Heinrichs has had since a puppy, had been shut in the shop, so Heinrichs let him out of the burning structure.

"I just told him, 'We need to get help,' and then that's the last time I seen him," Heinrichs said. "I didn't train him or nothing. He just took off and went and did what he did. ... He was just being a good dog."

The sequence of events, as related by troopers, runs like an episode of "Lassie."

An officer responding to a call about the fire, trooper Terrence Shanigan, was having trouble finding the scene because his global positioning device was on the fritz, troopers spokeswoman Beth Ipsen said.

Shanigan, who almost took the long way around the neighborhood, came across Buddy on Caswell Loop Road. The dog took off, and acting on a hunch, Shanigan followed the dog down a side road, she said.

A video shot by the trooper's dashboard camera shows Buddy trotting along the side of the road coming toward the officer, then looking at the vehicle and breaking into a run as Shanigan follows. The dog runs ahead of the patrol vehicle and takes a left turn, ending up at the burning structure.

Troopers are convinced the dog was leading Shanigan to the fire, Ipsen said.

"Buddy's a pretty shy dog, and he was several blocks away just kind of hanging out. By all accounts this is not normal behavior for him," Ipsen said. "Buddy's not trained. This is something he did pretty much on his own."

The workshop, which was fully engulfed in flames, was destroyed, but Heinrichs said he thinks Buddy's actions prevented the fire from spreading to the family's home.

Troopers plan to recognize Buddy's bravery at a ceremony today. The family will get a letter and Buddy will receive a metal dog bowl engraved with the troopers' logo and Buddy's name with the words, "In appreciation of your diligence and assistance to Alaska State Troopers."

Now go hug your dog.   And have a great weekend.

Nazca Dog

Nazca Dog by Dana Dopleach

The Nazca Lines are massive geoglyphs built in the Peruvian desert between 200 BCE to 600 CE.  They are still visible today.  The earth is a magical place.   Let's work to keep it that way.  Happy Earth Day!