Dog Art Today

100 Geralds: Lazerian's Paper Dog Sculpture Project

027 CheonWang No.4 by Goo For Brothers

Lazerian is Liam Hopkins' design workshop, founded in 2006, based in a former hat factory in Manchester, England.   Gerald is Lazerian's mascot, part of a 2008 rebranding inspired by a Bracco Italiano, a hunting dog known for its devotion to its master, and meant to evoke the qualities of loyalty, heritage, and affection that Lazerian instills in its projects.  The new image inspired Hopkins and 3D designer Richard Sweeney  create "a blueprint for a free standing paper dog that anyone could make at home with a sharp knife, glue and a healthy degree of patience."

In 2009, the pattern was perfected and launched at the 100% Design event in London. The flat pack Geralds completely sold out.  Hopkins and Sweeney then created customized Geralds, Dazzle and Pixel, that were also sensations.   In 2011, Hopkins sent Gerald patterns to 100 of his favorite artists, designers, and illustrators around the world and the Gerald Project was born.

Now, each Gerald is a limited edition of 500 available for purchase for £20 ($30).  There will be an exhibition, Gerald & James (of the British paper company James Cropper that produces the Geralds) and a book launch party at 60 READE in New York City, May 17, 2013 to May 19, 2013. Visit Gerald's website or like him on Facebook for more information.  

Hat tip to Rosanne Burke for letting me know about Gerald via Laughing Squid.

100 Geralds

029 Peggy by Grande Dame

018 Argos by David Bowcutt

034 Sirius by Jack Hughes

006 Woof, Grrr, Yap by Andy Smith

021 Roofus by Design By House

022 Bad dogg dogg from the hood by DR. ME

Sarah and Pickle by Kristin Bauer

Sarah and Pickle by Kristin Bauer

A recent eLIFE study that found "two dog owners who don't even know each other have about as many of the skin bacteria in common as a married couple living together...consistent with a common occurrence of oral–skin transfer between dogs and their owners," aka doggie kisses.

The bacteria is harmless and may actually boost the immune system.  Not surprisingly, there was no "analogous germ signature for cat owners." 

The study reminded me of one of my favorite dog paintings of one of my favorite people, Sarah Bibb, friend, fashion designer, and owner of the the lovely Folly boutique in Portland, Oregon.  The intimacy of dog and owner that many of us share doesn't always find it's way into pet portraits.  

The artist is actress Kristin Bauer of HBO's True Blood.  Visit her website to see more of her work.

Hat tip to Gregory Han.

Call To Cell Phone Photographers

Cell Phone Photograph by Lavender Marsh

Call to Artists: StoneCrop Gallery in Ogunquit, Maine is looking for photographic works made by cell phone cameras for inclusion in an exhibition that will run May 25 through July 8, 2013.

The $15.00 submission fee covers entry of up to 5 images and includes printing by the gallery of all accepted images.  All entries must be made through the online submission form by May 7, 2013 at midnight: www.stonecropgallery.com/submit

This is *not* specifically a dog cell phone photography exhibition.  But, of course, dogs are welcome.  And perhaps, now and then, some other subjects cross your lens.

Dog in Mourning by Henry Bacon

Dog in Mourning by Henry Bacon, 1870

I had the privilege to attend Boston College, class of 1989.  Patriots' Day, the day of the Boston Marathon, is an event like no other.   Picture July 4th, spring break, and the Super Bowl rolled into one.  Yesterday broke my heart.  Boston will recover, but that beautiful, heady, quintessentially New England civic celebration is now history.

Via Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

Four & Sons Journal Hits Newsstands

 

The one-year anniversary print edition of Four & Sons is now available for free (shipping: $3.50 in Australia or $7.50 for the rest of the world.)  I can't wait to get my copy.

Read about Marta Roca and her dogs-and-culture-graphic-design brain child that is now a global sensation at The Design Files.

Congratulations, Marta.  In this era of digital vapor, you are an analog phenomenon

Click here to order your copy.

Photo credit: Ralph Alphonso.