Dog Art Today

My Word For 2015: Function

 

 

Girl in Forest with Basket of Mushrooms and Dog, 1890s print

As a Nevada County tradition, out local poet, Molly Fisk, invites us to choose a word for the new year.  

Everyone gets into it.  Some people have known their 2015 words for months.  Some wait until February.  Molly says there's no rush.

Mine came to me yesterday.  It's "function."

I toyed with "mindfullness," but it was too detached at a time in my life when dryers, coffee makers, car batteries, and cells within me are malfunctioning. 

And, as I mentioned in this interview, I've been struggling with art's function in post-Great-Recession America for some time.

Function: (noun)

1. the special purpose or activity for which a thing exists or is used

2. the job or duty of a person

3. a large ceremony or special event.

Function: (verb)

1. to work or operate

2. to have a specified funtion, role, or purpose

The fun part comes looking up the etymology of your word because there are always surprises:

Function (n) - 1530s, "proper work or purpose," from Middle French fonction (16c.) and directly from Latin functionem (nominative functio) "performance, execution," noun of action from functus, past participle of fungi "perform, execute, discharge," from PIE root *bheug- (2) "to use, enjoy." Use in mathematics probably begun by Leibnitz (1692).

I didn't expect  "performance" or "to enjoy"  in the definition.  I was just hoping to function in 2015.  But it gives me courage...excitement, even.

The best part is that function comes from the Latin word, functionem, and its past participle is fungi.

In Italian fungi means mushrooms, the focus of my art, my cooking (mushroom barely soup defrosts in my fridge right now), my health (I've just been reading about the curative properties of shiitake mushrooms), and my long walks with Tyler Foote, who loves mushrooms even more than I do.

I thought "function" was going to be a workhorse word, dry and practical. But like my favorite fungi, the word has depth and meatiness. It has umami, the 5th sense of savory flavor, a perfect word partner for 2015.

I'd love to hear your word if you feel like sharing.

Also, Molly Fisk has just released a new book of her fabulous radio essays entitled Using Your Turn Signal Promotes World Peace: More Observations from a Working Poet. You can order it here.

The 19th century print of the of the girl and her dog collecting mushrooms is available at Martin2001's Etsy Shop.

Happy New Year!

Tyler Foote by Clair Hartmann

 

 

Tyler Foote by Clair Hartmann, 2014

North Carolina artist and DAT favorite, Clair Hartmann was so inspired by Tyler Foote Finds: A Compendium of My Ignorance, she asked for a trade: a print of the installation and a DANK Koan in return for one of her imaginary realism portraits of Footey.

Of course my answer was yes. Clair's portrait of my beloved Darby (1994 - 2011) is one of my treasured possessions, my screen saver, and it was featured in "Modern Dog Magazine."

Clair's Tyler Foote portrait pays homage to his passion for nature by representing him as Alexander Von Humboldt (1769 - 1859) Prussian explorer, naturalist, and father of botanical and field biogeography...

 

 

Alexander von Humboldt by Franz Xaver Kleiber

 

I adore it.

Visit Clair Hartmann's website to commission a portrait of your pet, either classic or imaginary realism style.

She offers a 25% discount for anyone who works for a non-profit animal rescue and gift certificates for the holidays are available.

Her Chumley Calendar, a celebration of her own pup, is a gorgeous cross-section of her styles.  Order it here.

Thank you, Clair.

xo, Moira and Tyler Foote

P.S. Watch a brief TED Talk lesson on Alexander von Humboldt, the most famous person you never heard of.  Clair's painting may help give him the recognition he deserves.

Own A Framed Print of Tyler Foote Finds Via Framebridge

 

 

Tyler Foote Finds: A Compendium of My Ignorance (click on image to enlarge)

Tyler Foote Finds: A Compendium of My Ignorance, a two-year collaboration with my dog, Tyler Foote, documenting my inability to identify a single natural object from our walks (except the $1 bill), was conceived to be an ephemeral installation for the DANK Inaugural. Some of Tyler's "finds" have already become kindling and compost.

But friend and professional photographer, Jim Pyle, beautifully photographed it for me. And prints are now available as digital downloads, $50 each, via PayPal including credit cards.

And, I've just discovered Framebridge, a brilliant new company that custom frames photographs and art for all-inclusive low rates from $79 - $149. 

That means the stress-inducing, cost-prohibitive elements are FREE!

• Shipping - both ways = free
• Printing - all sizes = free
• Matting - design experts are available for consultation = free
• Hanging materials - even the nails are included = free

Insane. Right?!  Take a look at their video....

 

 

The Framebridge website is easy to navigate and lets you envision the dimensions...

 

 

You can view 27 different frame styles.  Some of my favorites...

 

 

Irvine - modern white

 

 

Hatteras - distressed charcoal grey

 

 

Marin - natural wood

 

 

 

Burbank - modern brushed silver

 

 

 

Seabrook - distressed white wood

 

Print and frame whatever size you want, mat or no mat.  You only pay for the frame.  Again, prices range from $79 - $149. And there are Instagram 5" x 5" minis for $39 that you can upload directly from your phone via the Framebridge App. 

Dog Art Today readers receive $10 off their first purchase.

Use coupon code: DOGARTTODAY

(Note: I receive compensation for referrals and the code does not apply to mini frames.)

Go ahead and use the promo code to frame your own photos or art if you'd like.

Order before December 12 to receive your art by December 24.

To purchase a Tyler Foote Finds: A Compendium of My Ignorance by Moira McLaughlin, photo by Jim Pyle, ($50 for a high-resolution digital file) click on the PayPal button below the image:

 

 

Email me if you have any questions.

Cheers!

xo, Moira and Tyler Foote