dogs of elisabeth frink

Dame Elisabeth Frink (British, 1930-1993) worked in bronze, and returned over and over to the male form, the human head, and animals. Particularly horses and dogs. I stumbled upon her through learning of this statue from 1963 honoring the Blind Beggar of Bethnal Green and his dog. The attenuated, powerful forms with their pitted surfaces fascinated me. They always do - there was a fair amount of that going on in sculpture at this time and in some form for a couple of decades thereafter.


Upon looking her up I realized she had indeed done a number of animals, such as this dog from 1980, this Red Dog lithograph, or this horse lying down upon the grounds of Chatsworth.


A bibliography and essay on Frink is here.

lizzie wants lunch

All I wanted was to enjoy my takeout pho and spring roll in peace. This was my view the entire time.

I've added some links at the left to some of the museums I've enjoyed most to date. Have fun exploring!

pug office life

Yesterday I babysat a co-worker's pug while a CPR class was going on.

Pugs are clever and busy creatures.

This is my office after about 4 hours.

(Shout-out to "Diesel".)

And here's all the news about pugs you'd wanna know.

guest curator!

Today's post brings you a wonderful story about Abraham Lincoln and three little kittens, courtesy of Kelly Cat at It's All Good. It's from the Abraham Lincoln Research Site*, and it proceeds as follows:

An excellent example of President Abraham Lincoln's tenderness occurred
near the end of the Civil War. Abraham and his family had been invited to
visit General Ulysses S. Grant's headquarters at City Point, Virginia. The
trip took place in late March of 1865 about three weeks before the
assassination. During his visit to City Point, the president happened to
be in the telegraph hut on the day that Grant's army began the final advance of
the Civil War. In the hut the president came upon three tiny
kittens. They appeared to be lost and were wandering around and
meowing.
Abraham picked up one of the kittens and asked, "Where is your mother?" A
person standing nearby said, "The mother is dead." The president continued
to pet the little kitten and said, "Then she can't grieve as many a poor mother
is grieving for a son lost in battle." Abraham picked up the other two kittens
and now had all three in his lap. He stroked their fur and quietly told them,
"Kitties, thank God you are cats, and can't understand this terrible strife that
is going on." The Chief Executive continued, "Poor little creatures, don't
cry; you'll be taken good care of." He looked toward Colonel Bowers of Grant's
staff and said, "Colonel, I hope you will see that these poor little
motherless waifs are given plenty of milk and treated kindly." Bowers
promised that he would tell the cook to take good care of them. Colonel Horace
Porter watched the president and recalled, "He would wipe their eyes tenderly
with his handkerchief, stroke their smooth coats, and listen to them purring
their gratitude to him." Quite a sight it was, thought Porter, "at an army
headquarters, upon the eve of a great military crisis in the nation's history,
to see the hand which had affixed the signature to the Emancipation Proclamation
and had signed the commissions....from the general-in-chief to the lowest
lieutenant, tenderly caressing three stray kittens."

I love it! Thanks, Kelly Cat!

*referencing Carl Sandburg's Abraham Lincoln: The War Years, Volume IV, p. 146

cowper had bunnies

Good old William Cowper. Remember him? British poet, late 1700's? I've posted on him before. Turns out that on top of pet dogs and kittens he had pet hares.

His favorite was called Puss.

Puss grew presently familiar, would leap into my lap, raise himself upon his
hinder feet, and bite the hair from my temples. He would suffer me to take
him up and to carry him about in my arms, and has more than once fallen asleep
upon my knee. He was ill three days, during which time I nursed him, kept
him apart from his fellows that they might not molest him (for, like many, other
wild animals, they persecute one of their own species that is sick), and by
constant care and trying him with a variety of herbs, restored him to perfect
health.

He wrote quite a bit about Puss and his rabbit compatriots Tiney and Bess. Here's a page with lots about them, plus some Cowper bunny poetry. Here's a stuffed hare - not one of the three - at the Cowper and Newton Museum, itself an interesting destination. He kept his pet hares in hutches in the house hall.

kitty composer

Legend hath it that Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757) had a cat named Pulcinella, and that this kitty liked to walk on his harpsicord keyboard. One day he captured the note sequence of Pulcinella's footfalls, and around it built the Fugue in G minor. In the 19th century, this became known as the Cat's Fugue (with some name variations).

Wanna hear it?

a very special pet!

Every so often I stumble across something so different and worthy that I can't wait to post it. I'd like today to introduce you to The Daily Coyote, the blog-story of an orphaned baby boy coyote named Charlie, his tomcat buddy Eli, and his person. They live happily all together in a one-room cabin in Wyoming, and just about every day there is a glorious new photo showing Charlie growing up in the wonderful wild.

Upon reading the written bits, I gather that the blogger has caught some static somewhere for having a pet coyote. That is a pity. Her love for her coyote boy is so true that it can't help but make ME happy.

happy easter! (post contains bunnies)

You would never know it was spring here at the Museum. It's chilly and rainy, and no one is about on the street. And since we live in the city, there are no wild bunnies to gladden the lawns and eat my flowers.

That doesn't stop me from thinking happy thoughts of the new season, and all the new crazy-wonderful pet culture still to find afresh every day. And in honor of rabbits everywhere, I'm going to send you to My House Rabbit.com's Bunny Blog. Plenty of good articles, cute pix, and breaking rabbit news. Be sure and check out the rabbit art archive. There's a simple, gentle work by Kristiana Parn that has a serene, sure line, bunnies sleeping Under The Marshmellow Tree.

Happy Easter to you!

cats, yoga

They're a natural fit, aren't they? George thinks so. He's the resident yoga cat asnd zen master at Yoga Shack Georgetown in Seattle. In fact, he's on every page of the website.

He's not shown doing his yoga thing though - you'd think he'd be doing The Cat Pose (Bidalasana). But you can see that in action here. Notice the good rounded stretching of the back, just like a kitty would do it. Yes, they're the perfect pet for the practice, as Hayward of Yoga Oasis finds out while filming what looks to be a teaching video.

other things i like

Chococat. Typically crummy pic of the tiny Chococat calendar on my workplace wall. . .

The Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden in Portland, of which I am a card-carrying member and where I can visit all the "pet ducks" I want. . .

Get Fuzzy and Pearls Before Swine. . .

How about you, patrons?

(note)

I notice I like pets' faces a lot. (smiles)

kittens teasing a parrot

Here's Alfred Arthur Brunel de Neuville (French, 1851-1941) with -- you guessed it -- "Kittens Teasing a Parrot." He specialized in still lifes and animals, particularly kittens, which he portrayed doing kitteny things such as drinking cream and playing with string. I can take or leave the still-lifes; they've no spark for me, though they probably helped him become a member of the Societe des Artistes Francais in 1907. But look at these little faces! You notice there's nothing stopping that parrot from hopping up out of their faces, though. He must be having some fun.

bill

Bill the Cat, you best believe. Shiny nickel if you can place these lyrics:

You make me sick (way-oh, way-oh, way-oh)

You make me sick

You really stink girl

You make me sick (way-oh, way-oh, way-oh)

You make me sick (heavy tuba: poot poot)

But I love you

What? You don't know Billy and the Boingers' U-Stink-But-I-(heart)-U?

Any fan of Berke Breathed's Bloom County knows and loves (oh yes you do) Bill the Cat. He started out as a Garfield spoof, and had some basis in a college friend of Breathed's, Bill Moore. His adventures are numberless, his lives infinite. He's the cat you love to hate. Breathed did that on purpose.

I'm sending you to the Wikipedia entry -- do be aware that searches for "bill the cat" bring up some things that have not one thing to do with him. (Shame on you people.)

have a wee irish pup?

This recent article in the Irish Sunday Tribune points out that several native Irish dog breeds are at risk of disappearing altogether.

Not the Irish wolfhound or the Irish setter -- those are still popular. But now that people are going for tiny critters like Pekes and pugs and chihuahuas, we're starting to miss out on. . .

the Irish red and white setter
the Irish terrier
the Glen of Imaal terrier
the Kerry blue terrier
the Irish soft-coated wheaten terrier
the Irish water spaniel

And you can learn a little bit about them here. Oh, those Glens are so cute!

unknown dogs

Three soulful dogs, done in pencil on rough paper. The artist, from the 19th century, is unknown. They arrived at the Met in 1926 in the "McGuire Scrapbook," which I am endeavoring to find out about. The wistful expressions on the dogs' faces are very of its time, I think. So mystery though they be, enjoy these three lovely faces.

"come here, i love you"

Remember that story a few years back about the bird who, when left by its person with the vet, said clearly, "Come here, I love you, I'm sorry, I want to go back" ? *

That was Alex. Alex died in September 2007, aged 31. His name was short for Avian Learning Experiment, and that experiment lasted his life long since his purchase at age one by animal psychologist Irene Pepperberg. Pepperberg's work indicated strongly that birds had learning and reasoning capacities, as well as emotional ones. His foundation is continued by his parrot buddies Griffin and Wart.

His last words to Pepperberg as she put him "to bed" were, "You be good. I love you...You'll be in tomorrow."

*Probably what Zozo was trying to tell me, too...sigh

cats unite

I can't define United Cats. It is, however, a fun hodgepodge of odd news stories and personal tales. There's the woman whose kittens were shaved bald by her (ex) roommate; the cat who chased a bear up a tree (yes, seen it, but it's good anyway); well, I could go on, but I think I should just send you there.

mm, absorbent kitteh

Do forgive me. I'm on deadline for a freelance project (till tomorrow) . . .

. . . and you get to learn how to fold a towel cat.

PS: The towel elephant was really good, I thought.

wegman on his dogs

"They were a way of holding on to him...of saying, 'Don't go. Or if you go, give me this at least.' "
This is William Wegman on the last pictures of his dog Man Ray, with whom he embarked on what's been essentially a group career shared with his dog tribe. In the course of this short piece he talks about his dogs, their partnership, and their ever-more-evident mortality. It's calm, wistful, and sweet. Here you go.

peggy guggenheim and her dogs

The Peggy Guggenheim collection in Venice is a most appealing, well-lit, intimate museum experience. It's installed in Peggy's own palazzo - indeed, her ashes are buried in the courtyard among those of her pet dogs. I remember thinking how lucky she was to have not only her dogs, but her house handy; it never occurred to me to be creeped out.

It's actually very touching. Here's somebody's photo of it - whichever one we took is lost somewhere. And here's the website for the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Even if modern art isn't your biggest thing, if you're in Venice, you really should go. Say hello to the old stone lion in the courtyard for me.

rabbit song cont'd

I promised you that verse, so here goes:

See the rabbit! running, skipping,
At the wall he stops:
Children after him are tripping,
But away he hops.
See him point his little ears now !
On the green grass feeds.
Now he turns his stumpy nose up,
— With a sudden spring he goes up;
Down again he quickly cowers :
Hunter there in ambush lowers.
Puff! the rabbit is disgusted;
Now the hunter bold is worsted.
Bunnie scampers — off, he's vanished,
And my little song is finished.

By the way, I think the book we've been looking at is the same as 1843's Mutter und Koselieder, a series of songs designed to help mothers provide sensory stimulation for very little children on up. Friedrich Froebel died in 1852, so that would be a reprint. Froebel was the inventor of kindergarten, education geared to the individuality and activity of each small child. As a teaching tool he invented the "gifts," sets of blocks and shapes given to children for their expressive play. Frank Lloyd Wright was given some as a child - his mother was considered very progressive to have done so.

rabbit nursery rhymes 1898

From MOTHER-PLAY AND NURSERY SONGS FOR THE NOBLE CULTURE OF CHILD LIFE WITH NOTES TO MOTHERS, by Friedrich Froebel, translated from the German (Boston: Lee and Shepard Publishers, 1898). Lovely illustrations, so linear and improving. Yeah, I can barely read it too, so here's the top verse....

The Rabbit.

WHEN all over the wall the light shines clear, No picture on its surface can appear ; But let the hand in some artistic form Between the candle and the white wall come : At once a living picture comes to view, That filis the child with wonder ever new. So teach the child to use his fingers slight, To intercept with skill the shining light : From the very shadows a pictured form is made, And the child's unconscious play a germ of art has laid.

(the rabbit song follows after, but I have to hop off to work... Perhaps I can pick it out later today.)

the parson's cat

Henriette Ronner-Knip (1821-1909) was a Dutch artist of genre and landscape scenes that later in her career made a specialty of cat and dog paintings. Later yet, around 1870, she focused more intently on cats. Throughout her career she won awards and made a decent living, which was fortunate as her husband was not able to do so himself and she had six children to support.
This is "The Parson's Cat" (probably late 18oo's - no date found at present). This is less genre-laden than other similar works: it's just a nice little cat on a cushion, bright eyed, expertly handled. Note the clarity of the shining eyes against the soft fur texture. For more typical work see this page; and here's a proper biography page on Henriette Ronner-Knip.

retro pet

Whoa whoa whoa.
I have stumbled across a site that purveys antique pet goods and related things.
Would you like a Victorian bird feeder cup in glass, that says "Happiness"? (Don't you love anybody even bothering to put a kind word on a bird cup?)
How's about a styling mid century modern cat carrier?
Old photo of a guy with his pet raccoon or a straw hat full of baby chicks?
Hasten over to North Fork Pets and Antiques before somebody buys them out from under you. Take a good look at how pet-thingies change - and stay the same.

a rare rodent

You could hide him in your fist, but I wouldn't try it. He belongs to the Queen of England, whose great-grandmother Alexandra bought him in 1910.

He's pretty busy chewing some golden grass, though, so maybe he wouldn't notice if you gave him a cuddle. He's made of chalcedony (a semiprecious stone), has platinum whiskers, and sapphire eyes.

He's a Faberge dormouse. And he is cute.

The jeweler Carl Faberge made quite a number of delectable semiprecious critters for the Royal Family in the few years to either side of 1910. There's a great figurine of Edward VII's much beloved terrier Caesar, and some stories about the dog himself. There's a Border terrier, a cat, a .... snail?

speak, memory

I've swiped the title of Nabokov's memoirs for this post. It seemed the perfect shortcut to say goodbye to a dog belonging to a very fine artist who knows and uses the value of memory.

Salvatore was 14, and despite the love and help lavished upon him by his person Tara McDermott it was time to set him free.

Tara's work, which leaves out specific references to place and time, permits the viewer to enjoy their own memories within the palette of her photography -- I find her series "Memories" particularly strikes my heart, though she's just created "Shoreline" and that's pretty exhilarating.

You'll find Salvatore here, fourth square from the left. A beautiful work for a good dog.