treats+kiss+safety: susan sabo

image copyright and by kindest permission of the artist

"But there's no dog in this photo," you say.  Oh yes there is.  On the blackboard, a longhand calculation distills everything involving the rescue of a creature, beginning with what we all lament: "puppy - love = pound (misery x loneliness do not erase).  But add more parameters to the calculation: "+ people (treats + fingers through gate) = expectation." Throw in $35 and a car trip, and the results start looking up very much indeed.  This is "The Shelter Dog Equation," by Long Beach CA photographer Susan Sabo.  She specializes in environmental and animal portrait photography, though anything may catch her eye, and donates time and income to several causes, not least her local shelter and the Humane Society.
Her Etsy shop contains a section dedicated to her series on Shelter Dogs.  Their simplicity and pathos are much worth the looking (I know I'm preaching to the converted here).  Her portraiture lets the nature of the dog speak for him/her self, as in this charming Happy French Bulldog.  All in all, excellent craftmanship and heart.

potter the winery dog

While on vacation last weekend, your friendly curator and curatorial spouse stopped by Maryhill Winery in Goldendale, WA.  I'd wanted to go for some time as I had heard nothing but excellence about its wines and its venue, and not least that they were dog-friendly.  They were!  Briar got to come into the tasting room with us, where people made much of him, though he really wanted to go out on the balcony and sniff the Gorge air.
I made a guess they had a winery dog, and though we didn't meet him this time, they do indeed.  He's Potter, and he is a fabulous looking fellow, as you clearly see below.

image copyright and by kindest courtesy of maryhill winery

Here's a brief statement on him from the winery:

Maryhill Winery, one of Washington's top destination wineries, is also 100% dog friendly! The winery has a wealth of open spaces, green grass, shade, and water bowls designated for the winery's four-legged guests. The resident wine dog, Potter, also happily takes advantage of these visitor amenities, of course. Pets are also welcome in the tasting room provided they are leashed. Each year, the winery hosts a Wine, Walk & Wag charity event supporting Home at Last Humane Society in The Dalles, Oregon.

a whippet dances - elle j wilson

image copyright and by kindest permission of the artist

London artist Elle J Wilson uses watercolor and pen to create her images, whether it's a direct pet portrait or something more richly layered in meaning, as she has done here with this piece called "The Last Dance at Sunset."  "Last Dance" is larger than her normal work at 40x30", and it holds much.  I'll let Elle's own words tell you. . .

Based on my own Whippet Indie Bindie Boos. The painting began its life almost 4 years ago, and I have been working on it on and off over these years. It is quite a symbolic painting to me, and I do hope people can "feel" what I put into my artwork. As a rather shy person I wish I were able to listen to people's comments on this piece. There is so much more than just a brightly coloured, exaggerated painting. My main subject of course is my beloved first Whippet. A hint of a worried look in her eye, springing around the meadow before darkness envelopes the colours of the day. Two magpies in the Oak tree in the background. Two magpies to symbolise the joy of life. I see magpies all the time whilst out walking, such beady eyed intelligent birds. The Oak tree is for my friend Genvieve who was taken too young, and one of her wishes was to have some of her ashes sprinkled near an Oak Tree close to her family home. As sad as it is to be without her, I am always filled with the joy of the time I was lucky to have spent with her, so with these memories in this painting she will always be close to my heart. A single, delicate butterfly, such wonderful design of the insect world and creatures that live such a short span life, to remind of how fragile and delicate and beautiful life can be.

I find this a moving example of how the presence of your pet becomes an enmeshed part of the deepest levels of your life and feelings.  Please go have a look at some other works by Elle at her Etsy shop, AlmostAnAngel66.

vintage wordless wednesday

from the museum collection

a cat's most unusual buddy

In which a British writer relates another of those things you can just see happening in those exotic American States:

. . .But a most singular instance of attachment between two animals, whose natures and habits were most opposite, was related to me by a person on whose veracity I can place the greatest reliance. Before he took up his abode at Hampton Court, he had resided for nine years in the American States, where he superintended the execution of some extensive works for the American Government. One of these works consisted in the erection of a beacon in a swamp in one of the rivers, where he caught a young alligator. This animal he made so perfectly tame, that it followed him about the house like a dog, scrambling up the stairs after him, and showing much affection and docility. Its great favourite, however, was a cat, and the friendship was mutual. When the cat was reposing herself before the fire (this was at New York) the alligator would lay himself down, place his head upon the cat, and in this attitude go to sleep. If the cat was absent, the alligator was restless; but he always appeared happy when the cat was near him. 

I have to say that trumps any "weird animal friendship" story I have so far.  From Edward Jesse, Gleanings in natural history; with local recollections. To which are added Maxims and hints for an angler (London: John Murray, 1832), p. 163.

1938: "three little kittens"

Back in the late thirties, the educational film company known as ERPI (Educational Research Products, Inc.) created a short production on kitten life:  Three Little Kittens.  So follow along with these barn kittens and their mom for ten minutes as they are born in a nest of hay, open their eyes, stagger about, get kicked out by a sassy hen, and grow up and get jobs.  I believe the film meant to show children a bit of the maturity process for kittens, but our modern eyes will see different things.  No cat gets hurt, all is done sensibly.  And the last couple of kitten closeups were likely not intended to be as beautiful as they are. 

Don't see anything below?  Go here.

just a little break

. . .  See  you all Monday!

christina rossetti on our fellow creatures

You may have run into this tender poem before, but I had not.  The poet Christina Rossetti (English; 1830-94) is known for such poems as "Goblin Market," and her work may seem innocent on the surface, but is full-hearted and passionate if you keep reading her.

A Poor Old Dog

Pity the sorrows of a poor old dog
Who wags his tail a-begging in his need;
Despise not even the sorrows of a frog,
God's creature too, and that's enough to plead;
Spare puss who trusts us dozing on our hearth;
Spare bunny, once so frisky and so free; 

Spare all the harmless creatures of the earth:
Spare, and be spared — or who shall plead for thee?

- circa 1879.  This is from a book of her poems, New Poems by Christina Rossetti, collected and published after her death by her brother William Michael Rossetti; her other brother was Dante Gabriel Rossetti, the Pre-Raphaelite artist.

wordless vintage wednesday

from the museum collection
...a great find while out with tara mcd

in memoriam of a well-mannered dog, 1699

From a 1699 funeral oration upon "Favorite," the dog of a noble lady identified only as Urania:

…Was there ever any thing so well-mannered?  For the purpose, If at any time Ladies of Condition and Quality came to pay their Respects and Devoirs (formal respects - curator) to Urania, he was never observ’d, like other ill-manner’d Dogs, to run with open Mouth to the Door, and receive them with the clamourous Salute of his Voice; but entertain them with a respectful Silence, and introduce them with Civility unto his Mistriss, nor, during the whole Visit, as is also the wont of the rest of Dogs, thrust himself in a rude and troublesome manner into their Laps, disordering their Dress, and with dirty Feet incommoding their Linnen; but, like a well-bred Creature, sit at a due Distance, and silently wait the call of the Ladies.

- "Person of quality," A Funeral-oration Upon Favorite, My Lady * * * Lap-dog (London: 1699), p. 4.  I had a hard time selecting which delightful nugget of dog-description to share with you today, so I might have to whip out a little more of this one in days to come!  To give you a sense of where 1699 was in English time, the reigning couple was William III and Mary.

i would love to hear this bunch sing

image copyright and by kindest permission of the artist

Seattle artist Jacqui Beck's Unquiet Menagerie (acrylic and mixed medium) is a joyful riot of some of my favorite creatures and complementary colors.  I do love a good orange and blue together, and the humor of this piece made me laugh out loud when I first saw this on the wall at Columbia City Gallery.  I'd love a world where the birds sing next to their usual kitty foes, bold and uncaring, while the cats sit unconcerned. That same bright peace glows from all her animal-themed pieces.  Here's a selection I hope you'll visit at her website.  "I paint about the connection of all things, keeping in mind both the depth and whimsy of life," Beck writes on her Statement page, and that's precisely what I love about this piece.  It cheers me up and gives me hope that all the "birds and cats" in my own life will get along.

naughty kitten for "naughty anthony"

public domain, thanks freevintageposters.com
full citation here

Cats and stockings are not a good idea.  Something is bound to get hurt.  As it happens, that's a fine way to sum up the story of David Belasco's 1899 comedy Naughty Anthony.  In this light tale, an uptight professor becomes enamored of a girl in the hosiery business, kisses go astray, and the professor tries to get out of it by pretending to be someone else.  In this lithograph poster, also of 1899, I think the good prof is the peeping Tom (I can't resist) enjoying the sight of a kitten pulling on a shiny silk stocking. The play wasn't a success, but the poster's adorable.

bonus vintage: happy dog!

from the museum collection

Something about antiquing with Tara McD brings out the best in the lost vintage photo gods.  Look what I found in a shoebox somewhere in downtown Tacoma!

"if you could say one thing to your pet that they would understand..."

. . . what would it be?  The question was recently posed on Reddit's "Pets" subreddit, and though you'll have guessed a lot of them, some of them are funnier, sweeter, and more overall entertaining (and sweary, so don't say I didn't warn you).
"Please stop eating stuff before you have assessed what it is."
"I miss you..."
"To my geckos: please don't poop on me."

Excellent.  Have a read.  What would you tell yours?

vintage wordless wednesday

from the museum collection

a fragile dog

thanks rijksmuseum. public domain.
collection url,  http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.60871

Because he's porcelain! Get it?  Yes, of course you do.  But you should know this alert, cock-eared fellow has been around since about 1760, and comes from the porcelain kilns of Nymphenburg, Bavaria.  They've been making fine ceramics for the Bavarian kingdom (or what's left of it) since 1747, and beautiful things are still made there today.  The Rijksmuseum thinks this dog may be by the hand of the great Rococo porcelain sculptor Franz Anton Bustelli.  Bustelli was known for the energy, grace and even wit of his modelling, all of which you can see easily here.  Look at his worried, curious eyes, his tiny nostrils, and those legs ready to spring.

noah webster on the dog

Of the nature of the Dog. The Dog is carnivorous, but easily tamed, and rendered subservient to the purposes of man. Indeed there are no wild dogs, except such as have proceeded from the domestic dogs which have been neglected, and suffered to escape into the wilderness. The dog has great vivacity, force and swiftness; he is faithful to a proverb; affectionate and submissive. He watches the eye of his master, waiting his orders, and a glance is sufficient to put him in motion. He is a stranger to revenge; forgetful of injuries, but grateful for favors. He licks the hand that has chastised him, and disarms resentment by submissiveness. More docile than other animals, he learns to hunt, to watch his owner's house or his flock, and will hazard his life to defend his master's person and property.

 - from Noah Webster, History of animals: designed for the instruction and amusement of persons of both sexes (New Haven: Howe & Deforest, 1812), p. 55.

BONUS! Noah Webster on the Skunk:
. . . The Skunk is an American animal, somewhat resembling a polecat, but smalIer, and of a distinct species. He is of the size of the domestic cat, of a dirty white color, interspersed with black spots. He lives in the woods and hedges, or burrows under barns; subsisting on small animals or eggs. The flesh is good, and when the animal is undisturbed, he. is not offensive; but if provoked he emits from two small bags, a fluid substance, volatile, penetrating and fetid, beyond any other substance in nature. It diffuses itself through the air to the distance of half a mile. If cast upon a garment, it resists all the art of man, and all the effects of soap. Happily this animal is not very frequent, nor troublesome.  (pp. 66-7)

steinlen offers up a smiling cat

thanks wikipaintings.org. (PD)

Theophile Steinlen (Swiss, worked in France; 1859-1923) made a name for himself in French Art Nouveau illustrations and advertising.  You've definitely seen his posters; people still reproduce them (here's proof - I know you've seen at least one of these).  Cats played a large part in his work.  They lend themselves perfectly to the sinuous lines of Art Nouveau; they play off well against women, who were also a major subject for Art Nouveau mass imagery; and besides he simply appreciated them for themselves, as you can tell from this ink sketch of a Smiling Cat.  This fellow's chunkier and scrappier than those in Steinlen's commercial work, and I like him all the better for it.

the animals of wwi #7: war cats

The feline mascot of the Australian light cruiser HMAS Encounter,
peering from the muzzle of a 6 inch gun.  Courtesy of Australian War Memorial, tag 304910 (PD)

Togo, military rank "Ordinary Sea Cat," was the four-footed boss of the battleship HMS Irresistible.  Other of his feline fellows did mouse and rat patrol in the trenches and on the ships of the first Great War.  Laura Brown's latest installment in the "Animals of WWI" series is out now, and this time she's featuring the kitty rank and file.  Enjoy!

vintage wordless wednesday

from the museum collection and dated 1972.

marginal puppy transport

courtesy discardingimages.tumblr.com. Pontifical of Guillaume Durand, Avignon, before 1390.

Paris, Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève, ms. 143, fol. 174r

See, everybody loves baskets of puppies, even huge walking rabbit-men.
I wonder all the time what purpose was served by the odd, charming marginalia in manuscripts. Turns out I wasn't the only one wondering - but even the British Library hasn't got an answer, as you'll see in this readable and well-illustrated article.

the dog that goes to many weddings: old spanish proverbs

From a book published in London dated 1834, these proverbs give a glimpse of a life rather more plainspoken than most early Victorians knew. . .

Perrillo de muchas bodas no come en ninguna, por comer en todas.—"The dog which goes to many weddings eats in none, from wishing to eat in all of them."—Signifying, that covetous and greedy persons generally lose what they have by endeavouring to get more.

Perrito de todas bodas.—" A dog at all weddings." Applicable to a person who is to be found at all places where there is feasting and amusement.

Perro alcucero, nunca buen conejero.—" A potter's dog is never good for catching rabbits."—He who has been brought up in luxury and ease, is never fit for industry or labour.

Perro en barvecho ladra sin provecho.—" A dog in a ploughed or in a fallow field, barks to no purpose."

Buscar cinco pies al gato.—" To seek for five feet in a cat."—It is used when a person attempts to persuade another to believe in some preposterous position, as, for instance, that the cat's tail is a leg.

Azotan a la gata, si no hila nuestraama.—" They whip the cat if our mistress does not spin."— It frequently happens that the most innocent and insignificant creature suffers from the faults and neglect of others.

- from John Collins, A dictionary of Spanish proverbs, tr., with illustr. from the Lat., Span. and Engl. authors (London: 1834) passim.

fur royalty in pencil, tacoma and the world

image copyright and by kindest permission of the artist

Angela Jossy lives and loves Tacoma, WA.  Her business cards say "Duchess of Downtown Tacoma" and she created the ART BUS tour experience (there's games and prizes!) for the city's Third Thursday studio visits.  54 pencil portraits of her favorite fellow human Tacomans are now a cool deck of cards.  Last but very much not least, she also portrays our four-footed fellow citizens. Here's one, in colored pencil layered into beseeching eyes and a richly wrinkled muzzle.  This one I chose because I love French bulldogs, but even more I love the immediate openness and heart she has brought to it - a particular openness and heart I myself have found in this city, in so many of its creatures.  She can bring that to your pet too.  Contact her through the Duchess of Downtown Tours website.  Maybe you should come on down to the Art Bus tour this Third Thursday.

the black bark of a dog

Opus 191

THE black bark of a dog
Made patterns against the night.
And little leaves flute-noted across the moon.

I seemed to feel your soft looks
Steal across that quiet evening room
Where once our souls spoke, long ago.

For that was of a vastness;
And this night is of a vastness . . .

There was a dog-bark then —
It was the sound
Of my rebellious and incredulous heart.
Its patterns twined about the stars
And drew them down
And devoured them.

 - Arthur Davison Ficke, writing as "Anne Knish," Spectra, A Book of Poetic Experiments (New York: Michael Kennerley, 1916), p. 48.