Heller Halliday and Happy Talk
For the past eight months, Evie Baskin has been immersed in the canine world, working on pastel portraits of dogs and their owners for her exhibit, “For the Love of Dogs,” opening on First Friday, December 7 in the Hogans Building.
The ten portraits are of friends (two and four legged), regular attendees of the farmers’ market and recommendations from dog lovers. Baskin spent time meeting with the subjects, photographing and getting to know them personally. Subjects range from the Honorable Paul Bowman and his puppy, Bella, to Chestertown farmers’ market regulars Sadie and Morgan Ellis, to Carter Stanton and his Golden Retriever, Keightley.
Morgan Ellis and Sadie
At Baskin’s reception for the portrait subjects (sans dogs) prior to hanging the show, the Spy learned that Sadie is 5 years old, talks to everyone at the market, and has a fondness for green beans. (Ellis had to confess to Bill and Donna at Redman’s stall that Sadie had been shoplifting.) Tony Laroux was interested in adopting a Geman Shepherd; went to a number of organizations in the region, submitted applications and never heard back. He surmises that as he has no fenced back yard, he was disqualified. He finally found a dog he liked at the Kent County Humane Society, was filling out the paper work, only to have a previous applicant decide they wanted the dog. A few weeks later, the Humane Society notified him they had a new Shepherd. Laroux said he and Maya, “bonded immediately.
Joshuah Tyer and Elly
A portion of the proceeds from portrait sales goes to the Kent County Humane Society; the subjects are not required to purchase. And is there a slight resemblance between “owner” and dog? The exhibit will be up in the Hogans Building on Memorial Row, December 7 (5 to 8 pm), Saturday, December 8 & 15(noon to 2 pm). Outside of these hours, Hogans Gallery is open by appointment by calling Laura Drons at 443-480-4055 through the 21st.
Wow! These portraits are wonderful!