Dog owners are encouraged to bring their pets to the free PUPS event this Saturday at Uptown Studio. Proceeds from the gallery event that will feature 16 paintings of Chihuahuas will be donated to Texas Chihuahua Rescue Inc., a foster based group of enthusiasts that place Chihuahuas – and mixed breeds – in approved homes. This will be my and Robert Kemmerer‘s first dual exhibit.
Chihuahuas are euthanized more than any other breed of dog in Texas, said Tamie Parker, the director and coordinator of the nonprofit. Texas Chihuahua Rescue works to find these dogs loving and safe homes across the state. Volunteers will have some pups available for adoption at the event.
All ages are welcome 5-7 p.m. with entertainment provided by the students of the Henry Ford Academy: Alameda School for Art and Design. From 8-10 p.m., the venue will open to a 21 and older crowd with live music by the John Ebersole band.
The paintings were commissioned by Gypsydirt beauty salon, Texas Chihuahua Rescue Inc., Dandyland Tattoos and Piercings and Lucky Mutt Marketing. Our goal with this project was to paint a series of Chihuahuas that showed each pup’s special identity. The earthy, organic tones that we used are inspired by our recent trip to New Mexico as well as the colors normally found in the native plants and culture of our state.
In addition to the 16 pieces, Kemmerer and I will also be painting a chihuahua on a large 24 by 36 inch canvas during the show, which will be raffled away later in the evening.
Kemmerer is a self taught artist who specializes in acrylic painting. He will be having his solo exhibit on Dec. 11 titled “War of the Squirrels.” In this series, he focuses on the interaction between human and animal. He gives animals such as foxes, owls, hummingbirds, vultures, and squirrels personalities that comically suggest their intention of world domination in which they take back the nature that civilization has destroyed.
I’m also a self taught artist. While I specialize in acrylic I also use mixed media painting. My solo exhibit, “Balanced Chaos,” will be on Oct. 10. and will focus on the spiritual and psychological relationship of color, line, shape and the effect it has on the viewer by utilizing principles of design associated with feng shui.
My mission is to engage the viewer’s emotional, psychological, and metaphysical core with a comfort of movement and color that leave the viewer feeling a sense of balance. It also focuses on the relationship plus interference of nature with society. This exhibit will feature a collection of abstract work as well as a large octopus constructed by cardboard to symbolize the effects of pollution in the ocean.
All of these events will be held at Uptown Studio located at 700 Fredericksburg Rd.
You can also follow our artistic journeys by liking us on our social media pages. For more information about this event, visit the Facebook event page.
*Featured/top image: PJ the chihuahua models for the camera. Photo by Kay Richter.
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