This spring I was selected as one of 32 artists to
participate in Stamford, Connecticut's 17th Annual Sculpture
Exhibit, "It's Reigning Cats & Dogs."The outdoor exhibit includes 40 whimsical, oversized painted fiberglass
cats and dogs.My dog, entitled "Everyone's
Best Friend," sponsored by Reckson, a Division of SL Green Realty Corp. is now
on display at Stamford Towers, 750 Washington Blvd.Stop by and take a peek and visit all the other wonderfully
painted pets throughout downtown Stamford.
About "Everyone's Best Friend" Participating in this project was so rewarding that I wanted
to share my experience with everyone. What I learned and what I received is hard to put into words,
but I can say that the experience far exceeds the work I put into it.
The dog, often called "Man's Best Friend," has love for
everyone.He unknowingly befriends
us all--black and white, rich and poor, young and old, Jewish and Catholic,
Republican and Democrat, gay and straight.A dog's unique and genuine ability to truly see us on the
inside without judging how we look on the outside is a great lesson for us all. In painting "Everyone's Best
Friend," I wanted to try to convey this message by making it impossible to tell
what a person looks like on the outside and keeping the focus only on what exists
on the inside. Accordingly, each
person's hand was traced, then painted a random (or not so random) background color, and then decorated with something indicative of
the person; their passions,
triumphs, who they want to become, who they are or simply what they really like
to do, what makes them happy.
In total, the pup has 140 hands from people of all different
walks of life.Most of the people
who "lent me a hand" either live or work in the Stamford area, and I met most
of them for the first time while painting in the studio space on Broad Street across
from the Ferguson Library. I
was thrilled from the very beginning just for a chance to work amongst kindred
spirits--my fellow artists.Painting can be a lonely existence because, well, such is the life of an
artist.The joy of meeting new
artists , seeing how they create, sharing stories of our work, and painting
alongside them was for me like going to a playground that I haven't been to
since I was very young.That
experience coupled with meeting the hundreds of passersby who walked into the
public studio space was phenomenal.But what I want to share most are some of the stories of the courageous
and wonderful people who trusted me, a stranger, enough to speak openly of their lives and allowed me to artistically translate a small part of themselves with paint. Their hands will forever be a
part of "Everyone's Best Friend."
I should mention that people who came into the studio didn't
know about my dog and had no idea they were going to be part of this project.
LISA
The very first hand I traced was of a lovely young lady named Lisa.She came into the studio with her
friend Kathy, whose hand I also traced.They were both surprised and thrilled to have their hands traced and to
be the first two on the pup.Lisa
was so enthusiastic about the project that she sent me a detailed email about
herself, for which I was grateful because she really let me see the light in
her soul.The one thing that stood
out for me about Lisa is her love and commitment to dogs.She has been a dog rescuer for the past
10 years, finding good homes for lost dogs, and taking them into her own home
until she finds the perfect match.You
may have seen her last Thanksgiving running down the New Jersey turnpike
chasing a German Shepherd.She
saved his life and probably risked hers in the process.In her hand, I painted the background a "golden retriever red," as she requested because it represents a dog named
Rusty who she rescued last year.The blue in the middle of her hand represents the loyalty dogs have for
humans.The hearts represent not
only Lisa's love for dogs, but also dogs love of people and hope for all lost
dogs to have a brighter future.
JASPER & MELANIE
In the earlier part of one morning, a mom and her son came to the door of the
studio and stood there without entering but just looking.I invited them in and Jasper, all of
eight years old, thought the larger than life statues were very cool.I asked him if he was taking the day
off from school and he explained that he was in Stamford for about a month working
on a movie.He said he still goes
to school but not the same one.He
has a tutor while he's on location, a shortened school day but without all his
buddies.It was easy to see how he
could become an actor at such a young age; he was extremely personable.I asked him if he played a "good kid or
a bad kid" in the movie and he said a "bad kid."He also told me this was not the kind of movie to take young
kids to see-- "It's not a Disney movie," he said.Jasper's mom, Melanie, allowed him to be very vocal, not
interrupting or speaking for him, allowing him just to be himself.While Jasper walked around and looked
at the other pets, I talked to Melanie for a bit about her life.Aside from being a full-time mom,
Melanie volunteers at her son's school and other places like the Make a Wish
Foundation.Melanie is a wish
granter, for the Make a Wish Foundation, but also for her son Jasper.Acting, as she told me, can be very
difficult, but she is right there to support him; his number one fan.The movie Jasper is acting in is called "We Have to Talk About Kevin," and comes out some time next year.I can't wait to see Jasper in this movie and lucky me, I even
got his autograph!
JASPER
MELANIE
JASON
Jason was my 31st handprint.He spoke with me for quite some time, very calmly.He is a family man and although he lives
in this part of the country, his mom and other relatives live in North
Carolina.He spoke very fondly of
his mother and siblings.His
favorite color is purple and his profession is an audio/visual artist.During our conversation, he pulled out his wallet and showed me
a picture of a beautiful woman.It
wasn't his wife or his girlfriend or even his daughter.It was the woman who will be donating her
kidney for him.But this won't be
Jason's first experience with kidney transplant.It will be his third.
I can't even imagine going through this procedure once. One amazing thing about Jason was his positive outlook on life, his
appreciation of his family and people like his kidney donor. I wonder if she knows he carries her picture in his wallet and shows people the woman who is going to save his life. To me
he was like Superman so I gave him a shield with a big "J" for Jason in his hand.
MICHELE
Michele came into the studio several times supporting her daughter, Tina Fino,
a young artist who painted the incredible “Doggy Delirium.”Michele spoke to me candidly
about her family.She lost two
very special people in her life—her brother and her father.Her brother died at the very young age
of 18 in a parachuting accident.Michele
was only 13 at the time.I can’t
imagine the amount of pain she and her family endured.Her father, who passed away about
ten years ago, had a passion for German cuckoo clocks. I wanted to somehow put Michele’s father
and brother together in her hand.So
I painted one of those great wooden treasures with a halo around it in memory
of her father, and inside the clock is a little angel, symbolizing her brother.
LOUISE & ALEIDA
Louise and Aleida came into the studio at the same time.They were on their lunch break and seemed
to be good friends as well as coworkers.These two lovely ladies visited me often, checking on the progress of
the puppy and thoughtfully and thoroughly enjoying each new hand I
painted.It’s difficult for me to
express the amount of gratitude I have for this kind of support.It’s overwhelming.Leaves me with a frog in my throat kind
of feeling.Louise makes
tons of Christmas cookies every year and it is something that she loves to
do.I bet she gets lots of
“ooh’s and ah’s” for her scrumtuous cookies.Everyone she knows must really look forward to her cookies
because two of her co-workers told me about her excellent baking skills.Aleida, aside from enjoying Louise’s
cookies, enjoys dancing and is a true nature-lover.In particular,
she has an affinity for butterflies.
