Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX

Now THIS is what we call beautiful art! This was in the Houston Chronicle. With all of the sad things that happen to animals, we thought we would share something positive! And check out the absolutely stunning dogs in the example art!

David Hockney's Dog Painting 25, 1995, oil on canvas.
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston


Sept. 22, 2006, 3:41PM
The Museum of Fine Arts snuggles up to dogs


By KEN HOFFMAN
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

Why does the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, want to do a whole show of dog art? Because people love dogs. At least, I do.

When I come home, whether I've been gone a week or just a minute to grab something from the car, my dog is jumping in the front window. She's that happy to see me.

"Who's my little girl?"

Her tail wags so fast it looks like she's conducting an orchestra playing Flight of the Bumblebee in fast-forward.

When I'm working upstairs, she's under my desk, with her head on my feet so I can't slip away.

When I'm watching TV, she's on the sofa, watching with me. Unlike some people I know, she doesn't steal the remote and change channels on me.

Yes, my dog is allowed on the furniture. It's only a sofa, my dog is my buddy.

When I rattle the leash, she knows it's time for a walk and leaps straight up and does a 360 triple lutz like Kristi Yamaguchi. Even the French judge is impressed.

I love my dog. I've loved all of my dogs, from my first pet, Mittsy, through Chloe, Bosco, Tahti and Sophie to my current menace, Lilly.

I've never had a cat or birds or fish or a turtle. I was never an FFA kid, raising a pig for the county fair.

I'm a dog person. I relate to dogs. You can't take a turtle for a walk around the block. It'd take too long.

When I was small, Mittsy slept in my bed. I had a four-legged woobie. She would jump in the bed and wait for me to get in my pajamas. Whatever problem a little boy may have, a dog's snuggle can chase it away.

It works for grown-ups, too.

I have only one scar on my body, from the time I was walking Mittsy and she saw a squirrel and sent me flying into a sticker bush. I don't blame Mittsy. It was the squirrel's fault.

I know people, when they're buying a house, look for one with a big backyard because . . . "I'm going to get a dog."

Dogs don't care about a big backyard. They much prefer a big, soft couch in the living room.

It's a dog's life. Like that's bad?

Lilly sleeps 20 hours a day, eats healthier than I do, gets more exercise than I do and — let's put it this way — she's not following me with a pooper-scooper.

She has me trained, all right. She's taught me exactly what she likes to eat, when she needs to go out, where she likes to be scratched and what brand of overpriced dog shampoo she prefers at the exclusive pet store.

I take better care of Lilly than I take care of myself. She sees her veterinarian every six months. I visit my doctor only when I'm at death's door.

A dog is supposed to be Man's Best Friend. I don't think that's true. I don't go to ballgames with Lilly, wouldn't lend her money, and I'm not sure she can keep a secret.

But of all the people in my house, Lilly likes me best. When I come home late, she waits at the front window for my car to pull into the driveway.

I do think it's true that dogs make you a better, healthier, happier, calmer person. I've read that people's blood pressure and heart rates go down when they hold a dog.

Dogs teach you responsibility. They show you what unconditional love looks like. They're loyal and true-blue. Dogs assume the best in people.

There's a magnet on my refrigerator that says, "God, please make me the kind of person my dog thinks I am."

That's never going to happen. But I don't think my dog really cares.

ken.hoffman@chron.com

Best in Show: The Dog in Art from the Renaissance to Today
What: Paintings, sculpture, engravings and photography by artists, including Titian, Andy Warhol, David Hockney, Jeff Koons, John Sargent Noble and George Stubbs

Where: Audrey Jones Beck Building, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

When: Oct. 1 through Jan. 1. Members' preview party 6-8 p.m. Sept. 29; Members' daytime preview 10 a.m. -5 p.m. Sept. 30

Information: www.mfah.org or 713-639-7300

10 comments:

JustMeCopper said...

Ahhh, I love that article! I wish I could go see the art show! And I have a book of David Hockneys' art. I'll show it to you!

Tin Tin Blogdog said...

Hee hee hee,

you guys obviously posed for that one. It's soooo you!

An absolute work of art.

Now, where is your ma going to display it??!

Chow for now,

Tin Tin xo

Hana said...

Wow, an exhbit about dogs!! How cool is that? Wish I could see it. Maybe it will come to San Francisco?

Anonymous said...

Now that's a guy I can relate to! Is your Mom going to go to the exhibit?

Roxie, Sammy, Andy and Shermie said...

Copper, thanks for showing us that great book on your blog!

Tin Tin, Mom would love to have that painting but we suspect it costs way too many dog biscuits.

Hana, that would be cool if the exhibit would go to places where our blog friends live! It would be like sharing!.

Zach, Mom really does want to go. We hope she can even though that means she won't be home with us.

Roxie, Sammy & Andy

Jay said...

J said that the article is so so true. She would love to visit the exhibition. Pity it's so far away!

Isabella said...

What a great article and wonderful painting, but it would have been even better if it was a painting of you three cuties!
Big Wags,
Isabella

Ivy said...

how cool! i wanna to go the art show too!

Sam I Am said...

Copper~
Nice reads!!Give lots of wet kisses, tail-wags and paw shaker.sniff-sniff

Lot's of Lick's
Sam

Opy - the Original GruffPuppy said...

What a great article ! And a whole exhibit about us doggies - what more could we wish for ?

Love
Opy