"Raining Cats and Dogs"

It's "RAINING CATS AND DOGS"
at the Frank Bette Center for the Arts
by Karen Braun Malpas

When it's foul outside, the felines and canines head for the front row at fireside, no dummies they. And, so it is at the Frank Bette Center. When visitors step inside the warm and welcoming art center, they will find countless portrayals of dog and cat companions. Inside, the nastiest weather is in a picture frame.

Joaquin Turner shows two impressively subtle landscapes where the sky is full of ominous portent. It's the kind of sky locals can read. It tells them to come in off the lake because the sky is going to open up within the hour.

In Virginia Chabre's photo,the rain has already hit and the windshield wipers won't work fast enough to prevent one from overdriving their headlights. Everyone's red lights are a blur, everyone's hoping to not hit or get hit.

While many of the pet portraits aim to illustrate the singular aspect of that particular animal, two pictures seem to capture the universal nature of eternal dog and catness.

Mi'Chelle Fredericks has carefully rendered a cat seen from the side,licking it's foot. Something in the simple compactness of the form and the limited value range with no dark darks to turn the shape in 3-D space, make the cat appear to be carved in stone,frozen forever in it's gesture of self-care.

Erinn Larsen shows a narrow,horizontal painting of an expanse of beach where the dog in the foreground has recently run. In touch with his wet,wild self, the dog's eyes look into the sun,into deep space,into the cellular memory of a world that does not include leashes or doggy daycare. In this moment, he is his own, not ours.

Several artists effectively show us what they are given by their animal. Claire Redstone's energetic watercolor shows the playful exuberance her dog extends. Joanne Clapp Fullagher's beautifully designed photo shows us the elegant grace of her dog,a delicate still life,that nose,those toes. A large pen and ink of "Mojo" by Jake May illustrates the persistent,frontal willingness of our dogs to engage with us.

In keeping with it's committment to all the arts,two poems of large format are hung on the wall and speak to us through the images created by their words. Glenna Mills creates beings out of clay which utilize real life elements such as paws,snouts and ears in unusual combinations with purely aesthetic elements such as textures and colors. The result is serious whimsey or whimsical sobriety.

Genie Scott combines elements in another way in the creation of her eye- catching and popular jewelry. A typical piece would strike the best harmony between elements of good sterling silver alternated with rubies,pearls,old Swarovski crystals,turquoise,African beads or Chinese cloisonne to name a few. The result is a beautiful visual sequence to adorn discerning women.

Susan Tuttle shows jewelry involving actual dog and cat shapes for women who openly align with the tribe of Dog Lovers or Cat Fanciers. Sara Mikesell made a "Skater Dog" with a game and fearless grin standing resolutely on his heavy clay skateboard,not likely to be airborne soon.

"Raining Cats and Dogs" will hang for two months, until March 26. As a result,two First Fridays in Alameda will be observed with festive openings.

How to Exhibit at Frank Bette read more

Free refreshments (wine included)
All ages welcome

Pet Adoption Events & Dogs on Camera

Location:
Frank Bette Center for the Arts
1601 Paru St. (corner of Lincoln Ave.)
Alameda, CA 94501
510-523-6957