CT art gallery going to the dogs with exhibit exploring canine imagery
The Ely Center of Contemporary Art in New Haven is hosting a dog-themed group exhibit titled Deus Ex Bark-ina, curated by Michael Morgan. The exhibit features over 50 artists, including some with ties to Connecticut, and showcases a range of styles and media, from paintings and sculptures to mixed-media assemblages and installations.
The curator aimed to create a show that is both serious and fun, with a title that plays on the ancient Roman theater phrase deus ex machina. He wanted to avoid sentimental tributes to lost pets and instead focus on artworks that use dogs as a subject matter with a high artistic purpose. Some of the artists have used dogs in their work to explore themes of loyalty, community, and reality.
The exhibit includes works by artists such as Emilie Louise Gossiaux, a blind painter and sculptor who creates work inspired by her seeing-eye dog, and Kati Gegenheimer, who painted a colorful portrait of her rescue dog. Other artworks include a steel doghouse sculpture, a collage of archival papers, and a large stringed musical instrument-like installation.
The Ely Center, which is currently in a transitional period, has been a central part of the arts community for over 60 years. The exhibit Deus Ex Bark-ina will be on display, and the closing reception will feature dogs available for adoption.