Art Hag

One of the most despicable people I've ever had the misfortune of knowing owned a Bichon Frise. Being an avid dog lover, I was surprised to find myself momentarily disliking the dog, and even the breed as a whole, due to this one dog's detestable owner. Yes, I'd somehow found a way to make an innocent dog guilty by association. I fortunately snapped out of my misguided fog of contempt and stopped judging the little, white, fuzzy-wuzzy pupster since he can't help that his owner is a jerk-ass with no redeemable qualities (can you tell I really don't like this guy?). Sadly, though I've overcome judging the little doggie (and his brethren) based on his vile human companion, I do still always think of that loathsome "man" whenever I see a Bichon Frise. This may sound crazy, but it almost, almost, prevented me from going to see the small exhibit The Bichon Frise in Art currently on view at Art Since the Summer of '69 in the Lower East Side.

Edward J. Shephard Jr., the proud owner of two Bichon Frises himself, started a website in 1996 focusing on "depictions of the Bichon Frise in various works of art spanning over 2,000 years." The current exhibit presents some of these images alongside artwork featuring "ancestors of the breed, as well as other works that Shephard has deemed to be possible depictions of the Bichon Frise or its ancestors."

Gaining popularity in the 16th century, the Bichon was a favored breed among French and Spanish royalty. It's reported that King Henry III of France took his Bichon with him everywhere and carried it along in a specially made basket "that he hung with ribbons from his neck" (from the press release). Goya, Titian, and Sir Joshua Reynolds have all depicted the diminutive, regal lap-dogs in their work.

Along with images culled from Shephard's 14-year project, Art Since the Summer of '69 also asked artists Franz Beckenbauer, Josh Blackwell, Marcel Dionne & A. Joakimsen, Vidya Gastaldon, Bjarne Melgaard, and J. Penry to create new pieces to display in the show. As the press release for the exhibit accurately sums it up, "This historical narrative is not only a great resource for Bichon Frise lovers, but for dog and art lovers everywhere." See gallery's website at artsince69.com. See Shephard's on-going, in-depth and lovingly curated The Bichon Frise in Art website at http://bingweb.binghamton.edu/~eshephar/bichoninart/bichoninart.html. Through October 25th.

Jean-Honore Fragonard, Girl With Dog, 1770