Animal Art Exhibit at Belmont Gallery

Wonderfully diverse, thought-provoking, fun exhibit

Animals — from beasts of prey to household pets — have been a staple of artistic expression since cave painting at the very dawn of humanity. Whether as totems, allegory, decoration, or simply for their “fearsome symmetry,” animals have been a presence in the works of history’s greatest masters from DaVinci’s horse studies, through Rousseau’s primitive wildlife, to Picasso’s bull fetish. Yet, the role of animals in art is often overlooked.We have terms for ‘portraits,’ ‘landscapes.’ and ’‘still lives’, but none for art with animal subjects. ‘Animal Art’ gets no respect.

Belmont Gallery of Art opens its tenth anniversary season with a long overdue appreciation of Animals in Art, featuring animal artworks in a variety of media — painting, sculpture, photography collage, fabric art — selected by jurors and veterinarians, Dr. Suzanne Kay and Dr. Dawn Binder, from Belmont’s Cushing Square Veterinary Clinic.

The menagerie is a ‘must-see” for art lovers and animal lovers of all ages. And visitors can help homeless and abused pets at the same time. Ten percent of all sales of artwork will be donated to the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals-Angell to support its mission to find loving families for abandoned and mistreated pets.

Opening Reception: September 19, 5 – 8 pm
Duration of Show: September 14 – October 17. • Hours:  Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Sunday 1 – 4 p.m.

Several BAA members are presenting artwork in this exhibit.