From David Hockney’s beloved dachshunds to Frida Kahlo’s menagerie of parrots, the history of art is a history of animals. Through the ages, artists have formed deep bonds with their pets, who offer emotional support, portrait inspiration, and the purest of all loves. But today, many artists who are pet parents say they can barely afford healthcare for their sick, injured, aging, or even perfectly healthy friends. In a moving and necessary piece, Staff Writer Rhea Nayyar speaks to artists and cultural workers about the increasingly prohibitive costs of caring for those who care for us.
Today’s issue is all about art beyond traditional spaces. Izzy DeSantis spotlights four artists exploring biodegradable, climate-friendly art materials, and in Rome, Anthony Majanlahti visits an astonishing mosaic under the Baths of Trajan. Plus, Staff Writer Anna Lee reports on “Tidal Crossing,” Jean Shin’s expansive new installation at the Brooklyn Army Terminal.
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How Are Artists Affording Pet Care?
Imagine this — you make a significant sale that covers your apartment and studio rent for the month and a chunk of some credit card debt, and before you know it, your beloved dachshund stops eating and suddenly needs a couple of teeth extracted. In the blink of an eye, you’re another $1,400 (at best) in the hole you’ve been persistently digging yourself out of. Even worse, the problem spreads, and the dog needs more teeth removed within months.
Animal companions may be some of the most meaningful bonds of a lifetime, but it’s no walk in the park to account for exorbitant veterinary care while running on the check-to-check treadmill. So how are animal-loving artists and cultural workers managing with soaring prices as private equity gobbles up the veterinary sphere, and how are they budgeting for financing medical care to do right by their pets? | Rhea Nayyar
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News
- Visual artists Christine Sun Kim, Rodney McMillian, Vincent Valdez, and Chip Thomas are among the 20 recipients of this year’s MacArthur Fellowship.
- Unionized staff at the Brooklyn Museum and the American Folk Art Museum are preparing to vote on ratifying tentative agreements with their respective institutions.
- Kehinde Wiley has asked to buy back his painting “Young Artists After Siamesas 1960” (2015) after the State Department removed it from the United States Embassy in the Dominican Republic last month
Derrick Adams, Randy Polumbo, Wills Glasspiegel & More Artists Project Newly-Commissioned Works Onto Historic Hangars in Brooklyn
Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy gathers 21 artists for the second biennial Floyd Bennett Field! Public Arts Festival on October 3
Features
Jean Shin Creates Her Own Anti-War Camouflage
Highlighting patterns of war and migration, her installation “Tidal Crossing” is the latest artist intervention at the Brooklyn Army Terminal. | Anna Lee
Four Artists Exploring Sustainable Alternatives to Synthetic Art Supplies
In “Source Materials: A Bioart Exhibit,” artists share their visions for a future of art-making rooted in local ecosystems, scientific inquiry, and collaboration. | Izzy DeSantis
The Breathtaking Sight of Ancient Rome’s Largest Surviving Wall Mosaic
Beneath the ruins of the Baths of Trajan, a giant mosaic and unusual fresco remind us of the continual discovery of the wondrous: Rome’s ongoing lesson. | Anthony Majanlahti
FIT Exhibition Explores the Cultural Dialogue Between Dolls and Fashion
Featuring more than 170 objects, “Doll Dressing” examines the influence of dolls on fashion from the 18th century to today.
Hyper Links
- Noni Solfeggio’s latest banger is out! 🎵The CIA created abstract art, the CIA created abstract art … 🎶
- Bravo to the students at Dartmouth College who are standing up to their provost after he blatantly used AI in …. an editorial about AI.
- Ex-South Park writer Toby Morton has launched a website demanding accountability in connection with the horrific “Cornell 7” alleged gang rape at Cornell University.
From the Archive
A History of Cats in Indian Art
In his final book, art historian B.N. Goswamy sketches a portrait of the Indian cat, drawing on Hindu, Buddhist, and Muslim fables. | Arun A.K.
