Celebrating canines in Sisters

Sisters artists honored man's best friend with their unique depictions on Friday evening at the Sisters Art Works Entry Gallery in the eighth annual Dog Show artist reception.

"The Fur & Feather Show" was sponsored by The Roundhouse Foundation.

"We changed it up a little this year because we wanted to give it a different look," said organizer Kathy Deggendorfer.

National Dog Day was also celebrated last Friday in synchronicity with the Dog Show.

Susan Robinson, managing director of the foundation, was on hand serving appetizers and drinks for guests.

"A priority of The Roundhouse Foundation is to support the arts in Central Oregon. This show allows artists to showcase their work while also giving back to the community through the Furry Friends Foundation," Robinson said.

The featured poster artist, Ingrid Lustig, displayed two acrylic-and-graphite paintings in the show. "Wolf on the Edge" was the painting used for this year's poster.

"I was very involved with wildlife conservation back in the '70s," Lustig told The Nugget. "I even postponed finishing art school because I was so obsessed with wolves."

Lustig had volunteered with a nonprofit wolf rescue facility on the eastern slopes of the Sierras outside of Reno, and ended up as executive director of the facility for three years.

"We had 12 wolves, and I became very attached to them," Lustig said. "That time-period had a tremendous impact on my life, and my fascination for predators became the subject-matter in my paintings."

Lustig went back to school and received an art degree from Washington State 30 years ago, and has been painting wildlife in acrylics ever since.

Local artist Kit Stafford showcased an eclectic display of workmanship including a larger-than-life figure of a Scottish terrier made from sheep wool, titled "Beam Me Up Scotty."

"I made the armature out of chicken wire and stuffed it with sheep wool," Stafford said. "I sat out on the porch and worked with chicken wire and wool until he came to life."

Stafford also hand-crafted wooden altars, "A Place of Remembrance," made out of recycled wood.

"My mother had passed away a few years ago and I have always liked little altars, a place where you can honor that special person or animal," Stafford said.

She also displayed textile "folk animals," hand-sewn on linen, and little animal figures made from pit fire clay.

"I love working with my hands. It's comforting and helps me focus."

Artist Barbara Modey, from Vancouver, Washington displayed one painting in the show last year, and this year she was back with more oil paintings and one piece that was delightfully unique: "Little White Dog," a photo transfer with acrylic on canvas.

"I wanted to try something different," Modey said. "It's from an old photo of me, my mom and the neighbor's dog. When I was little I didn't have a dog - and I liked the neighbor's dog, a lot. I used the photo on canvas and then colorized over it with acrylic."

Five mixed-media paintings of wolves by Mary Medrano were also on display, along with artwork by Kimry Jelen and Kathy Deggendorfer.

A portion of the proceeds benefits Furry Friends Foundation, which assists families in Sisters by providing a pet-food bank, help with veterinary care, and access to spay and neuter services.

All artwork in the show will be for sale through September 21.