May 22 – June 8, 2008
A)
Daniel
Edwards, Memories of Sophie and Gracie: A Puppies’ Memorial,
life
size, Resin Cast, 2008
B)
Daniel
Edwards,Oprah Burial Mask with O,
life
size, Resin Cast, 2008
C)
Daniel
Edwards,Oprah Burial Mask with O,
life
size, Resin Cast, 2008
Leo
Kesting Gallery Presents:
Daniel Edwards - Memories of Sophie and Gracie: A Puppies’ Memorial
May 22 – June 8, 2008
Opening Night Reception: Thursday May 22 from 7:00 – 10:00 pm
812 Washington St (at the corner of Gansevoort) New York NY 10014
8th Ave A, C, E and L train Stop or 1,2,3 to 14th Street
Tuesday – Sunday from 11:00 am until 7:00 pm
Admission is free to the public phone : 917-650-3760
http://www.leokesting.com
BUY
THE BOOK NOW!!!!
OPRAH WINFREY DEPICTED
WITH LATE DOGS IN PUPPIES’ MEMORIAL
New York Gallery Appeals to Pet Lovers With Exhibit
NEW YORK, NY (May 2008) –An exhibit dedicated to the memory of Oprah Winfrey’s late dogs opens in Manhattan’s west village, helping to promote pet safety awareness. A life-size monument depicts ‘puppy versions’ of Oprah’s Cocker Spaniel Sophie and Golden Labrador Gracie atop the head of the talk show icon by controversial sculptor Daniel Edwards. The Puppies’ Memorial will be exhibited at Leo Kesting Gallery on May 22nd.
“Memories of Sophie and Gracie: A Puppies’ Memorial” is inspired by the Oprah press releases that announced the passing of Gracie, who choked on a ball last year, and the passing of Sophie, who died in March.
“To represent Sophie and Gracie together, joined in Oprah’s memory as they were in life and in Oprah’s heart, the artist depicted them as conjoined at the hip and sharing a common tail,” says co-director John Leo. The dogs are shown standing on the flowing-maned golden likeness of Oprah’s head, in reference to how the dogs’ deaths may be weighing heavily on Winfrey’s mind. “Losing two beloved pets within a year is likely to take its toll on anybody.”
Last month, Oprah dedicated a show investigating abuses at puppy mills to Sophie, who died from kidney failure. "Sophie gave me 13 years of unconditional love," Winfrey said.
The Puppies’ Memorial also highlights the overlooked threat of accidental pet fatality by common household products.
“Given the natures of the demise of Oprah’s dogs, we feel the horrors of a puppy mill could be inconsequential compared to the poison hazards pets face in the home. Leaving a puppy mill for a nice home could be like jumping from the frying pan into the fire for some pets,” says gallery co-director David Kesting. “According to the APCC (Animal Poison Control Center), the anti-freeze commonly leaked on garage floors, for example, is sweet smelling and tasting to pets, but it causes kidney failure and death.”
“The memories of Oprah’s pets could serve as a reminder to all pet lovers that this may be a good time to thoroughly ‘puppy-proof’ their pet’s habitats,” says Daniel Edwards.
“Sophie’s kidney failure may have resulted from natural causes, but we hope the Puppies’ Memorial will remind everyone that Gracie’s choking could have been prevented,” says Kesting.
Edwards’s other works include a pro-euthanasia monument to Kentucky Derby winning racehorse Barbaro, The Paris Hilton Autopsy featuring her forlorn pet Chihuahua Tinkerbell, and a nude Britney Spears giving birth on a bearskin rug.
RECEPTION FOR THE PRESS, MAY 21ST AT 11:00 AM. Public reception is May 22nd, 6:00 pm at Leo Kesting Gallery, 812 Washington St. Contact David Kesting at 917-650-3760 or John Leo at 917-292-8865 or visit http://www.LeoKesting.com .
###
Media Contacts:
David Kesting
+1-917-650-3760
and
John Leo
+1-917-292-8865
of LeoKestingGallery
info@CaplaKesting.com
photo caption: Puppies’
Memorial by Daniel Edwards.
PRESS
DOWNLOAD HERE
