DOG lovers have been invited to bring their pets along to a unique exhibition placing the spotlight on the nation’s four-legged best friend.
The iconic HMV poster featuring a dog next to a gramophone is just one of the images of artworks on display in an exhibition at Ushaw Historic Historic House, Chapels and Gardens, at Ushaw, near Durham.
Francis Barraud’s ‘His Master’s Voice’ can be seen in Barking – A Celebration of Dogs in Art – showing all sides of the beloved pooch through the ages in paintings, sculptures, prints and ceramics.
The outdoor exhibition will run from Friday (April 8) until Sunday July 3 and has been curated from public and private collections across the North and beyond.
Barraud was born into a family of artists in London and studied at Ushaw College between 1866 and 1868 when he was a pupil at the Junior School.
He painted an original of His Master’s Voice, which brought him worldwide fame, as it became HMV’s logo, one of the world’s most recognisable brands and then two dozen replicas over the years, for which he later received a pension from his patrons.
Read more: Take a sneak peak at a vintage rail poster exhibition
The exhibition has been created by Create North, which supports artists and creative practitioners to generate income from their work, in partnership with Ushaw and funded by Durham County Council.
Jane Shaw, director of Create North, said: “We are such a nation of dog lovers. We thought, how better to celebrate our love and affection for dogs than by creating an outdoor exhibition which dogs can bring their two-legged friends along to.
“We’re delighted to be showing this exhibition at Ushaw, not just because of all the wonderful dogs it features, but because of how it showcases the fabulous art collections held across County Durham and the opportunities it has allowed us to create for local creatives.”
The exhibition has been curated by artist Betty Barnet Brown and Andrew Heard, Ushaw’s visitor programmes manager, with contributions from Ushaw Historic House, Chapels & Gardens, The Bowes Museum, Durham University, The Oriental Museum, The Chapter of Durham Cathedral, The EMI Archive, The Gemini Collection, The Zurbaran Collection and The Auckland Project, Beamish Museum, John Cornish (son of the artist Norman Cornish), The David Gommon Estate, Ramside Hall, Durham Town Hall and Anna Bartram (daughter of Ted Holloway).
As part of the celebration of dogs, there will also be a one-off family event at Ushaw on Sunday April 24 entitled Hounds on the Bounds. There will be a makers’ market which will include dog portraits, treats and art works.
There will be dog themed stories in Doggie Tails and canine circus acts with the Retro Poodles and Les Amis D’Onno. Visitors will also be able to take part in a Make Your Own Dog exhibition using recyclable materials with the support of artist Betty Barnet Brown and turn their hand to creating dog themed prints with artist Suzie Devey in her one of a kind telephone booth print studio.
Barking: Dogs in Art and Hounds on the Bounds will be free to annual pass holders at Ushaw and included in daily admission.
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