In an ASPCA study conducted in 2011, more than twenty-seven percent of dog adopters cited appearance as the single most important factor in choosing their pet. This factor, combined with the perfunctory photographic aesthetic of most pet shelters, does not always favor the coloration of all breeds and some animals are passed over for consideration before anyone has a chance to experience their personality. But the good folks at Sit.Stay.Art! and Pets and People are working to change that.
Pets & People Humane Society is a non-profit, no-kill humane society that rescues adoptable cats and dogs from municipal animal control facilities across the state of Oklahoma on the day they are to be euthanized. Sit.Stay.Art! supports Pets and People through an annual art show where patrons can adopt both pets needing homes and purchase art based on celebrating homeless and adopted pets. Through visual art, homeless animals are elevated and their personalities can be captured outside the shelter. The sales of the artwork provide funds for vet bills at the shelter during a season when donations are scarce. This year the focus is on “Black Dog Syndrome.” This phenomenon, observed by vets and shelters alike, is when darker animals are chosen less frequently, which leads to higher euthanasia rates in particular breeds and mixes.
Sixty artists have created art work for the event based on shelter pets, and the selection of work varies in price to accommodate a wide range of collectors. Sit.Stay.Art! is a non-juried show and features a wide variety of media including painting, glass, metal, photography, and mixed media artworks. Additionally, many artists have decided to give Pets and People anywhere from fifty to one-hundred percent of their sales.
Sit.Stay.Art! takes place from 7-11pm this Saturday at Individual Artists of Oklahoma on Historic Film Row in Oklahoma City. There will be a cash bar, food and pet treats provided by local restaurants. This art show is a pet-friendly event, bring your leashed pet! For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.sitstayart.org. For more information about Pets and People, visit www.petsandpeople.com.
IAO Gallery is located at 706 West Sheridan between Shartel and Lee.
Phone: 405-232-6060
