DiverseWorks, Barrio Dogs, and Box 13 present No One’s Dog a community-based photography project documenting Houston’s animal overpopulation crisis
COMMUNITY AWARENESS EVENT: Saturday, August 9, 5 – 7 pm at Box 13 ArtSpace, 6700 Harrisburg Blvd., Houston, TX 77011
EXHIBITION: July 26 – August 9, 2014 at DiverseWorks, 4102 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77004
BOX 13 ArtSpace is in the center of the area that Barrio Dogs focuses its efforts, and the problem of homeless and neglected animals can be observed daily. BOX 13, Barrio Dogs, and DiverseWorks have teamed up to present No One’s Dog, a community based project that uses art to bring attention to Houston’s animal overpopulation crisis. To accompany the photography exhibition of No One’s Dog that is on display at DiverseWorks, a community awareness event is scheduled at BOX 13 on August 9 from 5-7pm.
During the event the commissioned coloring book created by Houston-based artist Michael Bise, which tells the story of Rusty the dog (in English and Spanish), one of Barrio Dogs greatest success stories, will be distributed free of charge. There will be tables set up for kids to color and other family friendly activities. Barrio Dogs will be discussing their programs and signing up pets from the 77011 zipcode for free spay and neuter. Science Diet will be on hand with donated pet food.
Spay/neuter programs and education are the only ways to solve Houston’s animal overpopulation crisis, and the goal of No One’s Dog is to educate through art. This is a citywide problem, and we hope increased visibility will lead to positive change in the lives of residents AND animals alike.
Members of the general public are still encouraged to contribute by uploading digital photographs of stray, injured, or neglected dogs in their neighborhoods to the No One’s Dog Flickr group: https://www.flickr.com/groups/houstondogs/.
WEBSITE
http://diverseworks.org/in-the-works/exhibtion-performance/ones-dog
THE COLORING BOOK
DiverseWorks engaged artist Michael Bise to tell the story of Rusty – a stray found in a cemetery who has found his forever home with a Barrio Dogs volunteer. Rusty is now a certified Youth and Paws dog that visits area schools and community centers to teach children about proper pet care and the importance of fixing their pets. The coloring book will be distributed for free at DiverseWorks and Box 13, and will also be used in the Barrio Dogs’ Youth and Paws program.
Michael Bise received his BFA from the University of North Texas and his MFA from the University of Houston. He has had solo shows at Moody Gallery (Houston), McKinney Avenue Contemporary (Dallas), Fort Worth Contemporary Arts at Texas Christian University, and Small A Projects (Portland, OR). His work has been included in numerous group exhibitions, including Parallel Myths, David Shelton Gallery (Houston), The State of Drawing, The Gallery at the University of Texas at Arlington; The Drawing Room, Galveston Arts Center; Fathom, Texas State University (San Marcos), and Perspectives 152: Four Artists, Four Stories, Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston. Bise’s works are in the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and the Piggozi Collection (New York, NY).
ABOUT BARRIO DOGS
Barrio Dogs is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 2010 for the purpose of educating, empowering and transforming the East End by raising awareness and educating the community about proper animal care, leash and tethering laws, the importance of reporting animal neglect and abuse and above all, promoting and when possible paying for spay and neuter of dogs. Comprised completely of volunteers, Barrio Dogs’ approach to helping the East End’s homeless and mistreated animals has resonated with many people, not just dog lovers.
ABOUT BOX 13
Box 13 is an artist-run nonprofit and innovative environment for the creation and advancement of experimental contemporary art in Houston. BOX 13 artists create this environment through the offering of affordable workspaces for emerging and established artists, dedicating five interior spaces to the exhibition of artistic explorations, a window gallery for installations and an outdoor courtyard space. Box 13 promotes dialogue among artists and the art community on current trends affecting the arts. Box 13 is a member of the East End Chamber of Commerce.
ABOUT DIVERSEWORKS
DiverseWorks is a non-profit art center in Houston, Texas dedicated to commissioning and presenting new visual, performing, and literary art. DiverseWorks is a place where the process of creating art is valued and where artists can test new ideas in the public arena. By encouraging the investigation of current artistic, cultural, and social issues, DiverseWorks builds, educates, and sustains audiences for contemporary art.
SUPPORT
This project is supported in part by The Texas Commission on the Arts through an Arts Respond Grant, with additional support from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance.
