From a bride and groom dogs to a geisha cat to a grillin' hot dog, 29 fiberglass statues provided a palate for area artists.
Decorated for a cause and displayed around the region this summer, the statues will be front and center at the Happy Tails To You II event scheduled for Friday at Williamsburg Creekside. The evening fund raiser for the Cherryland Humane Society features dinner, cocktails and a silent auction plus the live auction of the statues. Funds raised at the event will cover general operating expenses of the shelter, which serves an average of 2,145 cats and dogs a year.
The completed statutes have been displayed at locations around Traverse City and Leelanau County since early August, stirring up interest in the upcoming festivities.
"It was very exciting, we've had such wonderful feedback with the animals all around,” said Mike Cherry, executive director of the society. "We went out to get one animal today and the proprietor of the place said, 'Could you please leave it longer, so many people have been interested.'”
The Cherryland Humane Society presented the original Happy Tails in 2004, featuring 22 statues that year. Donna Folgarelli Fisher, a co-chair of this year's event, noted that the success that time prompted a second try. The call for artists went to gallery owners and area artists, who eagerly stepped up. One artist from the Minneapolis/St. Paul area joined in the endeavor after learning about Happy Tails to You II from Folgarelli during a flight.
"We have sitting animals, tabletop animals, standing animals, quite a variation this year,” said Folgarelli.
David Chrobak contributed "Grandmother's Wedding Dress,” loosely collaborating with fellow Northport artist Betsy Winters, who created "Bowzer Groom.” While neither saw the other's dog until they were done, the canine couple turned out to be very compatible.
An artist with no formal training, Chrobak dove into the project with an open mind, although he found the fiberglass medium challenging. He quickly discovered that the lace yellowed when he dipped it into the fiberglass to make an over train for the skirt, hence the dog's moniker.
"The veil, which actually looks like netting, is screen painted white,” said Chrobak.
Chrobak created a dog in 2004 as well, the "Seven Flea Itch,” a Marilyn Monroe-themed statue that was a top money-getter in that auction. The founder of the Northport Dog Parade, which celebrated its 14th year this summer, the combination of art and animals is a winner for him.
"Our theme for the parade this year was coordinated with the Humane Society,” he noted of August's Happy Tails to You: Get Along Little Doggies event.
Interlochen artist Peter Bathum participated in Happy Tails for the first time this year, contributing "Rock Hound.” A working artist with a new decorative painting business, Dramatic Finishes, he typically works on flat surfaces with the occasional furniture thrown in.
The curves and three dimensional shape of the dog required some extra planning and logistical creativity.
"I had to flip it over and get underneath the ears and underneath the body so I had to make a little cradle for it so I could paint it upside down,” said Bathum.
He estimates he put 40 hours into making the dog and in that time became intrigued by the medium.
"I liked it so much that I went to the same web site, cowpainters.com, and bought a bear,” said Bathum. "He's staring at me in my workshop, saying, 'Paint me!' And I'm kind of waiting to see how inspiration strikes me.”
The Cherryland Humane Society will present Happy Tails to You II on Friday, September 21, beginning at 5 p.m. at the Williamsburg Creekside behind the Williamsburg Showcase Dinner Theater on M-72. Tickets in advance are $25 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under or $35 and $15 respectively at the door. Tickets are available at DeYoung's downtown, at the society or at the door. For more information or tickets, call the Cherryland Humane Society at 946-5116 or see their web site at www.cherrylandhumane.org.