To see a slideshow of the International Exhibition on Animals in Art, click here.
The School of Veterinary Medicine invited more than 200 visitors, including artists from around the world, into its home Saturday as it kicked off its annual exhibit featuring art about animals. The Vet School hosted the opening reception Saturday for its 22nd annual International Exhibition on Animals in Art at the School of Veterinary Medicine Library. The show, which will be on display in the Vet School library until April 26, exemplifies the Vet School’s dedication to exhibiting and educating people about the human–animal bond. “It brings in a group of people that might not have otherwise come to the Vet School,” said Gretchen Morgan, Vet School alumna and public programs coordinator. “It’s just another example of the human–animal bond.” Vet School Dean Peter Haynes echoed this theme in his speech to open the awards presentation. “The School of Veterinary Medicine has art on its agenda,” he said, adding the show “displays the school’s commitment to the human–animal bond, reflecting who we are and what we do.” Baton Rouge artist and School of Art alumna Margaret Rice captured the “Best in Show” award for her piece “Morning Walk,” an oil-on-wood painting which portrays a large group of fox hounds walking together. Rice said she composed the piece from photographs she took of a group of hunting dogs. “It was really great light because it was the morning,” she said.  Rice said she returned to painting again about five years ago, and she mostly paints portraits of people’s pets on commission. She said she has never sent her work to other animal art shows around the country. “This is the only [piece] I actually entered,” she said. “This is maybe my third painting from those photographs.” Art show judge and University alumna Melanie Hansbrough said deciding which 75 pieces to display out of the 583 entries was a difficult task. “I’m amazed at the talent,” she said. “It was difficult to select 75 from all the talent that we have. I was overwhelmed at first.” Hansbrough said her main goal was to put together a show that would speak to a variety of tastes and display art in a variety of media about a variety of animals. She said she didn’t just select paintings about dogs and cats. “My main objective in this was to make this a show everyone would like,” she said. “I hope people will be uplifted by the show.” This year’s show, the brainchild of retired Vet School librarian Sue Loubiere, featured work from 270 artists from 41 states and 6 foreign countries. Morgan said the show raises money from the 20 percent commission the school takes from the sale of any piece in the show. She said the school raised about $5,000 last year, which went to improving the library and the school’s wildlife hospital.—-Contact Matthew Barnidge at [email protected]