We Love Our Pets Art Show

May is National Pet Month, and Mulberry Art Studios will once again be filled with art that barks, meows, neighs, and chirps in celebration of the animals that bring so much joy to our lives. The aptly named We Love Our Pets art show will feature 236 pieces of artwork from 148 local artists in a multitude of mediums, all on the subject of our beloved furry friends. The show opens with a First Friday Reception on May 5 from 5pm-9pm. The public is invited to come and view the art and meet the artists during this time, and guests will also have the chance to browse the tables of seven local pet related vendors and meet some rescue dogs from The Sebastian Foundation of Animal Rescue. Guests are encouraged to bring a few dollars along to donate to the Sebastian Foundation, but there is no fee to attend the event.

The idea for We Love Our Pets grew from the love of one dog, Milo. Milo was a rescue dog who became the unofficial mascot of Mulberry Art Studios after April adopted him. Sadly, in November 2018, Milo died at age 16. Less than two months later, April’s husband Charlie passed away. As a tribute to these two wonderful beings, both so central to her life, April decided to honor their love with a show inspired by their memory. “Our pets and our partners make a profound difference in our lives and we wanted to raise money for an organization dedicated to bringing pets and people together,” explains April. “Our pets comfort us, console us and entertain us. Our pets greet us, acknowledge us, snuggle with us, lick us, and some even walk us at least three times a day (whether we want to or not). We CAN ALL AGREE that our pets add a dimension of fulfillment and compassion to our lives! It is for this reason, that Mulberry Art Studios is super excited to host our fifth Annual We Love Our Pets exhibition to give pet owners, and amateur as well as professional artists a joyful opportunity to experience each other’s pet(s) which they love and can’t live without!”

Mulberry Art Studios has once again selected local animal rescue The Sebastian Foundation as the nonprofit to benefit from this exhibit. Founded in 2004 by Amy Garrety, The Sebastian Foundation works tirelessly to facilitate the adoption of unwanted animals, offering a second chance to pets who have been surrendered due to circumstances outside of their control or who have ended up in high kill shelters. As they state in their mission statement, the Sebastian Foundation believes that, “Through education and awareness of the welfare of animals and a commitment to compassion toward other living beings, our world becomes a better place for everyone.”

The We Love Our Pets show will be available for viewing throughout the month of May.