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'Animal House' to Let the Dogs Out: Sacramento Fine Arts Center Show Features Critter-Related Works, Plus Special Events.

Posted on: Thursday, 23 March 2006, 12:00 CST

By Bill Lindelof, The Sacramento Bee, Calif.

Mar. 23--The Sacramento Fine Arts Center is going to the dogs. "And to the cats, and to the birds, etc.," said Shirley Neff, artist and spokeswoman for "Animal House," an art show that began this week and will run through April 8. The show opened Tuesday with more than 150 animal-oriented pieces on display at the Fine Arts Center, 5330 Gibbons Drive in Carmichael. Special events also are planned through the show's run, including a reception, workshop, a day for children to get crafty and artsy and a special event in which pets are invited to see the art show. Through the ages, artwork has featured animals - from the silly, such as dogs playing poker, to the scientific and detailed bird illustrations of John James Audubon. Animal etchings and paintings in an ancient French cave have been dated at 30,000 to 32,000 years old. The Chauvet cave "gallery" in the Ardèche region of southern France has hundreds of images of more than a dozen species, including lions and bears. "Animals have been such a part of our life forever," Neff said. "People want to honor them." Among the media used at the Carmichael gallery are all types of painting: watercolor, pastels, oils and acrylics. The show also includes collages, sculpture and photographs. Neff said the show is all about the equine, feline, canine, feathered, furry or scaled. "Some of the work is absolutely beautiful," Neff said. Special events are scheduled: * 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 2 - A teaching session by artist and animal lover Penny Soto, who will give insights on how to paint animals. "She will be showing you how to paint, and then you do your own painting," Neff said. "She's very good - an award-winning artist and judge." Sign up early at the fine arts center for the workshop, which costs $65. * 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. April 4 - An awards reception will honor those recognized for superior work in the show. The reception will run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. * 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 8 - Children's "Make and Take" will feature crafts and artwork with animal themes for children to create. * 6 to 8 p.m. April 8 - Pets are invited to see the show at a special reception. Refreshments for both humans and animals will be served. ------------ ANIMALS AS ART What: "Animal House" art event. When: Through April 8. Where: Sacramento Fine Arts Center, 5330B Gibbons Drive, Carmichael. Hours: The center is open 11 a.m. -7 p.m. Tuesdays and 11 a.m. -3 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. It is closed Sundays and Mondays. Details: (916) 971-3713; www.sacfinearts.org.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Sacramento Bee, Calif.

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Source: The Sacramento Bee

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