Exhibition
Pets of the Pandemic: A Benefit for Best Friends Animal Society
23 Sep 2020 – 15 Oct 2020
Regular hours
- Monday
- 10:00 – 18:00
- Tuesday
- 09:30 – 18:00
- Wednesday
- 10:00 – 18:00
- Thursday
- 10:00 – 18:00
- Friday
- 10:00 – 18:00
- Saturday
- 10:00 – 18:00
- Sunday
- 10:00 – 18:00
Timezone: America/New_York
Online
- Language: English
- Join the event
Alpha 137 Gallery his hosting a charity Art Show Benefitting Best Friends Animal Society Featuring Original Works that Pay Homage to the Pets who have Comforted Artists During the Covid-19 Crisis
About
The show runs simultaneously on Artnet, Artsy as well as Alpha 137 Gallery and features the winners of an open call that invited professional artists from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania to create original portraits of the pets that have helped them get through quarantine and lockdowns. The artworks had to be unique -no prints or multiples. The competition was juried by internationally renowned art historian David Cohen, publisher and editor of Artcritical.com, and pet parent of Allegra, a 16-year old Italian Greyhound, well known to his social media followers. The winning artists range in age from early 20s to mid 80s and the works include portraits of cats, dogs, a bird, a guinea pig, a horse, and even an imaginary pet: “It was great to see the varied and impassioned responses of such a cross section of artists, most of them new names to me. Artists are totally used to working in splendid isolation, putting them at a slight advantage perhaps. Of course, a portrait is just a way of saying thank you to the quadrupeds who help us remain sane,” said Cohen.
Pets of the Pandemic is the brainchild of art advisor, gallerist, and proud cat mom, Nadine Witkin, who said, “as Covid-19 was raging through New York City, I wondered how we could use our experience selling fine art online to help out - and to bring some joy to people during these difficult times. My father, a modernist sculptor [Isaac Witkin], who died in 2006, had seven shelter animals who helped him get through isolation, illness - and even the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Because of that, I was especially touched by the countless stories of pets who have been helping artists get through today’s COVID-19 crisis. So I knew I wanted to help animals, but I also wanted to do something to help artists. Small and mid-size galleries were shuttering all around us, shows were getting canceled, and many artists were not only losing the chance to exhibit, they were also losing their second jobs. Artists are always being asked to donate - but now, more than ever, many also need help. So unlike other benefits, we decided that the artists in this exhibition would get 50% of sales proceeds.