press release
DESCRIPTION
This release shows what the Dogs are up to and where you can next see them.TRANSCRIPT
Danger Dogs from Nepal – Folk Art from the Himalayas
For Immediate Release: Danger Dogs from Nepal“DANGER DOGS -- FOLK ART FROM THE HIMALAYAS” is the creation of Michelle Page of Santa Monica, who became intrigued by the hand-painted metal "Beware of Dog" signs everywhere she looked on visits to Nepal.
Danger Dogs are original enamel portraits of dogs on metal signboards, approximately 1’x1’. Made in Nepal by 52 different artist studios, these signs range from primitive to highly-detailed photo-realism. These are original works of art, signed by the artist. Michelle has commissioned over 1000 signboards to date. A commissioned portrait of a pet is $250, or $200 for an existing signboard.
John Walsh, Director Emeritus of the Getty (1983-2000) has written: "I have been so delighted by these paintings that I've bought four of them recently. Michelle has found a whole subculture of self-taught artists living in dodgy circumstances in Kathmandu and brought their delightful work to the West. All of them have fluent Nepalese warnings and delicious almost-correct English subtitles. There is a lot of sophistication here.” "American Dogs, Nepali Jobs" has become her slogan-- even though her project is international in scope as she has had orders from Canada, Denmark, England, Bangladesh, France, Switzerland and Jordan. "This is really about the artists. Signboard artists are under-appreciated. It is a dying art in one of the last places on earth where it is still widely practiced. This project shows the broad spectrum of talents in Nepal."
In America these signboards draw fine art interest, now selling in 2 prestigious museum gift shops. Gallery owners, artists, curators, photographers, critics, writers have all bought these signs. Commissions get 3 choices of their pets – for two reasons: first to give 3 Nepali artists work and second to please the customer.
Signboard artists from the Kathmandu valley, Pokhara, Beni and even Myagdi's Darbang are represented in this project.
Michelle has become the world's top collector of such signs. She decided to open a business after noticing inexpensive digitized computer-generated graphics were beginning to replace hand-painted signs. She feared the art and expertise the artists employ would soon be lost to modern technology. Through her efforts, Michelle is effectively saving their livelihoods, one "Danger Dog" at a time to the delight of dog-lovers everywhere. The signs are shown and are available for purchase in art galleries in Los Angeles, the Craft and Folk Art Museum shop in Los Angeles, and at the Santa Monica Museum of Art. They are also available at shops in Malibu and Santa Monica.
Please go to www. NepalDog.com to see the full range of works available.
See the Dogs at Big Sky Café in San Luis Obispo from March-May, 2009!
Partial list of collectors:Ed Moses – Artist, Venice, CaMichael Vartan – Actor, Los Angeles, CaDina Zaphiris – Animal Planet Petfinder, Los Angeles, CAJulia Szabo – Author & Pet Blogger, New York Post Barbara Pokras – Film Reviewer, Woodstock, NYStephen Bochco – Television Producer, Los Angeles, CA
Contact Michelle at: www.NepalDog.com [email protected] 310-828-7745
Danger Dogs from Nepal – Folk Art from the Himalayas
Mary Ellen Mark – Photographer, New York, NYLaurie Frank – Frank Pictures Gallery, Santa Monica, CaDr. John Walsh – Director Emeritus 1983-2000, Getty Museum, Los Angeles, CaRichard Heller – Richard Heller Gallery, Santa Monica, CaElsa Longhauser, Director, Santa Monica Museum of Art, Santa Monica, CaNancy Main – Dinan Main Gallery, Ojai, CaJim Applington – Lotus Gallery, Kathmandu, NepalAmy Coane – Curator, Santa Monica Museum of Art, Santa Monica, CaGwen Akin – Photographer, New York CityDeborah Irmas – Photography Curator, Santa Monica, CaCarmen Wallace Guiggia -- Slow Food International, Bra, ItalyNoni Pratt – Artist, New York CityShoshona Rose – Rose Gallery, Santa Monica, CARoy and Hope Turney – Folk Art Collectors, Brentwood, CAChristine Knoke – Curator Asian Art, Norton Simon Museum, Pasadena, CA Randi Steinberg – Documentary Photographer, Santa Monica, CASally Howell – Documentary Producer, Los Angeles, CABob Murawski – Film Editor, Los Angeles, CADeborah Gribbon – Director Emeritus, Getty Museum, Los Angeles, CA
Exhibitions:September 2007 – Dinan Main Gallery, Ojai, CaNovember 2007 – Baryo Fiesta Gallery, Kathmandu, NepalApril 2008 – Copro Nason Gallery, Santa Monica, CANovember 2008 – Riverside Art Museum, Riverside, CADecember 2008 – Mountain Bar, Chinatown, Los Angeles, CADecember 2008 – Santa Monica Museum of Art, Santa Monica, CAMarch 2009 – Big Sky Café, San Luis Obispo, CAMarch 2009 – Hollywood Women’s Club, Hollywood, CA
References:Christine Knoke – Curator Asian Art, Norton Simon Museum, Pasadena 626-449-6840Laurie Frank – Art Dealer, Frank Pictures Gallery, Santa Monica, CA 310-828-0211
Contact: Michelle Page [email protected] www.NepalDog.com
Contact Michelle at: www.NepalDog.com [email protected] 310-828-7745