San Francisco SPCA Partners with SFMOMA for Pet Portraits Day to Celebrate the Joan Brown Retrospective
SAN FRANCISCO (February 2, 2022)—The San Francisco SPCA partners with the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) for Pet Portraits Day, an exciting live art extravaganza, to celebrate the Joan Brown retrospective. Joan Brown was known for her enduring love of animals, and her art features many depictions of cats and dogs (many of them her own pets), featured throughout the exhibition. With this inspiration in mind, guests are invited to share a digital photo of their pet for the chance to receive a complimentary, original pet portrait made by a local artist. SF SPCA’s Animal Assisted Therapy Team will make a special appearance at SFMOMA for Pet Portraits Day.
Everyone is invited to watch the art-making experience unfold. Some 50 Bay Area artists—plus participating kids ages 4 and up, working with SFMOMA Family Programs—will create portraits in a variety of mediums, from acrylic, watercolor, and gouache to pen-and-ink, collage, and clay. A selection of finished portraits will be displayed in the museum’s Gina and Stuart Peterson White Box on Floor 4 and will stay on view through February 6. Those whose pet photo is selected for a portrait will receive their artwork in the mail in the weeks following the event. Additional information is available here.
“The SF SPCA is a local nonprofit that relies on community support,” said Lisa Feder, SF SPCA Chief of Rescue and Welfare. “As the SF SPCA celebrates our 155th anniversary throughout the year, this partnership with SFMOMA is a special opportunity for us to connect with pet lovers from across the Bay Area, raise awareness, and share the importance of our lifesaving work.”
“On the occasion of our Joan Brown exhibition, SFMOMA is thrilled to partner with the SF SPCA to present this live art event celebrating our shared love of pets,” added Tomoko Kanamitsu, SFMOMA’s Barbara and Stephan Vermut Director of Public Engagement.
The SF SPCA kicked off its 155th anniversary celebration on January 28 with a special adoption event and will continue to celebrate throughout 2023 with special events, its annual gala, and the inaugural SF SPCA Awards.
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About the San Francisco SPCA
The San Francisco SPCA is an independent, community-supported, nonprofit animal welfare organization dedicated to saving, protecting and providing immediate care for cats and dogs who are homeless, ill or in need of an advocate. The SF SPCA also works long-term to educate the community, reduce the number of unwanted kittens and puppies through spaying and neutering, and improve the quality of life for animals and their human companions. The organization does not receive government funding. For more information, visit sfspca.org.