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Pensacola News Journal, April 1, 2004

A Pensacola Blue Dog

Blue Dog is such a special guest that Pensacola Beach officials eased up on their "No Pets on the Beach" policy.

Artist George Rodrigue with several of his "Blue Dog" series of paintings at the Pensacola Museum of Art.

Gary McCracken
@PensacolaNewsJournal.com

George Rodrigue's silkscreen "Fun in the Sun" was created specifically for his Pensacola Museum of Art exhibit. Blue Dog is in his famous pose, sitting on the white sands of Pensacola Beach.

The 3-in1 Blue Dog sculpture is a new work by artist George Rodrigue.

Gary McCracken
@PensacolaNewsJournal.com

It is the first time Rodrigue has painted the popular mutt on a body of water.

"I wanted to do something local and I had not done anything like that with water," he said.

The limited edition silkscreens are signed and numbered. Price: $750.

Rodrigue also will debut the Blue Dog metal sculpture that took him 15 years to make.

The sculpture is "three flat dogs back to back." It's one of those things you have to see to, um, understand.

Blue Dog vs. Red Dog

Who is the Red Dog that George Rodrigue sometimes paints?

"When I started painting Blue Dog, it was on a journey to find himself," he said.

"In many of these situations, I realized we have a bad side to ourselves. Red Dog is the bad side of Blue Dog."

So who is the Red Cat found in galleries in New Orleans?

"A copy cat."

Museum hours

The Pensacola Museum of Art is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

The cost is $5 for adults and $2 for students and active military. For more information, call 432-6247 or visit www.pensacolamuseumofart.org.

Blue Dog weekend offers art and hurricanes

Friday:

Opening reception for Cajuns, Blue Dogs and Hurricanes: the Art of George Rodrigue from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. Reception sponsor Seville Quarter will be on hand to serve Blue Hurricanes. George Rodrigue and his wife, Wendy, will be at the reception. This preview reception is a benefit of museum membership. Guests are welcome at $10 per person.

Saturday:

1 p.m.: George Rodrigue will be at the PMA Saturday Workshop for Kids to help the young budding artists paint pictures of their own pets during the workshop. Call Kelly Snyder, Education Coordinator at 432-6247 for more information on the workshop.

2:30 to 5 p.m. Rodrigue will hold a book signing at the museum of his latest publication The Art of George Rodrigue. Copies are available at the museum store.

Cajuns, Blue Dogs and Hurricanes will be at the museum through May 15.

Area galleries get the blues

On Friday, five area art galleries will partner with the Pensacola Museum of Art to present new "Blue" exhibitions in conjunction with Cajuns, Blue Dogs and Hurricanes, the Art of George Rodrigue.

The opening receptions at the galleries will be held from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m Friday. Participating galleries include A Means of Expression, Bayfront Gallery, Blue Morning Gallery, Casa de Cosas and Steamboat Gallery.

This cooperative effort is a new program started by the museum and is called PMA+, which partners downtown galleries with the museum to make a cultural impact on the Pensacola Bay Area.

The gallery exhibits will be up through May 1.Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.