"Dog's Night Out"
19 October - 7 November 1999
Soho Gallery, Cnr. Crown and Cathedral Streets, Sydney.

An exhibition of new paintings by Annette Lodge in conjunction with the launch of the picture book Red Fred, written and illustrated by Annette Lodge, published by Margaret Hamilton Books, Australia.


The world of dogs resonates without judgement and transcends human frailty and it has always fascinated me. A dog doesn't care who you are or what you are. A dog's heart has no bitterness. A dog measures its worth by the amount of love it receives and endeavours only to return it. While its debated whether or not a dog acts purely on instinct or takes on human traits, dogs generally are the most likely animal to move easily in and out of our human world.

They are provocateurs. They make sullen people laugh. They make hard people cry. They create a bridge for emotions and feelings to escape without ever knowing or intending to. They are, in every sense, our best friends where loyalty knows no bounds. They are characters in their own story. They live in their own parallel world independent of ours, whose similarity reflects only the best bits.

The paintings are essentially a tribute to the nature of dogs through my own observation of their ways and their adaptability. I began the series by painting about the many dogs I have seen and met while travelling - from French Poodles in Paris to stocky white Tibetan dogs who patrol the streets in Kathmandu.

I wanted a broader focus than just painting about my own dog, so I canvassed friends to furnish me with character references about their dogs and these 'portraits' are included in the show. The paintings are a lyrical attempt to glimpse the enduring spirit of dogs.

I wanted to produce this exhibition because dogs have given me a sense of caring and thoughtfulness throughout my life. They teach me and inspire me and continue to touch my heart.

Click here to see published work or other work in the portfolio.

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