All the artwork arrives protected in wooden crates. The first job is to uncrate everything and bring it into the building.
My son Manuel came down to help with the installation in Redwood City. Shown here posing with his mother!
Unloading the truck outside the San Mateo County History Museum.
Sometimes dogs travel in crates, but have you ever seen a doghouse in a crate?
Putting Empty Nest together takes several hours. We were grateful for all the volunteer help we had from Pets In Need.
Here's the "butterfly circle" attaching butterflys to the plexiglas rods. Since each butterfly is cut from a shelter ID card, reading about each animal is part of the job of installation.
Putting the "15 Minutes" paintings on their framework.
Best Friends Art Project installed in the rotunda of the San Mateo County History Museum.
Empty Nest. The butterflys seem to like flying in round spaces!
Migration, Screen of Self Defense, Empty Nest and a collection of my paintings.
Screen of Self Defense always draws people for a closer inspection.
The rotunda filled up with visitors during the reception.
Home At Last, showing pictures of adoptable pets. This time featuring pets from Pets In Need in Redwood City.
Opening night.
My son Manuel greeting Annette Lantos, the congressman's wife.
Annette Lantos is a great supporter of animal causes. Here she is being interviewed for a Best Friends video.
A beautiful vegetarian feast was served on opening night.
Viewing Clay Myers photographs.
Clay Myers "captured moments" evoke the spirit of the animals.
The reception was held inside the original courtroom, complete with jury box!
Congressman Tom Lantos addresses the guests at the reception.
Dawn Arnall, one of the major sponsors of the Best Friends Art Project tour.
Tom and Annette Lantos
Here I am speaking to the guests at the reception.
The unveiling of Dulce's painting. I made this painting especially for Pets In Need, the host orginization for the art show. Dulce is one of their rescued dogs.
Faith Maloney, Director of animal care at Best Friends.
Dee Mooring, Director of Pets In Need, Redwood City.
Ken White, Director of the Penninsula Humane Society.
Amy Shever founder of Pet Gurardian.
Here I am giving a tour of the artworks on opening day.
Jason Watt, filming a video for Best Friends.
Another tour of the artworks.
Viewing a collection of Clay Myers' photographs.
Mike Murphy of the San Francisco Giants presents a gift to Best Friends from the players! This took place at the opening day event on Saturday morning.
575 Candles Blown Out. Here Tom and Annette Lantos join in the lighting of the candles on Opening Day.
The candles were placed on the steps at the museum entrance, the best protection from the wind on that day!
Everyone joins in the lighting.
You're never too young to light a candle!
A doggy prayer for the cats, after all the candles have been lit.
Blowing out the candles.
575 Candles Blown Out!
San Mateo County Sheriff's Department did a demonstration with their K9 Unit as part of the Opening Day event.
Pat Sinclair of Pets In Need introduces me to the real Dulce!