GIVING GRACEThis group of portraits is born of a fantasy: inviting dogs to the dinner table. It’s an invitation to my audience to ponder the integral place these beloved companions occupy in the family, undoubtedly among the deepest and most unique relationships we create.
It also reconsiders the boundaries that we establish with our four-legged companions when we separate them from such rituals. Some of my fondest memories growing up took place around the dining room table: the site of countless rounds of Monopoly and the clicking of Mahjong tiles, and where homemade scallion pancakes and hand-split mushu wraps were served to each family member by the Lazy Susan centerpiece. As a child, I would glance down at our dog who was forlorn with longing for the savory cuisine, never understanding why a family member was relegated to eating alone on the kitchen floor. In fact, even as an adult, I often question this cultural norm that separates family members during one of the most intimate acts of connection; the sharing of food.
