Favorite Object

Aluminum Puppies, 2011.

 

 

To some people these small aluminum puppies might not seem like a desirable piece of art to be displayed in one's living space.  The reason that I keep them displayed on the desk in my bedroom, is because they were a gift from my boyfriend, Eric, on our very first Valentine's Day.  In fact, I usually place them directly in front of a picture of Eric and me.  Receiving this gift meant a lot, because it suggested that Eric knew my interests, personality, and beliefs better than most others.

At first, my reaction to receiving the puppies was confusion.  I was not sure why Eric had decided to give me these little trinkets.  He then explained that he had made them from a mold in one of his engineering classes.  Of course, as an art student I completely appreciated the hand-made gift.  

The second reason that this gift appealed to me, was that they are puppies! Dogs are my favorite animal, which is a quality that is shared between Eric and me.  It was a complete coincidence, because part of my gift to him was a greeting card that had puppies on it, as if it were the theme of our day.

Not only was the gift hand-made and represented our similarities, it also could serve as a symbol of my way of thinking.  If you notice, one of the puppies is very clean and perfect.  The other puppy has flaws.  In art, the process of making something can be just as beautiful as the end result.  One step of production is evident in the flaws of the puppy.  In order for the puppy to have a smooth and perfect appearance, the creator has to sand away the blemishes that materialize during the heating and cooling process of the metal.  Eric knew that I would like to see evidence of how they were produced.

Being able to contrast the two characters is also something that I really appreciate.  I am a sucker for an underdog story and I try to find the beauty in everyone and everything.  The defects of the one puppy in contrast with the perfection of the other, can represent the differences that all beings have, and my desire to love them all.  When I expressed to Eric that I really liked the flawed puppy he simply claimed that he knew.

So, displaying these puppies is extremely important to me, because it serves as a reminder to look for the good in everyone and everything.  It represents the similarities in personality between Eric and me.  The puppies reflect on my background in art and my appreciation for the creating process.  And finally, it is a symbol of happy memories.