"Oh My Dog!" Chris Finn's art exhibition has opened at PAMA in Brampton

 What came first, the Chicken or the Dog? In the case of Canadian art expert Chris Finn and myself, it was the pigeon.

It was 1970—way back in my second year at the University of Windsor. I picked up a gig to pose for a sculpture class for a whole semester. I needed the money. The class of about 12 undergraduate Fine Arts students had a choice: sculpt me or a live pigeon (I lied about the chicken). Everyone picked me. Only Chris Finn picked the bird. Probably a wise choice.

The next year, my wife and I moved to Toronto. I got my degree in Journalism and didn’t see Chris again until I got some part-time work at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection. It was 1999, and I kept the gig for 16 years. Small world—Chris was the resident expert there on Canadian Art. I promoted a number of shows he was involved in. No end of fun, no end of pigeon jokes.

I moved on and took on some work with the Brampton Art Gallery after that. Chris eventually retired from the McMichael and moved back to his hometown of Windsor. He joined the staff at the city’s art gallery.

Meanwhile, in 2020, I was accepted back into the University of Windsor part-time (Communications), and for the past three years, I have been commuting to the city, where once again I met up with Chris. He had recently retired from the Windsor gallery and was working on a special art exhibition for the PAMA gallery in Brampton.

“What’s it about, pigeons?” (I can wear any joke down to dust.)

“Nope,” said Chris. “Dogs! And their place in art.” He has researched the show for years, and it will officially open at PAMA this Friday. It is thoughtful, interesting, and very family-friendly.

What follows is a press release that describes Mr. Finn’s new art exhibition:

At 7pm on May 24th the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives (PAMA) unveils its latest paw-some exhibit "Oh My Dog!" opening this May. This exhibit, guest curated by Canadian art expert Chris Finn (McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Windsor Art Gallery) celebrates the amazing world of our canine companions and the unique bond between humans and dogs!

Oh My Dog! May 25 - Sept.3. Guest curated by Chris Finn

This exhibition will showcase a selection of historical and contemporary works by diverse artists of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds who have focused on the dog as a symbol. It will consider a variety of perspectives on the dog's relationship with humans around cultural identity, social and aesthetic values, ethics, animal rights, lifestyle, and consumerism. Uncover the diverse roles of dogs throughout history in art!

Opening Reception: May 24, 7 – 9 p.m.

Join us for a special evening preview of the new exhibition Oh My Dog! and meet guest curator Chris Finn. This event is free, light food and refreshments will be served. Please send your RSVP to PAMAEventRSVP@peelregion.ca.

“In recent decades, many aspects of human-animal relations focusing on the dogs’ roles in cultures have received significant scholarly attention. I have been drawn to research focused on analyzing canine cognitive abilities, their behaviour, as well as focusing on other fields of studies which examine our interspecies relationship with this companion animal. Humans have a special relationship with this companion species. Dogs have been integrated into societies through their various roles. These include maintaining a social presence as a pet or fulfilling a utilitarian function as a working animal. My intention with this project is to examine these various functions within cultures.”

Chris Finn