Michael Morgan knows that “Deus Ex Bark-ina,” the title he gave the dog-themed group exhibit he’s curating for the Ely Center of Contemporary Art in New Haven, sounds silly. He was searching for a deliberately “clunky” phrase that would make the show seem exciting, accessible and fun, as he had done for a previous cat-themed exhibit in New York state called “Magnum O-Pspsps.”
“I wanted to make it serious but also seem unserious,” the curator said.
“Deus Ex Bark-ina” is a play on the ancient Roman theater phrase “deus ex machina” or “god out of machine. It’s the point in a play where a miraculous event occurs, usually to wrap up the plot. Morgan liked the element of surprise inherent in the title since there are unexpected elements in some of the dog art. He also argued that the common idea of dogs rescuing humans, whether through protective instincts or psychologically through loyalty and comfort, are similar to what the gods do in those ancient dramas. He also wanted an onomatopoeic dog sound like “bark” or “arf” in the title. Finally, he likes having “deus” in there because “dog” spelled backwards is “god.”
When assembling the dog art, Morgan knew he had to keep the artists on a fairly short leash. He wanted to avoid “odes to lost pets” or work that was more tribute than art. “I said ‘I don’t want photos of pets, or paintings of photos of pets. I reached out to artists I knew personally, or artists I knew used dogs in their works,” he said. Images of dogs who were close to the artists were allowed but needed to have a high artistic purpose. Of the dozens of works in the show, only a couple involve photographs.
Courtesy of Pierce Kinnally
Pierce Kinnally’s acrylic on wood painting “Eschatology and Genesis Pt. 1” is on view in the “Deus ex Bark-ina” exhibit. (Courtesy of Pierce Kinnally)
Some of the artists had shown work in the “Magnum O-Pspsps” exhibit, but Morgan understood that in art as in life there are “cat people” and “dog people.” Regarding how artists might use animals as subject matter, Morgan mentioned the oft-stated belief that “cats are our connection to the spiritual world, while dogs are our connection to reality.” He noted how dogs “have been canonized in paintings from the Greco-Roman era,” shown as symbols of heroism and loyalty,” and how they tend to be depicted differently today. “Now we think of them as more cavalier, more about community and groundedness.” Whatever the connection, dogs have inspired artists for centuries. “If you think about Aesop’s fable,” Morgan said, “dogs have been fodder for allegories since forever.”
Morgan knew from his cat art experience that asking artists “What would your dog-centered art be like?” is “a question you can’t ignore.” He described inviting the artists, which he started doing over six months ago, as “kind of like throwing a party — you’re having cool and interesting people over, but there’s also a theme they’re all passionate about.”
As for his own interest, Morgan said, “I grew up with dogs. My family has always had dogs.” Morgan is also an oil painter and sculptor and may have his own dog-themed piece in the show “if there’s room for it.”
Courtesy of Marissa Cote
A detail of Marissa Cote’s “Score for Paws” at the Ely Center in New Haven. (Courtesy of Marissa Cote)
Over 50 artists contributed work to “Deus Ex Bark-ina.” A number of them have ties to Connecticut. Emilie Louise Gossiaux is a painter and sculptor who is blind and creates work inspired by her seeing eye dog. Gossiaux has a master’s degree from the Yale School of Art and had work in this year’s prestigious Whitney Biennial exhibit in New York City.
Another Yale School of Art graduate, Kati Gegenheimer did a colorful painting of her patient pet lying on a welcome mat, “Mars at the Door,” which Morgan said is “really cute” but also has a “barbarians at the gate” vibe. The dog depicted in the painting, Mars, is rescue dog from Hartford.
Douglas Degges created art out of chewed dog toys, and Lesley Finn mounted a collage of archival papers on a wooden board.
There’s a range of styles and media in the show, from an abstract steel doghouse sculpture by Noel Neri to Hyunjin Park’s skeletal mixed-media assemblage “Three bodies of Cerberus,” which incorporates a dog skull. Marissa Cote, an Ithaca-based artist who also contributed to “Magnum O-Pspsps,” designed the 6-foot-tall “Score for Paws,” which resembles a large stringed musical instrument.
Walls have been constructed to divide the gallery space so “it’s not too cluttered,” Morgan said and so “the two dimensional works can be in conversation with the sculptures.”
Courtesy of Dougles Degges
One of the used dog toys that constitute Douglas Degges’ piece in the “Deus ex Bark-ina” exhibit. (Courtesy of Dougles Degges)
Morgan just got his master’s degree for Cornell University in Ithaca, New York and is still based there. He got to know the Ely Center when it recommended artists for “Magnum O-Pspsps.” When the idea of a canine follow-up came up, the center expressed interest in hosting it.
The Ely Center is currently in a transitional period but has been a central part of the arts community for over 60 years.
Last year, the Ely Center left the building for which it was named, the John Slade Ely House, on Trumbull Street in New Haven’s arts district. The Ely House had been a private home whose owner left a trust for it to become a nonprofit arts center and gallery space when she died in 1959. The Ely Center became the headquarters of local painting and sculpture clubs, which had been around since the 1910s.
The arts community almost lost the Ely House building over a decade ago but forestalled a bank takeover. Last year, a move became inevitable. The center is currently located in the offices of CitySeed, the organization that runs several farmers markets in New Haven, at 162 James St. in New Haven.
“Deus Ex Machina” is all about dogs. Will it be seen by dogs? “I don’t know if dogs will be allowed,” Morgan admitted, “but I know that for the closing reception, we are looking to have dogs that are available for adoption.”
“Deus Ex Bark-ina,” curated by Michael Morgan, is on view from Aug. 16 through Sept. 13 at the Ely Center of Contemporary Art, 162 James St., New Haven. There is a closing reception on Sept. 13 from 3 to 6 p.m. Visiting hours are Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. or by appointment. elycenter.org.