VERO BEACH — Just entering the Laughing Dog Gallery can brighten anyone’s day. Light, airy and colorful, the gallery features delightfully creative pieces by some of the country’s most innovative artists and craftsmen. And of course, being greeted by one of owners Susie and Jeff Wilber’s loveable bull mastiffs is just icing on the cake.
A mutual love of animals led to a collaborative Have a Heart Trunk Show Friday and Saturday, featuring the jewelry of Hillary Randolph. A portion of sales from the show are being donated to the Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County for its medical assistance and spay and neuter programs.
“It’s a girl kind of evening,” said Susie Wilber with a smile, explaining why 5-year-old Sophie was top dog for the Friday night wine and cheese reception, while the two males had been left at home.
“We’ve always been quiet donors of the Humane Society. We donate to Cause for Paws and often stop by the shelter to drop off dog food and biscuits,” explained Wilber. “We thought last year that it would be fun to do something like this; to bring in an artist and pool our resources to pull it all together. Hillary has been part of the gallery for about ten years and she’s a huge animal lover.”
Last year was so successful they decided to team up again. Randolph has a large following in town, and collectors had been visiting all day to snap up a few of her newer works. Although her work is regularly represented at the gallery, additional pieces not usually available were brought in specifically for the show.
“She’s brought a few experimental pieces to see the reaction,” said Wilber. “She’s sold one already so I guess that’s telling.”
Hillary Randolph is quick to give credit for her work to her husband, sculpture artist Somers Randolph.
“He does big, huge pieces out of granite, alabaster, marble,” explained Hillary Randolph. He would carve smaller pieces out of soapstone with a little penknife for inspiration.”
The miniature sculptures are transformed into solid silver jewelry through a lost wax process, hand-finished and polished to perfection.
“It’s just big, bold, plain and elegant,” says Randolph of her Mobius Hoop, a new favorite of hers.
Several works by Somers Randolph were also available, including gorgeous alabaster hearts crafted from chips that fall off as he sculpts his larger pieces.
“Suzie was my first account 11 years ago,” said Hillary Randolph, whose jewelry is now in more than 100 stores nationwide. “She’s got the eye; she’s the most amazing gallery owner. Nationally she’s known as the top gallery of American crafts. She’s a big deal. She won’t tell you, but she is.”
“I like silver and I like her designs,” said Moorings resident Shirley Becker, who has already purchased quite a few pieces over the years and had returned for more. “They’re very creative, they’re beautiful. They’re just what I like; they’re not fussy.”
Her daughter-in-law Cheryl Becker, a Michigan resident here for the winter, had just purchased two pieces of copper wall art, and noted how impressed she was with the gallery adding, “I love this store; we’ve been coming since we moved here. It’s so nicely laid out.”
Laughing Dog Gallery offers a wide selection of works from whimsical to spectacular by both up-and-coming craftsmen as well as established artists.
