VERO BEACH — That the Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County is a special place – unique among shelters in its spacious cleanliness and compassionate staff – can be difficult to convey without a first-hand look. To entice the public to visit, the shelter is again hosting Art for Animals, an art show and sale, in the facility’s large education room.
As with all Humane Society events, the Thanksgiving weekend art show and sale is animal-centric. Local artists contributed 217 imaginative pieces and there were even four pieces created by shelter residents – two cats and two dogs.
The event kicked off with a wine and cheese artist reception Friday evening. The free show continues Saturday and Sunday, and after enjoying the show, the public is invited to tour the remarkable facility and hopefully adopt an animal.
“I am so pleasantly surprised that there are so many people this year. Probably half these people have never been to the shelter before,” said Sheila Marshall, who co-chaired the event with Judy Kohler and Rita Ziegler.
“I think the artists have done even better this year – and it was fabulous last year. Last year, which was our first, the Saturday adoption rate was the best day of adoptions in our history. Most charities hold events mostly for the money; for us those adoptions were more important.”
The impressive artwork came in all forms – oil and watercolor paintings, photography, mixed media, pottery, jewelry, needlework and Oriental rugs. The only caveat given to artists was that the pieces represent domestic animals or Florida native wildlife.
Artists could submit up to three pieces, and were asked to contribute a $10 entry fee per piece and a 15-percent commission donation from any sales – a win-win for all involved.
One dramatic piece by artist Marcia Robertson was created utilizing a scratchboard technique, resulting in fine details such as the wispy feathers on the piece’s magnificent birds.
“It’s a Masonite board, sprayed with black India ink,” explained Robertson. “I scratch it and it comes out white. Then I put ink on the colors, and scratch it again to get the highlights. I use an X-Acto knife or a needle or steel wool if I want to take the color off softly.”
Longtime Humane Society supporter Bonnie Spitzmiller was equally impressed with another of Robertson’s works – a watercolor of parrots.
“I want the birds,” Spitzmiller said as she purchased the piece. “It speaks to me; the colors, the composition. Her brushwork is so amazing.”
Andrea Mears purchased one of two needlework belts crafted by Sheila Marshall.
“She does beautiful work,” said jewelry artist Carolyn Robinson of Marshall’s intricate pieces.
Robinson’s work was equally stunning – three necklaces designed with sea-beads, crystal, wire and lamp-work glass sea-creatures.
“The submissions were outstanding,” said Kohler. “We’ve had a great turnout of the artists, and all the people who bought art last year were invited. It’s the art community itself who are here, and they’re buying the art.”
A few guests brought well-behaved little dogs, including Cynthia Haskett whose adorable puppy Jimmy, recently adopted from the shelter, garnered coos of affection from the crowd.
“He’s our first puppy. We’ve always adopted older dogs and special needs dogs. We think he’s part Yorkshire terrier and part poodle, but that’s just guessing,” said Haskett of her bundle of fluff.
“He’s a love. He gets along great with my big dogs. I have a collie, a three-legged Australian shepherd, a three-legged mixed breed and a 16-year old border collie. They lay on the floor and he jumps all over them; they’re so gentle with him.”
Marshall credited the artistic layout of the artwork to Vero Beach Art Club members Rita Ziegler, Judy Burgarella and Penny Aliyetti.
“They walk in, and everything is stacked all around the room,” explained Marshall. “It’s like they’ve got a photographic memory – they look at it and say this goes here, that goes with that piece. They have the spatial logic and the artistic knowledge to put things together. They’re just superb.”
Dogs and cats of all sizes and ages, colors and personalities are available for adoption at the shelter, as are a variety of small animals such as ferrets and rabbits, birds, and occasionally horses and farm animals.
The shelter will celebrate its diamond jubilee next year – 60 years as the only “open admission” animal shelter in Indian River County, meaning that no animal is ever turned away.