spotlight
Blue Dog Comes to Nina Kuzina Six Blue Dog paintings and one of only thirty-five Blue Dog vases were recently consigned to Nina Kuzina Gallery. Among them is the only Blue Dog painting in which George Rodrigue included palm trees. Many of the artist’s books and silk screens are also on display. What would become Rodrigue’s most famous series was inspired by the Cajun myth of loup-garou, which, according to local lore, was a creature with the body of a human and the head of a dog or wolf. Searching for a way to portray the werewolf creature, Rodrigue painted his studio dog, Tiffany, which became the genesis of the Blue Dog. Over time he changed the dog’s eyes to yellow, creating a friendlier image, and then gradually the dog became bluer and the paintings more abstract. The titles of the Blue Dogs also grew into one of the most important elements of the work. Rodrigue has used Blue Dog painting titles to provide insight—whether humorous or nostalgic or sad—into the human condition. It is difficult to define the allure of Blue Dog, but the fact that it captures the imagination is undeniable. Through his Blue Dog art, Rodrigue made the acquaintance of three U.S. presidents, and his works are valued by art collectors and art lovers worldwide.
Captain Midnight, Oil on canvas, 41" x 36" Nina Kuzina Gallery is located in Stanford Square, 4231 Harding Pike. Hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. www.ninakuzina.com
The Bookmark
A Monthly Look at Hot Books and Cool Reads
The Son by philipp meyer
Revolutionary Summer by joseph j. ellis
The acclaimed author of American Rust returns with an epic, multigenerational saga of power, blood, and land that follows the rise of one unforgettable Texas family from the Comanche raids of the 1800s to the border raids of the early 1900s to the oil booms of the 20th century. Meyer will be appearing at Parnassus Books on June 25.
From the award-winning author of Founding Brothers and American Sphinx comes a revelatory portrait of a moment in American history: the summer of 1776, the most dramatic few months in the story of our country's founding. The perfect Father's Day gift for history-loving dads.
For more information about these books, visit www.parnassusbooks.net.
Outlaw: Waylon, Willie, Kris, and the Renegades of Nashville by michael streissguth Outlaw takes a close look at the outlaw country music movement through the stories of the legendary icons of the movement—Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson. With Nashville as the backdrop, the book shows how this movement redefined country music in the late '60s and early '70s.
NashvilleArts.com
TransAtlantic by colum mccann McCann demonstrates once again why he is one of the most acclaimed and essential authors of his generation. Emma Donoghue says: "This novel is beautifully hypnotic in its movements, from the grand (between two continents, across three centuries) to the most subtle. Silkily threading together public events and private feelings, TransAtlantic says no to death with every line." June 2O13 | 17