Companion species

Companion Species: portrait of a community is an Arts Council funded project I began in January 2010 based on Maryport’s community and their dogs. The high visibility of dogs and their owners on the streets of Maryport is a popular and constant characteristic of the town. Often an incitement to socialize, people are seen at all times of day walking their dogs. The range of dogs is also extensive and all members of Maryport’s society seem to participate in this activity, including physically challenged people and the aged My interest in the complex sets of relationships between human and non-human animals within urban settings relates to the emerging academic field of Animal Studies in the Visual Arts. The pet has been foregrounded