This Weekend in Belmont: Animals in the Gallery of Art!

The Belmont Gallery of Art will begin its tenth year with a roar (and a bark, honk and a myriad of other animal sounds) with the opening of Animal Arts, an juried exhibit featuring animals in a variety of media, from paintings to sculpture, ceramics, photography and collage created by more than 50 Massachusetts artists.

Animals Art will be in the Gallery from Sunday, Sept. 14 to Friday, Oct. 17.

The exhibit celebrates the unique bond between humans and animals, from wild beasts to family pets, that have long been a staple of artistic expression going back to man’s earliest days. Whether as totems, allegory or decoration, animals have been featured in some of art history’s greatest works: from DaVinci’s horses, to Rousseau’s primitive wildlife and Picasso’s bulls.

Belmont artist Richard Hill, who helps run the Belmont Gallery of Art together with colleague Rebecca Richards, conceived of the idea for Animal Art.

“I wanted to open the BGA’s tenth season with a long overdue appreciation of animals in art,” said Hill.

“The ‘menagerie’ up in the gallery should appeal to art lovers and animal lovers of all ages,” he said.

The Gallery will donate ten percent of sales from works sold at the Animal Art exhibit to the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Angell.

The opening reception for Animal Art takes place on Friday, Sept. 19 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. with special guest Dr. Dawn Binder from Belmont’s Cushing Square Veterinary Clinic. An accomplished artist herself, Binder – who often features animals in her art – agreed to serve as a guest judge and will present the “Best in Breed” and “Best in Show” awards at the reception.

Since opening its doors in July 2005, the Belmont Gallery of Art has presented more than 50 shows featuring the work of dozens of local and regional artists. The recipient of a Gold Star Award from the Mass Cultural Council, the BGA has been praised throughout the community for its support and promotion of the arts and culture in Belmont.

Animal Art will be on display in the BGA through Oct. 17. The Belmont Gallery of Art is located in the Town Hall Complex, third floor of the Homer Bldg., 19 Moore St., off Leonard St. in Belmont Center behind Belmont Savings Bank. Visit the BGA’s website at http://www.belmontgallery.org” www.belmontgallery.org for more information.