Gallery Celebrating ‘Dog Day’ Of Summer With Benefit Exhibition

 WOODBURY — The P.H. Miller Studio & Gallery, located at 495 Main Street South, is presenting “Dog Days,” a group exhibition to benefit Animals for Life, until July 18.

An opening reception is planned for Saturday, May 14, from 4 to 6 pm.

The gallery has made it an annual tradition to host a benefit exhibit during the spring and summer months. For 2005, Animals for Life, a local non-profit animal rescue group, will be the beneficiary. A percentage of the proceeds from all “Dog Days” art sales will be donated.

To make an even greater contribution, the gallery has arranged for door prizes to be awarded on the day of the opening reception. Door prize tickets will be available throughout the day for a suggested donation of $10 each. All proceeds will go directly to Animals for Life. Door prize sponsors include Pet Aesthetics, formerly Pampered Paws, of Southbury; Davis Companion Animal Hospital of Woodbury; and artist Ryan Jacque of Brimfield, Mass.

“Dog Days” is an exhibit, not about the animals, but for the animals. Paintings on view will include landscapes and still lifes. Exhibiting artists include Helene Brier, Joy Bristol, Ella Crampton-Knox, David Dunlop, Sue Falato, Robert Kozora, Katrina Schmidt-Rinke and Mary Whyte.

Both Helene Brier and Katrina Schmidt-Rinke create color-drenched landscapes, somewhat abstract in nature. While Ms Brier’s oil paintings draw the onlooker into deep, richly colored Connecticut sanctuaries, Ms Schmidt-Rinke’s watercolors depict airy expanses of southern marshland.

In Robert Kozora’s painting “Pathway,” the warmth and radiance of a spring day is described with brilliant green brush strokes creating soft blades of grass and newly sprouted tree leaves. Cascading shadows cross the well-traveled path and a hint of blue sky tempts pets and their people to walk right into the canvas.

The geniality of the warm spring and summer months is echoed in Joy Bristol’s paintings of graceful lilies and charming, shiny-skinned tangerines. Lined up, seemingly eager to be painted, the dainty citrus fruits boast of their delectable centers.

Also paying homage to the tranquil days of summer is “Saturday Afternoon” by Mary Whyte.  A sky boldly brushed with hues of sapphire and raspberry sorbet is a striking backdrop for the wind-blown oaks and cascading meadows below.

All works featured in “Dog Days” represent the latest bodies of work from the gallery’s artists. To be kept up to date with new arrivals and gallery events, send an email to Sydney@PHMiller.com.

Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm. For more information, call 203-263-3939 or visit www.PHMiller.com.