Spotlighting horrific animal abuse, Montgomery College showcases real dogs drawn by Donalee Peden-Wesley at the exhibit “Best in Show.” Curated by Professor Robin Meyer, the Sarah Silberman Gallery in Rockville Campus’ art building hosts Peden-Wesley’s work from January 28 to March 14, 2024.

During the “Best in Show” opening reception at the Silberman Gallery, New York-based artist Donalee Peden-Wesley discussed her creative process and inspirations.

The artist discussed how she uses life models, sometimes by taking reference photographs when an animal inspires her. Or, she live sketches inside animal exploitation sites after hours, including in factory farms, blood banks, laboratories, and slaughterhouses.

Inspired by painter Francis Bacon, Peden-Wesley intends to draw in observers to understand the meaning utilizing beauty, rather bombarding them with shock value.

On factory farmers, she commented that, “what they are telling you is, ‘we treat them ethically,’ but they aren’t.”

For example, a Spanish greyhound, the only solo portrait within the 17 pieces, sullenly sulks downwards in “Fragile Series #1” as he dies in a French blood drawing facility, Peden-Wesley explained.

The artist described how she initiates her work with sketching upon various sheets on the wall. Then, she lays out the pieces on the floor and decides which one she feels could become a complete work.

She noted that she sketches every day, and encouraged students to develop their artistry through a piece of wisdom: “just work,” and when it comes to editing, to simply understand what the work needs added or removed.

Professor Robin Meyer met Peden-Wesley while they were both teaching at the same college. Meyer lauded how numerous galleries across the US and Europe have displayed Donalee Peden-Wesley’s work. The curator chose to put together “Best in Show” after feeling “drawn towards the motivation of using innocence to convey a deep and dark meaning.”

“Best in Show” features works created with charcoal, gesso primer, pastel, and watercolor. Peden-Wesley uses gesso for erasing and applies large areas of color with the pastel wash technique.

The color scheme, limited to the warmth of yellow, orange, grey, brown, and black, have curvilinear linework dogs positioned at different angles, each gazing with varied expressions and individualized characteristics.

Viewers can observe the canine creations’ layered process. For example, standout piece “Death of a Storyteller” has lines with various widths picturing a merging between the spiritual and the known. Boldly outlined German Shepards surrounding delicately sketched spectral wild dogs.

In her work, wolves and wild dogs represent what Peden-Wesley called the “encroachment” of endangered species.

Centered, harmonious, and intriguing, Donalee Peden-Wesley’s “Best in Show” conducts an aesthetically pleasing scheme to end the “avoidance” others practice towards animal abuse.

By revealing her process, Peden-Wesley allows viewers to see how each piece feels both complete and still in progress. One could consider Peden-Wesley’s art all a work in progress, as the artist continues to further her mission exposing evil acts towards animals.