The Chronicle stops the presses- Play offers new twist on classic story
- Students create illustrations for Georgia Ports Authority
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Graduate student channels classic horror in thesis film - Alumnus creates mobile gallery
- SCAD libraries hold artist’s book competition for students
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- Noted author speaks to students
- The Green Scene: 'We have a dream'
- Personnel File: New staff members join SCAD-Savannah
- SCAD hosts regional IDSA conference
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- The Bee Line
- Women’s lacrosse sets records in Kennesaw State win
- Athlete Feats highlights for Feb. 22
- Baseball takes series from St. Thomas
- Women’s basketball wraps up second place in Florida Sun
- Athletics updates for Feb. 15
- Baseball off to best start in program’s history
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Trivial Pursuits
 McLaughlin finds inspiration in animals
 A tragic news story inspired Brienna McLaughlin’s painting “Portrait of two kittens duct-taped together and thrown into a garbage can." By Monique Bos Published: Friday, December 30, 2005 When she arrived at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Fall 2005, Brienna McLaughlin quickly decided to get involved with a local animal rescue organization. “I missed my animals,” said McLaughlin, whose home near Charlottesville, Va., is filled with three cats, three dogs and two indoor rabbits. At one point during her childhood, the family also raised chickens, and her mother works as a dog trainer and certified therapy dog evaluator. In fact, McLaughlin sometimes has accompanied her mother on visits with therapy dogs to local hospitals and clinics. “I think the most memorable was working with the brain injury clinic,” she said. “It’s been proven that animals reduce stress and lower anxiety more than a human visitor would. There are a lot of benefits … There were instances where people with brain injuries, who hadn’t talked since their accidents, would start talking again” after a visit with a therapy dog, she said. “I have my mom to thank for my deep appreciation for animals and the kind of relationships we have with them and they have with us,” McLaughlin added. The Master of Fine Arts in painting candidate, who earned an undergraduate degree in painting and creative writing from Sweetbriar College, wasn’t able to bring her cat to Savannah with her, so she decided to volunteer. Through the Web site for the Humane Society of Chatham-Savannah, www.savannah-humane.com, she contacted Wren Lawrence, coordinator of volunteers and outreach programs. “She was incredibly friendly and interested in doing a collaboration combining art and animal themes,” McLaughlin said. One of her contributions has been to photograph the Humane Society’s annual Mutt Strut in November, which raised more than $30,000 for homeless animals. Links to her portrait and landscape photos are featured on the society’s home page under “Brienna.” “The Mutt Strut was a major success and a beautiful event,” McLaughlin said. “It was great for me because I got to meet a lot of people and see healthy relationships between pets and owners.” She took more than 170 pictures at the event, she said. “They were all too cute. I couldn’t help myself.” Another result of her conversations with Lawrence and involvement with the Humane Society has been inspiration for her thesis exhibition, for which she has already created five paintings. In the series, McLaughlin paints animals — such as the dodo bird, hunted to extinction by 1681, as well as a cockroach, rabbit and goldfish — but replaces the animal’s face with hers. “The intent is to show that people are animals, and I think we tend to forget that,” she said. “Would these cruel acts have occurred if [the perpetrators] were looking at a human face?” Not surprisingly, material from the Humane Society has found its way into her paintings. For example, Lawrence told her about two puppies who were found in a Dumpster, duct-taped to each other. McLaughlin adapted the story for her “Portrait of two kittens duct-taped together and thrown into a garbage can.” “It was a really good challenge for me,” she said. “I wanted the face to reflect the lost, sad, abandoned, confused, starving aspect, but at the same time, they’re kittens, so I used childhood photos of myself.” She said she has found classroom critiques of the work helpful. “Some people find the paintings disturbing. Some people find them humorous. I think a lot of times we deal with horror through humor,” she said. “I’ve gotten wonderful feedback. You know you have a good critique when people are readily giving you advice and suggestions because they’re absorbed in the work.” McLaughlin also is enthusiastic about her professors at SCAD. “I think it’s the perfect fit for me,” she said. “The school, the location, the people, the weather — it all is very agreeable. I’ve been most impressed by the professors’ interest in my career. The professors are making a living from their work; I see by example that it’s possible. These are art professors who are really interested in helping you outside of the school.” In addition to building a body of work for her thesis, McLaughlin said she plans to become more involved with the Humane Society. She urged other SCAD students to consider doing the same. “For people who don’t have pets or miss their animals, it’s a great option,” she said. “There are animals who could use a little cuddling. The Humane Society is wonderful. They provide lots of loving care, but the animals need more.” To view other images of McLaughlin’s work, visit www.brienna.net. |
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