All sizes and shapes of Deco dogs wagged their tails and strutted down Ocean Drive in Miami Beach for the 30th annual Art Deco Weekend held on January 13th. Both a Borzoi and Saluki also known as the Russian Wolfhound and the Gazelle Hound, were in attendance. Their legendary images were often depicted in the Art Deco paintings, glass objects and jewelry of that period. They were also joined by a host of other beautiful pooches that were part of a crowd of over 250 canine pals and over 100,000 Art Deco enthusiasts.
The tailgate party prior to the Arf Deco parade included a lighthearted and compelling
lecture delivered by Francine Segal, Miami Beach's foremost authority on Arf Deco history. Speaking with a convincing tone of an impassioned curator, she informed everyone that: "Miami Beach has the largest concentration of Art Deco buildings in the world." She then went on to provide a fido-fact most people didn't realize: "Miami Beach also has the largest concentration of Deco dogs in the entire universe." A receptive crowd willing to enjoy the well-intentioned parody hung on her every word as she explained the existence of the Parisian Fido-Tects of 1926.
Live demonstrations included borrowing pooches from an enthusiastic gathering.
A pug from the audience allowed his beloved furrowed, crinkly and expressive muzzle to illustrate its creative Arf Deco inspiration known to canine archivists as the decorative chevron pattern. A group of uncompromising greyhounds would not be overlooked for their Arf Deco contributions. Going by the names of Lalique, Erte, Hood and Chrysler, they demonstrated that their defining and convincing curves, sleek lines and crisp geometric shapes were the foundation on which the Art/ArF Deco movement was built.
The true Arf Deco tale began in 2005. Bill Farkas, Executive Director of the Miami Design Preservation League, and his wife Beth Dunlop were once again hard at work on Art Deco weekend.
Hillary, their beloved rescued pooch, sat by their side nose-nudging them. She had a contemporary idea. Her paw landed on the keyboard striking boldly with serendipity on the 'F' key, creating A-R-F. Barking with delight, she declared with ultimate canine charisma that from that day forward Art Deco Weekend in Miami Beach would include the Arf Deco dog parade. Thank you Hillary Rodhambone Clinton Dunlop-Farkas (1992 - 2005) a sweet, fluffy mutt, part Lhasa, Shih-Tzu, poodle and other combinations.
Arf Deco Design Project
WOOF Patrol™, the pawsitive social place for K-9 news, fetch fashion and in-the-know Fido advice, produced this year's Arf Deco Parade in partnership with The Miami Design Preservation League.
Elementary school children were invited to participate in the Arf Deco Design Project to promote the parade. The tropical and Art Deco landscape of Miami Beach was to be the theme of the poster along with wagging tails, velvet-to-the-touch muzzles and fluffy ears.
Delsey Paiz, 10 years old, was the winner of the first 2007 Arf Deco Design Award. She grew up in San Francisco and moved to Miami Beach just three years ago. Isaac, her proud father, calls her "Butterfly" because she's always fluttering about with a sense of peace and love. Her teacher wanted everyone to know that she does very well in art class and added, "She is always drawing."
Arf Deco bark festivities also included plenty of rescue pooches that Alex Van Clief, Miami Design Preservation League Special Events Coordinator, arranged to have on hand. "Raising awareness of local rescue organizations was a goal for us. The opportunity to walk a shelter dog in the parade was presented and well received." Over 16 individuals, four of them being well-recognized Miami Beach City Commissioners: Bower, Cruz, Gross and Libbin, pre-registered to walk a rescue dog. Canine rescues from local shelters, including K-9 Katrina survivors, not only found companionship, several also found new homes.
(Photographs courtesy of Steady 70, Nikki Goldbeck and WOOF Patrol™)
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