December 14th 2007 - January 16th 2008

Suzanne Codi loves dogs.  The Northeast Eckington schoolhouse where she lives with husband Charlie Slichter, houses from 4-6 large rescued mutts at any one time, inspiring Codi to paint wonderful, whimsical works of art celebrating her devoted canine’s personalities.  In her huge studio, the walls are covered with canvases 8 feet tall of close-up portraits of her favorite border collie “Niblick” – and lab-mix “Mashie” named after her husband’s lucky golf clubs  The tables support her exotic Egyptian greyhound and whippet dancer ceramic lamps.

Codi’s dogs are comical and anthropomorphic and very well crafted.  She captures facial expressions we all recognize but are surprised to find on the face of a dog.  She makes demure Vietnamese female bulldogs in bamboo hats delicately holding fans, dignified and proud looking beagles in Colonial attire and contemplative Jack Russell Terriers in Chinese red slippers reclining while reading books. With considerable artistic skill, the artist stays this side of  cute by making her point of our shared characteristics. She reveals the animal’s emotional potential and she elicits our empathy for the animals mirroring our own humanity and humor.