Blue dog paintings come to blues capital

Blues musicians have given way to blue dogs at the Union Centre. 

 

For more than five years, the office building at Union and Cleveland has provided some needed color to the Medical District with its giant hanging murals. Recently, a changing of the guard occurred and up went eight panels by Louisiana artist George Rodrigue.

 

The selection of prints reflect the growth of Rodrigue's work, according to Dana Holland-Beickert, a Memphis art appraiser and curator of the George Rodrigue Foundation and the George Rodrigue Studio. The "blue dog," an iconic, wide-eyed character that has graced national exhibitions, ads and New Orleans cultural posters, got its origin in the bayou's landscape. On the east side of the building is Rodrigue's first blue dog painting, "Loup Garou," which is an homage to the Cajun mythological creature and Rodrigue's own mixed-breed dog. The works progress chronologically around the north side. 

"George loved Memphis. He was a huge Elvis fan. He always had this fondness for the culture of Elvis. He loved to go to Graceland and St. Jude and Lebonheur. He even donated some paintings to LeBonheur," Holland-Beickert said. She also curated the Dixon Gallery and Gardens' 2007 exhibition of Rodrigue's work. 

 

Gloria Carson, Union Centre's building manager, laments that some of Rodrigue's more Memphis-centric work, like "Blue Dog Shoes," wasn't appropriately sized for the building. "They're here to stay and fitted for the frame of the building," she said.  Britten Studios produced the murals on vinyl and Balton Sign Company of Memphis installed them. 

 

On a trip to New Orleans, the blue dog paintings caught the eye of Eddie Israel, Managing Partner for the building's ownership group. He decided to bring the blue dog back home after seeing Rodrigue banners hanging on the side of the Sheraton in New Orleans, according to Holland-Beickert.  

 

"They're such big bold images, I knew they would be great on the side of that building," she added.