Italian-born artist Sampietro [2] presents PopDogs, a giant popcorn machine that appears to spew out toy dogs at an alarming rate, to mimic the birth rate of real dogs worldwide. As visitors arrive they are confronted with a cascade of toys spilling out of the PopDogsmachine and onto the floor. 

Viewers cannot help but connect this absurd spectacle to the millions of domestic animals that come into the world and are subsequently abandoned, ignored or destroyed—the sheer volume is clearly unsustainable.

The installation also includes a workshop July 17th at 10.30 a.m. and July 19th where kids can paint dog toys and learn about the responsibilities of dog ownership.
 

On July 19th at 1.30 p.m., experts in the fields of animal sheltering and pet care will participate in a public forum at the Queens Museum [3].

Panelists include:

Robin Brennen, DVM, founder and CEO, Pets Without Vets

Steve Gruber, director of communications, Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals

Stephanie A. Mattera, spokesperson, Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals

Sharon Mear, owner, Training Cats and Dogs
 

This forum is intended to function as a conversation starter—a judgment-free and informative environment in which viable solutions to NYC’s dog overpopulation issues can be discussed

Sampietro’s goal is to exhibit PopDogs [4] in New York, Paris, Shanghai, Sao Paulo and Mexico City, all cities in which dog overpopulation has caused unique sets of challenges and dilemmas.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The conference includes over 65 sessions in others topics including best practice, panels and hands on workshops as part of the 2015 USSEA Regional Conference. This event is a three day conference that gathers local, national, and international museum curators and educators, directors of cultural arts programs, teachers and professors of the arts, and gallery owners and artists. The goal of the conference is to explore how the participants in these various disciplines might share resources, knowledge, and expertise to enrich their respective fields.
 

Join the Discussion! PopDogs: When An Object Of Desire Becomes Unwanted

Want to learn more about public art installation PopDogs and dog overpopulation in urban cities? Join the conversation online at our Google forum page “PopDogs – When an Object Or Desire Becomes Unwanted. [5]” Share photos, videos and information about how we could protect and curb the increase of dogs. Join us in person for our public forum at the Queens Museum July 19th at 1:30 p.m.