Dogs of Woodstock: Lockdown Tails
A photo exhibition featuring 52 Woodstock dogs and their owners in one of their favourite spots in the town and surrounding areas (on at the Darl-e and the Bear gallery in Woodstock from 1-14 October).
The reason? To celebrate dogs, people and the power of community, going beyond the surface and looking more deeply into the healing power of animals.
‘Dogs are your mirror’ wrote Kevin Behan and the majority of people photographed also write about their dogs to accompany this photo exhibition. Entitled ‘Lockdown Tails’, the writings provide a series of moving stories on how dogs helped us all over the lockdown period.
These timeless photos place the individual dog as the primary subject, taken at the eye level of the dog so the human owner can only be seen in relation to their dog height! However, the landscape of Woodstock has been built into the photo and highlighted.
‘The town of Woodstock, situated on the edge of the Cotswolds, has come together to celebrate the power of connection. It looks more deeply into the healing we have been able to access through our dogs over the lockdown period – the therapy they have provided to us and the lessons we have learnt from them. And each photograph and accompanying doggy ‘tail’ tells a tale of a bond so strong. The medicine a dog can provide – their presence, abundant joy and genuine affection and devotion which cannot help but raise spirits. It’s an incredible connection that literally has the power to change our physiology, reduce stress-related hormones and raise our levels of serotonin and dopamine to calm and relax the nervous system.
‘A dog’s companionship, loyalty and unconditional love is unmatched by any human standard; however, the vision and work of Jonathan Self in this exhibition teaches us that if you can replace fear and criticism with love, no matter whatever situation you’re in, life gets easier.’ Suzannah Jackson, a transformational holistic therapist and owner of Nurture & Shine, Woodstock
