All Over Albany

Animals in art, pets in America at the Albany Institute

The Albany Institute currently has two exhibits with animal themes -- A Menagerie of Whimsey: The Art of William B. Schade and Birds & Beasts: The Scary, Magical, and Adorable Animals of the Albany Institute -- and to go along with them, it has a few upcoming animal-themed events:

September 7: History on Tap: Animals in Art
"Did you know Albany born illustrator Dorothy Lathrop won the inaugural Caldecott Medal in 1938? And that the owl has been a symbol of wisdom since ancient times? For this special tour we will be learning all about the animals in our collection and their fascinating stories! Enjoy a drink with the group at a local bar following the tour (21+)." Admission is $12 and registration's required, see the link for details. Friday, September 7 at 6 pm

September 30: Pets in America: The History of Our Four-Footed Family Members
A talk by Katherine Grier, a professor of history at the University of Delaware and author of Pets in America: A History. "Pet keeping occurs all over the world, in large and small societies, and has been practiced throughout history. European colonists brought animals to the New World as pets and soon made some local wild animals into pets. By the 1820s, pet keeping was regarded as an important part of happy family life and a way for children to learn "habits of kindness" to everyone. Letters, photographs, print media and artifacts all tell the story of the evolving American love affair with pets, including its growing importance to children. Today, over 65 percent of American households (about 85 million families) include pets." Free with museum admission, though note that seating for the talk is is first come, first serve. Sunday, September 30 at 2 pm