By Fern Glazer

A pack of dogs has been unleashed on the Philadelphia suburbs. Dog sculptures, that is.

The carefree canines are all part of "Art Unleashed," a public art project run by the Main Line Art Center (MLAC). The pet project features 50 larger-than-life dogs decorated by local artists and installed at various locations around the community.

The project is modeled after the now-famous Cow Parade, a public art program that started in Zurich in 1998 and has since inspired similar efforts with a variety of animals-everything from fish to pigs to elephants-throughout the United States. Finally, the dog is getting his day.

Judy Herman, MLAC Executive Director, got the idea after seeing a fish project in New Orleans a few years back. She brought some pictures home to the Center's board members, and they loved it.

By why the dog?

The Center tossed around proposals for lots of other animals before settling on man's best friend. The moose was on the short list. So was the deer. But all were nixed in favor of the dog.

"[The dog is] just one of those symbols that represents family, community, and accessibility, all the values that MLAC stands for," says Mary Salvante, "Art Unleashed" project manager.

And, says Herman, "You think of a dog and everybody just lights up."

The 40-by-56-inch dog, which resembles a Labrador, is a white fiberglass form. Last year MLAC put out a call for artists to decorate the forms. More than 100 artists entered preliminary sketches, but only 50 were chosen.

Among the artists selected is Jill Rees, a freelance graphic designer. Rees created "Bark Franklin," a canine version of the famous Philadelphian complete with painted period clothing and wire-rimmed glasses. Rees got the idea because she wanted to "zero in on something that was central to Philadelphia." Fittingly, "Bark Franklin" is sponsored by the Mecula Vision Research Foundation and can be spotted in front of a local library.

Mosaic artist Jonathan Mandell had his own mission. His winning pooch features Austrian painter Gustav Klimt's "The Kiss" (right), rendered in ceramic tile and semiprecious stones and minerals. Mandell wanted to expose the public to Klimt's work. And, he says, "Somehow in 'The Kiss' I saw a referential image to a dog's head." This summer his ornate pup will call a local car dealership home.

"Bark Franklin," "The Kiss," and the rest of the pack will be on the streets through the summer. If you're looking for a new addition to your family, head to the King of Prussia Mall in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, on September 22 when a Sotheby's auctioneer will sell the dogs to the highest bidders. Proceeds benefit the Center's endowment for community education programs.

For more information about the auction or to see a "track the pack" map, visit www.mainlineart.org or call 610-525-0272.

Glazer, Fern. "Every Dog Has Its Day," Bark, Summer '02, p. 17.