To our neighbors dismay, we have six rescue animals.

Last year, some children drew sidewalk chalk drawings in our yard in an effort to tempt and taunt our animals. Later that day, I watched our dogs play in the sun, oblivious to the chalk. But as I watched, I was drawn to how the dogs shadow’s interacted with these drawings, almost as if their shadows were able to understand and react to the signs, symbols and text.

I am fascinated with this idea of the shadow having a life of its own—like the subconscious, understanding and feeling things on a deeper unmediated level, while the conscious mind is unaware yet somewhat unsettled. With these images I hope to play with this idea through the dreams, desires, temptations and virtues of (hu)man’s best friend.