All photos courtesy of Museum of the Dog Facebook page
Joseph Henry Shark, "The Guardian"
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is opening NYC’s one and only museum dedicated to dogs. The AKC Museum of the Dog is returning to its birthplace after more than 30 years in St. Louis. Its new Park Avenue address puts it in the same location as the AKC headquarters, library and archives.
The February 8th opening precedes Westminster Week 2019, which includes the 143rd Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on February 11-12. Once it opens, dog lovers can check out fine art, sculptures and more dedicated to beloved breeds of all shapes and sizes.
Constance Coleman, "Barney & Miss Beazley at the White House"
The museum’s exhibitions and collections are all about enhancing and celebrating the human/canine relationship. Art by world-renowned creators will be on display in the form of porcelain figures, bronze statues and paintings. “For the Love of All Things Dog,” the first exhibition that’ll be open to the public, will be up for about six months before the next exhibition—one that’ll feature women artists.
While fine art is at the core of this doggy haven, new digital elements have also been incorporated into the museum experience. The two-floor atrium space includes a gallery with interactive exhibits. The kids can snap a pic at the Find Your Match kiosk to see which of the 193 AKC-registered breeds they look most like. They’ll meet Arty, a virtual canine tour guide that they can connect with via an app throughout the museum. Guests can also learn all about breeds, dog history and the museum’s collections at the Meet the Breeds touchscreen.
Charles Van den Eycken, "Sweet Temptation or Willpower"
On top of the 180 pieces of art and six interactive exhibits, there’ll be an interactive digital section dedicated to puppy training on the top floor. Guests can train an avatar of a real puppy in real time through voice and hand signals. There’ll also be a community wall where guests can make their own unique artwork and share photos of the pups in their lives, too.
The museum is located at 101 Park Ave. in New York, NY. Tickets are $15 for adults, $5 for kids under 12 and $10 for students, seniors and military/veterans. Call 212-696-8360 or visit museumofthedog.org for more info.