SHEEP SHOW
NY2CA Gallery, Benicia CA - May 1st-June 15th, 2025
Artist Talk: Why Sheep? May 17th, 5-6pm
Shauna K Hannan - The Religious Symbolism of Sheep- May 24th, 5-6pm
Print a Sheep! Print a limited edition Suzanne M Long linoleum block print on a vintage 1954 Kelsey Platen Press
Treadles to Threads Spinners Guild – Joins SHEEP SHOW-June 14th, 1-4pm
Artist Statement:
Sheep have been our companions through time for the past 10,000+ years. They have provided us with warmth from their wool, filled our bellies with milk, and cheese, they’ve softened our skin with lanolin. Their tallow used to make candles and soap. They graze on hillsides and pastures, trimming grasses without harming fragile root systems. The sacrifice of their lives has provided us with meat, their skins used for clothing and shoes, their guts for strings for violins, violas, cellos, lutes, and harps. They are important symbols in Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Hinduism where they are
associated with purity, innocence and sacrifice. Sheep are depicted throughout western art in stained glass windows, illuminated manuscripts, paintings, frescoes, mosaics and sculptures.
Sheep have lulled us to sleep by leaping over fences as we count them in our minds. They are highly social and emotionally complex animals who can display optimism, pessimism, and empathy. They can recognize emotion in the facial expression of other sheep in their flock.
Sheep are like us in many ways, but kinder.
