Welcome

Welcome to 'Four Legs BetterThan Two'

'Four Legs' is a community arts project based on the experiences of dog walking.

Everyone is invited to participate.


This project is about how dogs shape our lives. Based on the stories, memories, joys and benefits of dog walking 'Four Legs' looks at how our dogs influence the ways in which we experience and interact with the world.

'Four Legs' also reflects on the nature of the informal community we become part of as dog owners and how this community produces a sense of belonging that enhances our lives.

All dog owners are invited to participate in the project. There are many possible levels of participation from a simple comment on the discussion boards at popular dog parks to shared walks.

Contributions to this blog site are most welcome. These could be in the form of photographs, short stories or video of your favourite walks. As the project develops this site will gather dog stories from all over Dunedin, to create a network of 'who's who' in the most popular dog areas.

Out of the project will come several different events. The most important entitled 'Four Legs Better Than Two' is the heart of the project. The experiences of dog walking will be gathered in the most inventive ways. Including the use of 'dog cam', shared walks and audio recordings this will be a light hearted and undemanding process. From these records will come the stories of dog walking and the community that we become part of through their influence. To participate in this stage please email me at sean.curham@otago.ac.nz.

The final event will be an informal showing of these stories and records - with plenty of food and drink - to which everyone is invited.

The other projects that from part of 'Four Legs Better Than Two' include an installation at the University called 'Big Dog', a sound work called 'Growly Dog', ongoing discussions on the dog park boards, 'Commune' a project with the post graduate students of the dance programme at the University of Otago , 'Good dog, bad man' a white board cartoon that is contributed to by passers by and a very light hearted project called 'Dog Park Karaoke'.

'Dog Park Karaoke' - is being created in response to the informal nature of the dog community. This event gathers its material through a process of chance encounters reflecting the informal, mobile nature of dog community interactions. We never know who we will meet. Will it be the 'regulars' out walking their dogs or will their be unknown 'newbies' on our patch? There are a number of different recording devices 'floating around' in the dog community - being handed on from person to person. These include postcards, a dog phone, and a camera. By recording your dogs information via these devices you will become part of the project building a profile of your dog.

'Dog Park Karaoke' will then be 'performed' in local parks where owners will trigger this information and a giant image of their dog. Of course more food and drink is required.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Thurs 4 June

What a day! Too much to do and where have all the good times gone? Have you seen the Kuri/dog sculpture on the waterfront - Leander St? Its by Stephen Mulqueen - I hope the link works.


Its application day - all the different funding agencies have their deadline tomorrow - which means the last day for posting is Thurs - and that has to be super quick mail. As a freelancer I have to always have an eye on the future - and the next project - up to two years in advance - which means 24hr days around deadline time.


T and I stop off at the park on the way down the hill from Wakari - I forget its name - yes I pick up. T then has to wait around while I do my posting etc. While we are in the post office I take my eye off her and notice she has shied away and is lying under the table away from the queue - shes letting me know that all is not well - and it becomes clear that the person behind hates dogs and clearly thinks T should NOT be in the post shop. The staff however have a different idea.

We survive and its off to the Waldron - but guess what its wall to wall Ds and regular cop cars and its fun day with guns at the shooting range. And yes they do shoot at figures - take a look.



I'm still hunting a venue for the showing in July - the Aquatic Centre is great but maybe a bit far from the Uni - Dan and I are negotiating on the Old Gym which is perfect. Negotiations prove difficult but things work out when I go straight to the source and deal with the users not the timetable guy.

12.30 and its Logan Park -meet the fabulous Film Clubbers who are still keen on the project in site of many set backs with equipment, dogs and the weather. Its a great school and very busy in the arts. Kristan the Media Studies teacher is fantastic supporting the students and project.


2pm and its Beatrice. We have met before - I'm intrigued by Beatrice's work and interest in things community. I'm tired and generally incoherent but B is onto it. Biscuits and tea help. She also has a garden full of black plants- this is fascinating. Saphy her dog is loving the sun and the special lunch enjoyed before my arrival.

Quick visit with Peter the set designer who is helping out with "Commune" a Uni based side project.

Tomahawk and the crew. Everyone is out. Digby dog Bossdin, Maisie and a couple of stray Schnauzer's.


Alice the lovely black misfit is walked by a very young boy - the dog always pulls and runs away - but shes smart and comes back. The weed eating Shar Pei crosses are out and about. Their walker is the neighbour who cant stand to see them tied up all the time.



Finally its the last thing of the day - a "Commune" meeting. We adjourn to the local bar instead and celebrate Hahna's thesis submission.
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