the sparky project

SELECTED WORKS

The Sparky Project is a collection of paintings, drawings, photographs, and sculptures of Sparky by over 100 artists. The project began in 2004 as a collaboration between Nelson and his dog Sparky. They invited artists to capture the essence of Sparky, and in return each artist become official members of The Sparky Fan Club. The collection was exhibited at Schroeder Romero / Winkleman and Envoy Enterprises, New York. Sparky passed away in 2009. A history of the Sparky Project and his life are archived on his blog here.

Sparky Fan Club Members:

Artists who participated in The Sparky Project beoame lifetime member of The Sparky Fan Club. Members receive an official membership card, I love Sparky sticker, Do It for Sparky! pencil, buttons, balloons, temporary tattoos, personalized holiday cards from Sparky, and a series of DJ Sparky Mix CDs!

David B. Abbott, Derrick Adams, Alex Aleixo, Meredith Allen, Stephen Andrews, Dominick Avellino, Thomas Belloff, Barton Lidicé Beneš, Kermit Berg, Dennis Bergevin, Vanessa Boer, Elizabeth Bonaventura, Joseph Brajcki, AA Bronson, Mary Button, Mark Carter, Janice Caswell, Niccolo Cataldi, Cat Celebrezze, Mark Chamberlain, Vincent Cianni, Christopher Clary, Jon Coffelt, Albert Crudo, Megan Cump, Marta Dell’Angelo, Joe De Hoyos, Erika deVires, Danielle Dimston, William Donovan, Angela Dufresne, Virgina The Erotic Gardener, James Fackrell, Neil Farber, Rachel Farmer, Sarah Farsad, John Findysz, Teresa Fogard, Martin Freeman, Milton Garcia Ninja, Joy Garnett, Paul Leroy Gehres, Laura Gilbert, Eric Ginsburg, Jeffrey Grauel, Max Greenberg, Magalie Guerin, Kim Hanson, Jan Harrison, Michael Harwood, Geoffrey Hendricks, Alex Hetherington, David Humphrey, Derek Jackson, James Jaxxa, Brian Kenny, David King, Scooter LaForge, Aldo Lanzini, Lou Laurita, Jennifer Lehe, Marc Lepson, Lepson deVries Family Singers, Serge J-F Levy, Tim Lonergan, Gina Lovoi, Preston McGovern, Amy Mees, Reyes Melendez, Toma Miller, Slava Mogutin, Joe Monroe, Michael Muller, Stefanie Nagorka, Jeanine Oleson, Laura Sue Phillips, Drew Pisarra, Catya Plate, Amy Jean Porter, William Powhida, Carol Radsprecher, Richard Renaldi, Eric Rhein, Daniel Roberts, Amy Sadao, Nelson Santos, Joel Seah, Emily Severance, Frank Sheehan, Ethan Shoshan, Oren Slor, Clifford Smith, Thomas R Somerville, Clare Stein, Stanley Stellar, Sur Rodney (Sur), JD Talasek, Sam Tan, Steed Taylor, Tom Teebe, George Towne, Alexander Vasiljev, Alberto Velasco, Glenn Walls, Barbara Weissberger, Michael Werner, Robin Willis, Noel Wynn, and Rob Wynne

WOOF!

An Interview with Sparky by Amy Sadao

The Archive: The Journal of the Leslie-Lohman Museum; Number 27, Spring 2008

Amy Sadao (AS): Hi Sparky, I’m a longtime fan, probably since your collaborator Nelson Santos first raved about a “rising art star” who had moved to Brooklyn…. You weren’t always a famous artist. Tell us about your background and how it influences your work?

S: Well, I come from a working class background. Don’t know my real Dad, taken from my Mom young, lived in foster homes, never fit in. I ran away. One day on the street, I injured my paw. There I was bleeding and scared, and this artist type took me in. I wasn’t sure about Nelson at first, but we hit it off. My work definitely reflects my outsider roots.

AS: So when did you realize your true calling was as an artist?

S: I have some early chew pieces, but mostly as a young pup I just wanted to run wild. I thought artists were sissies in berets. But Nelson took me to galleries, and I started digging performance and conceptual art. I collaborated on video and photo pieces with Nelson but quickly realized my calling was bigger, ready to involve more artists.

AS: So much has already been written about your most ambitious work, The Sparky Project. What do you think is most often overlooked in critical analysis of this piece?

S: I work in subtleties, finding expression for my many sides: butch Sparky, fem Sparky, elusive Sparky, dandy Sparky. But I’m more than a pretty picture. The project creates relationships between artists and viewers as a vehicle for unconditional love. When you take a Derridean approach to deconstruct the authorship of this project, I think you begin to see the real meaning of it all.

AS: And how long have you been collaborating with Nelson? Can you tell us a story about your partnership?

S: Well, it is The Sparky Project, not The Nelson Project. Sometimes convincing him of the larger vision is difficult. He thinks he’s essential when I know the artists and photographers just want me. I humor him. This one time, a photographer was taking a picture of me, and Nelson actually put a rubber ball in his mouth and nuzzled his way in. I shouldn’t bite the hand that feeds me, but he is riding on my coat tails…

AS: There’s a New York show up soon. Where can your fans keep track of your work?

S: I’m happy to announce The Sparky Project opens at Schroeder Romero / Winkleman in May 2008. And, even though MySpace deleted my account, you can still find me on Facebook.

AS: Do you identify as a gay artist?

S: It’s nobody’s business whose butt I sniff, but I’m not ashamed of it either... There have always been dogs whose sexual preference is well known in the industry but kept quiet publicly. Lassie was certainly the Rock Hudson of the four-legged world. Me, I’m an out queer canine— I’m here, I’m queer, I’m peeing on your lawn. Get use to it!

AS: How about when you are described as a dog artist?

S: More pigeonholes!… I have a lot of friends in the animal kingdom, and we don’t judge based on the color of our fur or even whose balls we like to lick. I show in non-dog contexts. You have to move beyond dog parks and kennels if you want to grow artistically.

AS: Particular to this publication, I have to ask, how do erotica and gay culture influence your work?

S: My work is erotic but I’m not making puppy porn. It’s ART. Why make a big deal over a little extra exposed fur.

AS: The Sparky Project turns on you not only as subject but as a presence, a phenomenon, and, at the same time, decenters the single artist as independent creator?

S: Finally, a real question… The project is challenging. Of course, I’m the star, but the work is more than pretty pictures, it is an investigation into collaboration.

AS: Who are some of the other artists you would like to work with?

S: I have a few ideas for Matthew Barney, Jeff Koons, Cindy Sherman, and of course, William Wegman. Hey, if you are reading this, give me a call.

AS: Thanks so much for your time, Sparky.

S: Woof!

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Amy Sadao is the Executive Director of Visual AIDS and a sometimes art writer who lives in Brooklyn. She began her career as an intern for Sparky. Sparky’s partner in this project is Nelson Santos—Associate Director of Visual AIDS, artist, frequent contributor to The Archive, and Sparky’s best friend.

Edited 2021, NS