The comparison of the origin of love and the artistic process has proven to be a fertile topic amongst artists of varying genres. Many have portrayed the two as a discovery of the self - a true revelation of meaning within a seemingly chaotic and nonsensical world.
"Blue Dog Love," the collaborative effort of George and Wendy Rodrigue hints at the complex comparative theme of love and art, but a bit too cursorily than expected from a relatively renowned artist.
Sheathed in crushed red velvet with a heart-shaped hole in the front with George Rodrigue's trademark Blue Dog peeking out, "Blue Dog Love" presents itself as quite the unconventional art book.
And in some respects, it is. George Roderigue's Blue Dog is a vibrant pop-art icon that has, in many ways, become quite the staggering success.
Hoards of people, ranging from Bill and Hillary Clinton to Whoopi Goldberg, boast of having a wide-eyed Blue Dog in their collection.
George Roderigue's paintings evoke effervescent, candy-coated emotions while maintaining a more humanistic pop-art sensibility than the likes of Andy Warhol's cold machine exterior.
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But then, there's the accompanying narrative.
Interspersed between Wendy Roderigue's retelling of their love are George's own thoughts, rendered not only in the paintings themselves, but in the supplementary notes.
And here is where the book becomes a bit trite.
Rather than creating new insights and perceptions of love and the creative process, the book focuses on superficial details and generic, impalpable situations.
When describing their first prolonged experience together at a restaurant called The Whole Enchilada, Wendy states, "By the time the sun went down and the band got up on stage for their first set, George and I were in love."
George then states, "Wendy thinks we fell in love in one night at The Whole Enchilada. Truth is, I had hot thoughts before that."
Essentially, the passion both of them claim to ravenously have for one another is not displayed adequately in their book.
From an artist of a somewhat decent reputation, I expected a delicate, evocative tale of love and the artistic process - how both are truly visceral events.
Instead, we get a self-serving tale of love that doesn't captivate the reader but is reminiscent of a Lifetime TV movie.
The potential was great for "Blue Dog Love" to be provocative on both an intellectual and emotional manner, but it fizzles into sheer predictability.
"Blue Dog Love" is not altogether bad, it just could have been a lot better.
George Roderigue's paintings are fun to look at and have an accessible spunk that most contemporary paintings seem to lack, all of which help elevate the book's pitfalls.
For those of you interested at seeing George and Wendy Roderigue in person, they will discuss and sign copies of "Blue Dog Love" at Bookworks, 4022 Rio Grande Blvd. NW, tonight at 6 p.m.
For more information, call 344-8139.
