Oprah Winfrey Depicted with Late Dogs in Puppies' Memorial - New York Gallery Appeals to Pet Lovers with Exhibit

NEW YORK, May 14 /PRNewswire/ -- An exhibit dedicated to the memory of
Oprah Winfrey's late dogs opens in Manhattan's west village, helping to
promote pet safety awareness. A life-size monument depicts "puppy versions"
of Oprah's Cocker Spaniel Sophie and Golden Labrador Gracie atop the head
of the talk show icon by controversial sculptor Daniel Edwards. The
Puppies' Memorial will be exhibited at Leo Kesting Gallery on May 22nd.

"Memories of Sophie and Gracie: A Puppies' Memorial" is inspired by the
Oprah press releases that announced the passing of Gracie, who choked on a
ball last year, and the passing of Sophie, who died in March.

"To represent Sophie and Gracie together, joined in Oprah's memory as
they were in life and in Oprah's heart, the artist depicted them as
conjoined at the hip and sharing a common tail," says co-director John Leo.
The dogs are shown standing on the flowing-maned golden likeness of Oprah's
head, in reference to how the dogs' deaths may be weighing heavily on
Winfrey's mind. "Losing two beloved pets within a year is likely to take
its toll on anybody."

Last month, Oprah dedicated a show investigating abuses at puppy mills
to Sophie, who died from kidney failure. "Sophie gave me 13 years of
unconditional love," Winfrey said on her show.

The Puppies' Memorial also highlights the overlooked threat of
accidental pet fatality by common household products.

"Given the natures of the demise of Oprah's dogs, we feel the horrors
of a puppy mill could be inconsequential compared to the poison hazards
pets face in the home. Leaving a puppy mill for a nice home could be like
jumping from the frying pan into the fire for some pets," says gallery
co-director David Kesting. "According to the APCC (Animal Poison Control
Center), the anti-freeze commonly leaked on garage floors, for example, is
sweet smelling and tasting to pets, but it causes kidney failure and
death."

"The memories of Oprah's pets could serve as a reminder to all pet
lovers that this may be a good time to thoroughly 'puppy-proof' their pet's
habitats," says Daniel Edwards.

"Sophie's kidney failure may have resulted from natural causes, but we
hope the Puppies' Memorial will remind everyone that Gracie's choking could
have been prevented," says Kesting.

Edwards's other works include a pro-euthanasia monument to Kentucky
Derby winning racehorse Barbaro, The Paris Hilton Autopsy featuring her
forlorn pet Chihuahua Tinkerbell, and a nude Britney Spears giving birth on
a bearskin rug.

Reception for the PRESS, May 21st at 11:00 a.m. Public reception is May
22nd, 6:00 p.m. at Leo Kesting Gallery, 812 Washington St. Contact David
Kesting at 917-650-3760 or John Leo at 917-292-8865 or
http://www.LeoKesting.com

No celebrity endorsement claimed or implied.

SOURCE Leo Kesting Gallery
http://www.LeoKesting.com