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To learn more about Sophie and her journey with this project, Bored Panda got in touch with the artist.
First of all, Sophie shared what motivated her to start photographing pit bulls and focus on changing their public perception.
“As a volunteer photographer in a shelter, I would tense up when the staff would bring a pit bull-type dog on set. These dogs made me nervous, because of the stories I had heard in the media, and their bad reputation. But during these shoots, I could see how gentle and loving the dogs were. I decided to create a project that would force me to meet a lot of them and interact with them in a more intimate way. I wanted to see if art could challenge the way we talk about pit bull-type dogs. If the only image we knew of them was a soft photograph of a gentle dog wearing flowers, could we still be afraid? And if we were not afraid anymore, would we still treat them as poorly as we’ve treated them? I never thought the project would grow so much and transform the way we talk about pit bulls.”
Sophie also shared a memorable story of a dog she photographed.
“I have photographed over 450 pit bull-type dogs for this project over the years. The stories of the dogs themselves are really touching - and I shared many of those in my 2018 book (Pit Bull Flower Power). In the book, I also included information about dogs who were still waiting for homes. And some of those got adopted thanks to my book. I remember Sula, for example. She had waited about 8 years with a rescue. And a family got my book and was reading her story, and really connected with her. It turns out, they lived 15min away from the rescue! They got in touch with them, met Sula, and adopted her. She’s had the best life with them since. I love how the project has highlighted so many great dogs, and built so many bridges. From people telling me the project inspired them to start volunteering, or foster a pit bull, or adopt one, to families thanking me for showing their dogs in a more dignified and precious way. This project has touched many lives.
I try to follow my models all the way to their adoption and beyond. I love getting updates from their families. And because I started this project in 2014, a lot of my models are now reaching old age, sometimes passing away, and I love seeing the life they had after we met, the white fur grow on their faces, the joy they brought their families until their last day.”
We were wondering how Sophie goes about selecting the shelters and rescues she works with.
“When I started volunteering with animal rescues 14 years ago, it wasn’t easy to get the foot through the door. But once I had one rescue and one shelter that let me in, I was able to grow my skills and explore with my work, and show what I could offer. Pit Bull Flower Power was born out of that space, where I was given access and people trusted me to make their dogs shine. Once the first portraits came out on social media in the summer of 2014, they spread like wildfire! Suddenly, my inbox was full of requests from shelters from all over the U.S. and the world, to come visit them and help them shine a light on their dogs. I had a long waitlist. I did my best to travel as much as possible, but this entire project was self-funded so that limited a little bit - plus, I am just one person!
Still, I worked with tens and tens of organizations. From small private rescues to big municipal shelters, I’ve worked with all kinds. I am actually thinking of offering some mentorship or helping people navigate that space. Because it can be daunting to know where and how to start, and it can be challenging to find a rescue organization that will follow through and let you in. I have learned a lot over the years. One of the big lessons is to work with organizations that are excited to partner with you. So if someone says no, just move on to another organization until you find the right fit. Because there are plenty of them out there, in various stages of desperation to shine a light on their animals. Shelters are full and in crisis right now. It’s the worst it’s been in over a decade. Now is the time we all need to come together to support our local shelters,” wrote the artist.
Regarding challenges, Sophia shared her fair share of struggles when it came to the project.
“The most challenging aspect of this project has probably been the constant battle between pit bull advocates and people who think these dogs should disappear. Years and years of being caught in the middle of that. I was just an artist trying to explore a cool idea, and I got propelled into this role of an advocate for pit bull types. What I have learned, and tried to show through my work, is that every dog is an individual. We cannot judge them as a whole. Breeds don’t equate behavior. Every single dog, regardless of the way they were bred, or their past, is a unique individual. That’s why I always tried to include the story with my portraits, and each dog got a unique flower crown which was never re-used. Beyond the 'mythology' of pit bulls, the idea that collectively they are monsters and dangerous is the simple truth that every single one of them are unique individuals.”
Sophie shared more about the flower crown idea: “My initial idea was to showcase pit bull-type dogs in a softer light. I wanted to give them a gentler image. I was inspired by baroque portraits, which not only evoke beauty and softness but also remind us of the ephemeral quality of life. Working on this project, I couldn’t help but think about how humans destroy everything they touch. And pit bulls are a great example of this. They were created by humans. Humans have a heavy hand on every aspect of their lives, from breeding to how they are trained or kept. They are our victims. Still, we find a reason to punish them. Because we were in control every step of the way, I believe this should give us a huge responsibility towards these dogs. I love this St Exupery quote from the Little Prince (we share a hometown!): “You are responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.” I think that is exceptionally true when it comes to dogs.
The crowns were a fun way to express my creativity while conveying my idea in a very efficient way. You see one of the portraits, and instantly you think how cute and beautiful, and how peaceful the dog looks. Then you read their story: abused, abandoned, broken by humans. It gives you pause. I also think that pit bull-type dogs have very human-like faces. Their eyes are so emotive, their faces so expressive. For that reason, the crowns worked extremely well.”
We asked Sophie to describe the response from the public and the media to her "Pit Bull Flower Power" series and how it has influenced adoption rates.
“The project went viral in 2014, and it didn’t stop for a few years. It was a roller coaster! I burned out working on the project, if I’m honest. Because there was always more need, more dogs in need. My inbox was constantly full of requests, and stories. As an artist, I needed some fresh air and to work on other things, but as an advocate, I struggle to stop the project because of the great need, and because this project has been so important.
From the start, the project has been extremely well received in the rescue community and with pit bull lovers. To this day, I still receive messages from people who explain how the project influenced them or changed their perceptions. I firmly believe the project has changed the way we talk about these dogs. Shelters always reported the dogs would get adopted much faster when I photographed them, many dogs who had been waiting 5, or 8 years got adopted thanks to the photos I took. Pit Bull Flower Power has worked on many levels, from getting dogs adopted to creating a whole new set of tools when we want to talk about pit bulls.
I remember a message I received years ago. This woman wrote that one day she was walking her “big scary” pit bull. Usually, people would switch sidewalks, afraid of her dog - even though her dog is a gentle, loving dog. But that day, a little girl and her mom asked if they could say hi and pet the dog. They engaged in conversation. The mom asked, 'what kind of dog is he?' And the woman said, 'he is a pit bull.' To which the little girl replied: 'He isn’t a pit bull, he is a flower dog!' And I will always cherish this story as a beautiful and touching example of how far and transformative Pit Bull Flower Power has been. It was always about building emotional bridges between my dog models and the community. And by some kind of magic, it went beyond that.”
Lately, the artist shared what other projects she is currently working on.
“I am always very busy with various projects around dogs. I am about to be ordained an animal chaplain - which will formalize all the work I have been doing over the years, supporting dogs and their caretakers through my art. For the past couple of years I have been traveling around the world on various dog rescue-related projects, from Ecuador to Moldova or South Korea. There are many themes that influence my work, like ecofeminism or how colonialism has impacted dogs (through breeding or by weaponizing them) and disrupted the relationship between these dogs and their people.
During the pandemic I photographed a series of survivors of the South Korea dog meat trade in partnership with Humane Society International, to celebrate and represent these individual dogs while South Korean legislators were debating whether to ban dog meat (in January they announced an official ban on the breeding, slaughter, and sale of dog for human consumption!). More recently I created a project with AI, giving their ears back to dogs who had been cropped. From embroideries to print-making, virtual reality, and sculpture, I just love exploring and challenging the many areas of friction in the dog-human bond, and what these reveal about our humanity."
"I currently have a mild obsession with village dogs, who are pretty much the link between the first dogs humanity had, and breeds we know today. Village dogs predate breeds, which I find super cool, yet they have barely been studied by scientists. I am always surprised by how little effort we have expanded in getting to know dogs… considering they’ve been our closet companions for tens of thousands of years!
People can follow my work on social media (Instagram, Facebook) and via my website. I sell products and art to fund my work with rescues. I also have a Patreon. And a newsletter for those who want to stay apprised of my work.”
