The first
known art
by Susann Stjernborg, Kennel Starcastle Hounds,
Sweden
February 2007
Also published in the Silken
Windhound Magazine
The first known art of Silken Windhounds are the plates commissioned
by me for the very first Silkenfest in 1999, that was also the
day we founded ISWS, the International Silken Windhound Society.
That first
Silkenfest was split into two places, first day was at Possum
Trot Farm, hosted by Debs Harold. The second day was at Kristull
Ranch, hosted by Francie Stull. Both in Texas, USA.
One plate
was ordered for each hostess, there were also more things ordered,
so that everyone present would have one piece each. Unfortunately
only the plates arrived and they arrived express to Possom Trot
Farm that first day of Silkenfest 1999.
The artist vanished from the face of the earth and we have not
been able to track her down since.
The original
for the drawings on the plates was a photo taken by Francie Stull
at a sighthound show in Donaueshingen in Germany in 1998, when
the first Silkens arrived to Europe. It is a very unique photo,
depicting 3 rare breeds in the same photo.
One Azawakh, two Silken Windhounds and two wirehaired Galgos.
The
two Silkens are the white and red brindle Nuna, Kristull Annunciata,
who came to me in Sweden after living for 6 months in Germany
to finish her vaccination program in order to be able to cross
the Swedish border.
The other Silken was the young male Kristull Ingot, who later
went back to US with Francie.
The two plates
are not identical in color. Francie got the one with a white Nuna
and a red-brown Ingot and Debs got the plate showing the true
colors of these Silkens.
These first
plates are a symbol of our humble beginning.
Seven of us sat around Debs kitchen table, I presented the hostesses
with their plates and then we divided the different jobs of the
Board of Directors among us.
Francie was
elected as President, Betty volunteered to be vice President,
her husband John to be Treasurer, Dee was the AKC Liaision , Lucille
to be Registrar, Sussi as the breeds Historian and European representative
and I think Debs was secretary.
Later we
decided to use the drawings as our logotype for ISWS and since
I had not only ordered but also paid for a lot more then was delivered,
it was decided I actually still have the ownership of that art.
This is the reason why I use the picture of Nuna in my own logotype.
Nuna was mine after all :-)
It has always
been the intention to get a new logotype for ISWS, something that
would print better in a small size, but somehow we never got around
to it.
Nuna was
a very special Silken, unfortunately she died very yong before
she ever was bred. Ingot was killed in an accident and he was
never used for breeding either.
I like the idea of Nuna and Ingot being immortalized by appearing
in our logo.
Even if the logo will be changed in the future I am sure the original
logo will be seen in books and prints of our early history and
these two will never be forgotten.
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