​Linda Brant

About this project:  Once a year, the Orlando community joins together to remember the dogs they have lost. Paper lanterns are decorated with photographs, drawings and heartfelt messages to remember and honor the dogs that have enriched our lives.  At dusk, the paper lanterns are floated on the lake. The art project:  Mourned and Unmourned, took place as part of this event.  Recycling the paper lanterns from previous memorials, Linda Brant created 68 collages representing the dogs that were mourned, and their continued presence in our lives. What about the unmourned and unknown dogs?  According to public records, 1583 dogs were lost to euthanasia at Orange County Animal Services in 2014.  These dogs were also remembered and honored.  The public was invited to help the artist hang 1583 dog tags, each inscribed with the word Unknown.  One tag was hung for each dog that died at Orange County Animal Services in 2014.  Tags for the unmourned hung over the collages for the mourned.  And all were remembered.