Title: Acquainted with the Night

Artist: Grant Ezell

Medium: Photography/Digital Manipulation

Dimensions: 11"x15"

We followed her tracks in the snow. She always went back to the same park and the same tree, using it to block the freezing wind and ice. Perhaps she had been dumped there and still held hope that they were coming back for her. It was the coldest stretch of winter thus far and I wondered how she had stayed alive. The folks who lived around the park first noticed her about two weeks before; she was impossible to get close to. We were able to lure her into a trap with warm fried chicken from the chicken and catfish joint down the street, but just as the gate began to close, the noise from the trap startled her; she ran away. It was psychologically exhausting getting so near to her time and time again only to have her dart across the railroad tracks and disappear in the snow. She would be out in the cold another night. We never gave up on her and were eventually able to trap her. She was beautiful and seemed so grateful to be in the warmth of the Jeep. A few days later, she was diagnosed with an obstruction and sadly did not make it through surgery. We were heartbroken but also thankful that, in her last few days, she knew warmth and love. Her name was Chilly Millie, and she will forever be in our hearts.

*If you are the winning bidder and are not in attendance to pick up your artwork the night of the event at the Four Seasons, artwork will be available for pick up from the Pine Street Shelter starting Friday, June 18th. If you are not local to the St. Louis Area, shipping will be an additional cost and will be calculated for each piece individually.