Love at Second Sight: My Art Dog, Jackson
(detail) Illustration of Juanita MORE! and Jackson by Serge Gay, 2013 - see full image here.
Years ago, a friend of mine was breeding French Bulldogs, and at that moment, I thought I was ready for a furry friend in my life. But when I went to meet the pups, I freaked out and changed my mind. They weren’t the cute tiny images I’d been looking at on the internet - they were alive! What was I thinking? No way was I ready for this.
A year later and (I hoped) a lot wiser, I tried again. And that’s when I met Jackson, just a week after he was born. At the time, I had no clue what an essential part of my world that little guy was going to be. Now, after a decade together, Jackson is the smallest thing I take care of in my life but the most significant thing in my heart.
I don’t know if it’s true that every dog reflects the character of its owner, but Jackson absolutely reflects me. He is independent, fussy, and loving - and he definitely reflects my love of art. From day one, Jackson has been photographed, painted, and had his image put on posters. He’s been an art dog from the get-go.
Jackson art by Colton Long
I’ve always been an avid art collector and curated my first multi-group show at Space Gallery in 1996, featuring artists’ interpretations of my glamorous self. As a drag queen and community activist, I’ve relished every opportunity to champion local artists, whether it be commissioning the backdrop for a photo booth at an event or curating the pieces adorning the walls of my tiny Tenderloin apartment. So once I got Jackson, I immediately started including him in any artwork I commissioned.
Today, you can find images of Jackson all around the city - on posters for my annual Pride Party, on holiday and Valentine cards, on t-shirts, on murals, on tattoos, and more. I’ve loved seeing how different artists interpret Jackson, capturing his many moods, from grumpy to tongue-wagging happy and everything in between.
The JM! Mural Project, which I started in 2019, features art installations by J. Manuel Carmona, Serge Gay Jr., Guilherme Lemes Cardoso e Silva, and Elliott C Nathan. Spread across the Mission, Castro, SOMA, Haight-Ashbury, and Polk Gulch neighborhoods, these outdoor murals are part of an effort to beautify the city walls of San Francisco — and five out of six murals contain images of my boy Jackson!
Jackson in front of his mural created by Serge Gay.
And he’s not just on walls. In 2015, I commissioned an artist in Toronto, Canada, to make a mascot costume in Jackson’s image. The Jackson mascot now travels with me to public events and brings joy and smiles to everyone who greets him - as does Jackson himself.
Like many pet owners, I’ve now become that person who doesn’t leave the house without my furry friend. He’s always with me on my walks around the city, which are shorter now that he’s older but much more frequent. We don’t go to places that won’t accept pets. It’s hard to believe I’m the same person who walked away from those Frenchie pups the first time out.
Jackson’s face may be all over the city, but unlike human celebrities, fame hasn’t gone to his head. He’s my sweet companion, the love of my life, and he’s drawn on my heart in indelible ink.