Spotted dogs, tall dogs, short dogs, fluffy dogs, even cow dogs came to the ribbon cutting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday for “It’s a Dog’s World,” the newest art mural in Polson.  

Painted on the west wall of the Barking Lot, 11 Third Ave. E, the bright mural showcases dog adventures mural design creator Vicky Poole could imagine participating in around Flathead Lake, such as fishing, enjoying a campfire, skydiving, flying a plane or driving a jeep. The wall was brick, had been sealed, but was hard to paint.  

“I allowed it (the texture) to create some of the mural,” Poole said.  

“It’s kind of a crayon stroke,” she explained, since using a crayon makes a swath of color that varies in shade. 

Poole, who’s originally from Cleavland, Ohio but moved to Polson seven years ago had worked with Mary Stillman on massive mall murals in Ohio. Now ““looking for a way to jump start art back into her life,” Poole said so she thought it would be great to have Stillman paint on the mural same and meet other local artists. So, the Poole’s flew her out, and she painted with the Polsonites. 

Poole and Alisa Reed, Polson’s recreation coordinator, cut the actual ribbon. Reed helped shepherd the mural project through the city’s regulations. Charlie Fudge, an artist from the Sandpiper Gallery and Gifts, emceed the event. 

“This is a small-town story,” Fudge said, talking about how the mural idea was hatched 

Brenda and Lance Grogan, who own The Barking Lot, shared a table with Fudge at the Polson Fairgrounds Inc. Cowboy Ball. Fudge’s neighbors took their dogs to the Barking Lot for grooming so that’s how the conversation began. 

Brenda had heard about Art4Polson, which is dedicated to enhancing Polson through art, fostering vibrant public displays, community outreach, student engagement, and a celebration of indigenous art, according to their website. She talked with Fudge about Art4Polson and then asked about featuring dogs on a mural, and Fudge mentioned he was on the Sandpiper Board.  

“I have the perfect spot,” Brenda said, “and lots of people walk by it every day.”  

So, the Sandpiper board and Brenda met. Since people in Polson love their dogs, a dog theme was chosen. Brenda asked if the Barking Lot dogs could be models since she and her assistant groomer Libby bring a dog or two each day to hang out in the groomery.   

Now Tater Tot and Jo Jo (Brenda’s pups) are on the slide, and Libby’s Labrador is skydiving as a couple of examples. Even the Barking Lot’s parrot, a Goffin cockatoo, is on the mural. 

Preparations for the ribbon cutting were dog-oriented. Doggie refreshments were pup cups topped with a hot dog slice (people could have candy). The  Barking Lot crew cut matching blue bandanas of different sizes for all the canine attendees. 

We’re encouraging people to bring their dog for a picture, Brenda said. More than 25 people came for the ribbon cutting, and most brought at least one pooch.  

There was some barking, but mostly lots of sniffing and tail wagging as Polson’s pups got to know each other at a pup cup party to celebrate the new mural.