Friends of Dog Mountain
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to steward and sustain the 150-acre Dog Mountain property in Vermont as a unique national treasure that honors the healing power of “dogs, nature, love, and art,” and to preserve and celebrate the important artistic contributions of Dog Mountain’s iconic creator, Stephen Huneck.
OUR VISION
Friends of Dog Mountain (FODM) is a nonprofit organization established in the spring of 2015 by friends and family of the late American artists Stephen & Gwen Huneck.
We believe the 150-acre property known as Dog Mountain deserves to be restored and stewarded as an historic, cultural, and artistic treasure of national importance. Stephen Huneck considered the entirety of Dog Mountain—the ponds, trails, wildflower meadows, vistas, Dog Chapel, and other features—to be his ultimate artistic achievement.
We aim to fulfill the Hunecks’ vision of creating a place of heartfelt experience and deep healing through nature, love, art, and pets. As an internationally recognized and celebrated destination attracting tens of thousands of visits annually, we appreciate that Dog Mountain is a uniquely compelling destination for dog lovers and their families seeking to celebrate and honor their profound relationships and shared lives together.
We believe the Hunecks’ joyous artistic creations are important contributions to American Folk Art. We seek to preserve and curate Stephen’s woodcut prints, sculptures, furniture, and other inspired creations—such as the Dog Chapel—for future generations to enjoy.
We understand and appreciate that Dog Mountain is a valued economic and community partner contributing to the health and vitality of the region. We seek to collaborate with local municipalities, businesses, and other area nonprofits to develop Dog Mountain and our programmatic offerings in order to benefit the local communities and economies of St. Johnsbury and the Northeast Kingdom of VT.
HOW WE WILL APPROACH OUR WORK – INITIAL STEPS:
We understand that our bold vision will require skillful work, deep collaboration, community engagement, and—most critically—significant capital. The full vision will be realized in several phases of work.
We aim to restore and enhance Dog Mountain as a public space that brings people, dogs, and art together as a place of healing, reflection, and celebration. We seek to honor Dog Mountain’s underlying spirit of hope and compassion by renovating historic structures, restoring the outdoor art, improving infrastructure, and developing the land-base in a manner that will further enhance Dog Mountain as a resource for public use.
The visionary body of work that Stephen produced is artistically significant and deserving of preservation. Pieces of Stephen’s art are in the permanent collections at the Smithsonian Institution, Shelburne Museum, the American Kennel Club, and the Dog Museum of America. Stephen’s NY Times best-selling series of children’s books featuring the Black Lab “Sally” has brought joy to thousands of readers. Collectors from around the world have purchased his furniture and art. Most of the wood blocks used for prints, molds used for sculptures, and furniture designs are still in the possession of Friends of Dog Mountain, but many of them are deteriorating from age and exposure. Our work will require cataloging, restoring, and protecting Stephen’s original creations to preserve his artistic and cultural legacy. Our vision is to share Stephen’s artistry, broaden its availability to the public, and eventually build an on-site museum and sponsor traveling shows and exhibits.
We believe that Dog Mountain is an important community and economic development asset that can be of great benefit to the region. Dog Mountain—buoyed by Huneck’s artwork—has become a nationally recognized destination popular with dog and art lovers throughout the country. National Geographic, Yankee Magazine, Trip Advisor, and numerous other recognized travel resources identify Dog Mountain as a top destination in New England. With enhanced facilities and programming to attract more destination visits to the area, we expect to have a positive impact on St. Johnsbury’s existing local economy and help stimulate additional entrepreneurial opportunities there.