By Page H. Gifford
Combining her finesse as a painter with a deep-seated love for her four-legged subjects, Fluvanna Art Association member Susan Edginton creates striking, color-rich portraits of dogs that capture the eye and the heart.
Now, Edginton has used her artistic talent to design a fiberglass Labrador statue to benefit Service Dogs of Virginia’s Art Unleashed fundraising project.
Dedicated to increasing independence for people with disabilities, Service Dogs of Virginia (SDV) is the only school in the state training medical alert dogs.
Accredited by Assistance Dogs International, SDV places assistance and facility dogs across five program areas—including Physical Assistance, Autism, and PTSD—matching approximately ten new clients annually with life-changing partners while monitoring over 50 active teams.
To ensure accessibility for those in need, SDV never charges for its dogs, absorbing the $40,000 in training and placement costs.
“We believe in the power of these dogs to change lives for the better. We are delighted to
have artists partner with us for this public art event to help our fellow Virginians receive a highly
trained dog who will improve their lives for years to come,” said Executive Director and Founder
Peggy Law, who started the program in 2000. “At present, we are working on building a new
facility so that we can double the number of dogs we place annually from ten dogs to twenty or
More.”
“Art Unleashed is where creativity meets compassion to train more dogs more efficiently to
help more people in need and ensure our ability to create life-changing partnerships for
generations to come,” added Law.
This public art display and auction is designed to bring together artists, dog lovers, philanthropists, and the community to help SDV build a permanent home.
Edginton and 19 other local artists were commissioned to transform life-sized fiberglass Labrador statues into unique, vibrant works of art.
These 20 statues each serve as a platform for storytelling and creative expression, while fostering a sense of community belonging.
Thrilled to contribute to such a worthy cause, Edginton designed her Labrador statue with vibrant 1960s icons, featuring “flower power” motifs and peace signs.
After securing sponsorships from individuals and businesses, the Labrador statues will be displayed throughout Charlottesville from July through October 2026, positioned outside sponsoring businesses and along sidewalks and street corners.
Each statue will feature a plaque with the artist’s name and a QR code linking to their biography, and all works will be included on a public map highlighting their locations.
The project will culminate in an auction on October 24, 2026, where the statues will be sold to benefit Service Dogs of Virginia.
Proceeds will support the construction of a new facility, allowing SDV to double the number of service dogs it places each year.
For more information, visit www.servicedogsva.org.
