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I’ve Made A Fine Art Museum For My Guinea Pig, And She Seems To Have Enjoyed It
What happens when you have ample free time and need to distract yourself from uncontrollable life events? Well, you create an art gallery for your pet (naturally). I was inspired by the gerbil art museum created by Filippo and Marianna. I’ve seen just one screenshot of the museum posted on Imgur and was immediately motivated to create some art for my own furry rodent friend. I needed a project I could channel all of my energy into. My boyfriend is in the hospital due to a non-COVID-19-related medical emergency. I can’t visit him and needed to keep busy.
And so I got to work. I’ve recreated some famous works of art, replacing the people with guinea pigs. I drew from my knowledge of art history and previous museum visit experiences. When I was setting up the museum, I kept thinking about the Met in New York City. The creaky hardwood floors and tall ceilings. Heavy gold frames. That’s what I tried to emulate as I created the Piggenheim.
You be the judge. Take a tour of the exhibition below!
RELATED:
The Piggenheim Museum
Once the gallery was set up, it was ready for visitors. More specifically, one very special visitor. Maisie, a 2-year-old guinea pig, was adopted from the Franklin Township Animal Shelter in New Jersey in September of 2018. I volunteer at the shelter regularly. I actually adopted Maisie to be my class pet at school! My students loved her. For various reasons, she stayed at home this school year. Maisie is a really sweet pig with a great personality. She’s very tolerant, which I attribute to her spending most of her formative months in a classroom full of 19 rambunctious 6-year-olds.
Treachery, indeed!
Maisie did not carrot all for this deception.
There was much chittering at the Picasso
Maisie certainly appreciated the exhibit. She spent time at each miniature work of art. Maisie nibbled on the frame of the Kahlo. I’m not sure if that was her saying she liked it or hated it. She was also very intrigued by the Lichtenstein and the Magritte. She did not seem to care for the Picasso because she chittered at it a lot!
Maisie needs a hair ribbon like that
This was after museum staff scolded her for sampling the picture frame
I took photos and video clips of Maisie gazing at the artwork. Then, I sent the clips to my best friend Emily Wolf, an influencer located in Los Angeles, who turned them into a TikTok. We are both really proud of the product created! This project really helped me get through a tough time. I would like to create another experience for Maisie, but I haven’t decided what just yet.
How we all feel internally?
Hay farmers, for sure
A trio of classic beauties!
Random trivia time! Here are some fun and not-so-fun facts about guinea pigs. Guinea pigs or domestic guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus), also known as cavy or domestic cavy, despite their common name, are not native to Guinea, nor are they related to pigs. The origin of the name eludes us still… They were originally bred as livestock, and they still are. Guinea pigs don’t exist in the wild. The guinea pig has enjoyed widespread popularity as a household and pocket pet since they arrived in Europe in the 16th century through traders. Their docile nature, friendly responses, and low-maintenance care requirements make them great conquerors of people’s hearts.
Posing with the classics
She truly appreciates fine art
No, that is not a wig, that is a guinea pig!
Pig with Hair Ribbon
Cavy Dream
Self Portrait dedicated to Dr. DooLittle
The Birth of Guinea Pig
The Treachery of Vegetables
The French is inaccurate and should read “Ceci n’est pas une carotte”
The Rodent Lisa
The Pig with the Pearl Earring
The Wheet
Cochon d’Inde au Béret Orange
American Cavy
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What do you think ?
Lisa Cheesmond 4 years ago
Very cute. To the people who criticize the fact the piggy is alone. I have at times had single guineas, after the loss of their friend., some will not bond with another Guinea. Some will. Some will live as neighbours but not together. I have just adopted a single piggy from a very, very well run British Cavy Rescue centre. She was gvenn to them as she would not get along with the owner's other pigs. The rescue tried her with many of the group's in the rescue even with a nutered male. The rescue has a high succeess rate bonding adult pigs.But she just will not tolerate another Guinea pig.
Tiny Dynamine 4 years ago
Guinea pigs should not be alone. Do as Scruffy says. It makes what you've done irrelevant as you are not thinking of your pet first.
April Koonce 4 years ago
If you would all ease up on the creator! She clearly loves Maisie & has for 2 years. She said she volunteers at a shelter, she adopted didn't purchase and clearly didn't leave the pig at school to fend for herself. She has roam time obvi so leave her be. I have a bonded pair of boys & my one only tolerates the younger one cuz i beg him to. I have contemplated splitting them up but the younger one squeals when his big brother is gone for too long. If a single cavy is an only pet and especially during these times is getting plenty of attention, leave it be. I've had buns & pigs for over 20 years & at times have had singles as well as pairs. I currently have 2 unbounded living in separate rooms. Just as some children are ok having siblings & some are fine being only's, our pets are the same. Each one has a unique personality and therefore, unique needs. Don't always jump to judge something that isn't the feelings of certain rescues or agencies. Thanks for sharing The Piggenheim & Maisie
littlesaresare 4 years ago
There's a pretty big difference between being an only child and being isolated in a cage your entire life with the only social interaction you get being giants picking you up. The idea of a guinea pig who wants to be alone is a concept made by humans to justify *their* choices. 99.9% of the time an aggressive pig doesn't have enough room, the right friend, or other stressors are involved.
Load More Replies...
Nadja Kiiskinen 4 years ago
A fine arts museum for guinea pigs? Cool! But a single guinea pig living alone in a goddamn school classroom? NOT COOL. Please, check your facts about guinea pigs. 1. Guinea pigs are NOT to be kept alone, they are herd animals. 2. It's not a great idea to keep guinea pigs in a classroom anyway, but if you do, there need to be two of them, and they probably need more space than you afford in the classroom.. So, not recommendable at all. 3. Guinea pigs are not really low maintenance. If you think they are, you're most likely mistreating them. The worst part of keeping a lone guinea pig as classroom pet is that you are giving a really bad example to the kids and teaching them to mistreat animals and ignore their needs. This is one of the major reasons why there are so many guinea pigs in need of rescue.
Birgit Schmidt 4 years ago
In some European countries they have very good animal laws. In Switzerland it would not be allowed to keep just one animal of the breed. So please have a neutered man beside or another girl - whatever your own guinea pig is......
Angela S 4 years ago
Guinea Pigs totally live in the wild!! Brazilian and Montane Guinea Pigs are still going in South America! Domesticated Guinean pigs are not wild. https://www.livescience.com/50658-guinea-pig-facts.html
(((Sherlocat))) she/her 4 years ago
I believe guinea pigs are bred as food livestock in South and Central America?
Load More Replies...
The Emerald Triangle 4 years ago
Can that guinea pig even see the art? It looks like the rest of us who don't know what to do without our hair dresser/barber.
Rhiannon C 4 years ago
The message in "The Treachery of Vegetables" translates to: It is not a carrot.
Margaret Long 4 years ago
I love this. It demonstrates the bond that a little furry friend can have with his/her human. I have a twelve YO rabbit,. I rescued him at about 8 weeks old and circumstances dictated that he couldn’t have a lagomorph friend. It’s not ideal. We - me and my four pawed boss - are bonded. Thank you for rescuing Maisie. I ask the critics out there, should I not have rescued my funny little friend? He had a coyote future otherwise. Loves to you and your sweet cavy. And to your BF,, of course.
Charlotte Ireland 4 years ago
It was imaginative and adorable. Maybe you should have? ..... NO, NOTHING! Some people cannot appreciate things as they are offered and they HAVE to hear their own voice and try to change you & your pet's life according to their own world view. She looks like a very lucky guinea pig! My only suggestion is the addition of a new painting from Jackson Pollack.
Dorothy Parker 4 years ago
Cute art, darling and expressive pig. I hope the artist's boyfriend makes a quick and complete recovery.
//Cassizu// 4 years ago
Hello! I think this is a really cute idea, but Maisie would really benefit from a guinea pig companion. It is a myth that they can live on their own if you give them enough attention, or that they will bond with you better if they are kept alone. Actually, they will bond with the human much easier if they are kept with another piggie! Living together gives them a sense of herd safety. You could make her life a lot better if you give her a piggy friend.
Debbie Grigasy 4 years ago
I hope my comment posted, if not, I wondered if your cavy is outgoing? My girls are a lot shy.
Debbie Grigasy 4 years ago
I LOVE it! You’re most creative to say the least. I hope I can ask.. your cavy seems outgoing ... is she shy with you?
Christina Uhlir 4 years ago (edited)
Just like with the gallery for parakeets, pictures are great, the fine art reproductions are "indistinguishable" from the originals, however, I think that Maisie's objective was to find out if the displays are food; she might be more interested in culinary art. On the serious note, I wish your boyfriend will recover and come home from hospital. P.S. where did you find 19 six-year-old kiddies? (schools are closed, I assume).
Patricia Lewis 4 years ago
Thank you for brightening the world with this. It's delightful and your guinea pig is adorable!
Shelly Mock 4 years ago
Great article and truly inspiring. I may not have a Guinea pig, but I do have cats and highly creative children who now want to make an art meow-seum. (Ok, that pun was really bad) Best wishes.
Nancy Chenier 4 years ago
You are my (and my daughter's and her guinea pigs') new quarantine hero!
Lori Patterson 4 years ago
I love this! I wish Teresa would paint these bigger. I'd buy some and they'd make me happy every time I walked through my living room. Brilliant!!
Pie Friendly 4 years ago
Is the guinea pig adverse to contemporary art? Abstract? Sculpture? Prints? I think he/she needs to broaden his/her interests ...
Pam Bowyer 4 years ago
I love this so very much! Both on a guinea pig level, and an art history level. ❤️
Ellen Hayward 4 years ago
Are you selling copies of your prints! The Freida Kahlo one is amazing!
Lisa Cheesmond 4 years ago
Very cute. To the people who criticize the fact the piggy is alone. I have at times had single guineas, after the loss of their friend., some will not bond with another Guinea. Some will. Some will live as neighbours but not together. I have just adopted a single piggy from a very, very well run British Cavy Rescue centre. She was gvenn to them as she would not get along with the owner's other pigs. The rescue tried her with many of the group's in the rescue even with a nutered male. The rescue has a high succeess rate bonding adult pigs.But she just will not tolerate another Guinea pig.
Tiny Dynamine 4 years ago
Guinea pigs should not be alone. Do as Scruffy says. It makes what you've done irrelevant as you are not thinking of your pet first.
April Koonce 4 years ago
If you would all ease up on the creator! She clearly loves Maisie & has for 2 years. She said she volunteers at a shelter, she adopted didn't purchase and clearly didn't leave the pig at school to fend for herself. She has roam time obvi so leave her be. I have a bonded pair of boys & my one only tolerates the younger one cuz i beg him to. I have contemplated splitting them up but the younger one squeals when his big brother is gone for too long. If a single cavy is an only pet and especially during these times is getting plenty of attention, leave it be. I've had buns & pigs for over 20 years & at times have had singles as well as pairs. I currently have 2 unbounded living in separate rooms. Just as some children are ok having siblings & some are fine being only's, our pets are the same. Each one has a unique personality and therefore, unique needs. Don't always jump to judge something that isn't the feelings of certain rescues or agencies. Thanks for sharing The Piggenheim & Maisie
littlesaresare 4 years ago
There's a pretty big difference between being an only child and being isolated in a cage your entire life with the only social interaction you get being giants picking you up. The idea of a guinea pig who wants to be alone is a concept made by humans to justify *their* choices. 99.9% of the time an aggressive pig doesn't have enough room, the right friend, or other stressors are involved.
Load More Replies... Nadja Kiiskinen 4 years ago
A fine arts museum for guinea pigs? Cool! But a single guinea pig living alone in a goddamn school classroom? NOT COOL. Please, check your facts about guinea pigs. 1. Guinea pigs are NOT to be kept alone, they are herd animals. 2. It's not a great idea to keep guinea pigs in a classroom anyway, but if you do, there need to be two of them, and they probably need more space than you afford in the classroom.. So, not recommendable at all. 3. Guinea pigs are not really low maintenance. If you think they are, you're most likely mistreating them. The worst part of keeping a lone guinea pig as classroom pet is that you are giving a really bad example to the kids and teaching them to mistreat animals and ignore their needs. This is one of the major reasons why there are so many guinea pigs in need of rescue.
Birgit Schmidt 4 years ago
In some European countries they have very good animal laws. In Switzerland it would not be allowed to keep just one animal of the breed. So please have a neutered man beside or another girl - whatever your own guinea pig is......
Angela S 4 years ago
Guinea Pigs totally live in the wild!! Brazilian and Montane Guinea Pigs are still going in South America! Domesticated Guinean pigs are not wild. https://www.livescience.com/50658-guinea-pig-facts.html
(((Sherlocat))) she/her 4 years ago
I believe guinea pigs are bred as food livestock in South and Central America?
Load More Replies... The Emerald Triangle 4 years ago
Can that guinea pig even see the art? It looks like the rest of us who don't know what to do without our hair dresser/barber.
Rhiannon C 4 years ago
The message in "The Treachery of Vegetables" translates to: It is not a carrot.
Margaret Long 4 years ago
I love this. It demonstrates the bond that a little furry friend can have with his/her human. I have a twelve YO rabbit,. I rescued him at about 8 weeks old and circumstances dictated that he couldn’t have a lagomorph friend. It’s not ideal. We - me and my four pawed boss - are bonded. Thank you for rescuing Maisie. I ask the critics out there, should I not have rescued my funny little friend? He had a coyote future otherwise. Loves to you and your sweet cavy. And to your BF,, of course.
Charlotte Ireland 4 years ago
It was imaginative and adorable. Maybe you should have? ..... NO, NOTHING! Some people cannot appreciate things as they are offered and they HAVE to hear their own voice and try to change you & your pet's life according to their own world view. She looks like a very lucky guinea pig! My only suggestion is the addition of a new painting from Jackson Pollack.
Dorothy Parker 4 years ago
Cute art, darling and expressive pig. I hope the artist's boyfriend makes a quick and complete recovery.
//Cassizu// 4 years ago
Hello! I think this is a really cute idea, but Maisie would really benefit from a guinea pig companion. It is a myth that they can live on their own if you give them enough attention, or that they will bond with you better if they are kept alone. Actually, they will bond with the human much easier if they are kept with another piggie! Living together gives them a sense of herd safety. You could make her life a lot better if you give her a piggy friend.
Debbie Grigasy 4 years ago
I hope my comment posted, if not, I wondered if your cavy is outgoing? My girls are a lot shy.
Debbie Grigasy 4 years ago
I LOVE it! You’re most creative to say the least. I hope I can ask.. your cavy seems outgoing ... is she shy with you?
Christina Uhlir 4 years ago (edited)
Just like with the gallery for parakeets, pictures are great, the fine art reproductions are "indistinguishable" from the originals, however, I think that Maisie's objective was to find out if the displays are food; she might be more interested in culinary art. On the serious note, I wish your boyfriend will recover and come home from hospital. P.S. where did you find 19 six-year-old kiddies? (schools are closed, I assume).
Patricia Lewis 4 years ago
Thank you for brightening the world with this. It's delightful and your guinea pig is adorable!
Shelly Mock 4 years ago
Great article and truly inspiring. I may not have a Guinea pig, but I do have cats and highly creative children who now want to make an art meow-seum. (Ok, that pun was really bad) Best wishes.
Nancy Chenier 4 years ago
You are my (and my daughter's and her guinea pigs') new quarantine hero!
Lori Patterson 4 years ago
I love this! I wish Teresa would paint these bigger. I'd buy some and they'd make me happy every time I walked through my living room. Brilliant!!
Pie Friendly 4 years ago
Is the guinea pig adverse to contemporary art? Abstract? Sculpture? Prints? I think he/she needs to broaden his/her interests ...
Pam Bowyer 4 years ago
I love this so very much! Both on a guinea pig level, and an art history level. ❤️
Ellen Hayward 4 years ago
Are you selling copies of your prints! The Freida Kahlo one is amazing!
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