‘Ginger’ brings colorful message of hope to Yountville Art Walk
A larger-than-life labradoodle has moved to town at the “Y” of Washington and Yount streets, bringing a colorful new message of optimism to the heart of Yountville.
“Ginger… Don’t Stop Believing,” created by husband-and-wife artists Elizabeth Laul Healey and Duffy Healey, was installed on Aug. 24 as part of the Yountville Art Walk. The sculpture replaced “Rocky,” another of the couple’s Positivity Watch Dogs, after it was sold.
Standing approximately 6 feet, 8 inches tall and weighing close to 200 pounds, Ginger makes an immediate impression.
“She rolled in just before 11 a.m. on Monday, and what was a fairly simple installation lasted over an hour because many residents and visitors came by with big smiles and to meet Elizabeth,” said Ronda Schaer, chair of the Yountville Arts Commission.
“Ginger is joyful, colorful and full of personality, and people can’t seem to walk by without stopping to smile and take a photo,” Schaer said. “That’s exactly what we hope the Art Walk can do: surprise people, engage them and simply make them happy.”
Elizabeth Laul Healey had already developed Ginger’s preliminary form and selected the sculpture’s message when she learned that Rocky had sold.
“I worked like mad to finish her specifically for Yountville,” she said. “I figured she would be perfect there, and luckily the town Arts Commission agreed.”
Ginger was named for one of the artist’s best friends, who also has a labradoodle. The friend’s name and the dog sculpture’s warm coloring helped inspire the choice.
The sculpture is covered with tiles, gemstones, glass, mirrors and found objects arranged in what the artist calls “circles of life.” A single watch on Ginger’s collar is set to 11:11, which Healey describes as a time associated with peace and making wishes or prayers for people in need.
The sculpture’s vibrant color reminded Cynthia Kapjian of Yountville’s Hospitality Hounds of another Bay Area landmark.
“She’s especially striking because of her beautiful color. It reminds me of the Golden Gate Bridge,” Kapjian said. “But it’s her message that makes her truly special: ‘Don’t Stop Believing.’ That message of positivity is at the heart of what Hospitality Hounds is all about.”
Ginger is the newest member of Hospitality Hounds, an initiative that celebrates Yountville’s dog-friendly character with pups that welcome visitors to town. Kapjian said that the Hospitality Hounds program was created to take Yountville’s welcoming spirit a step further. Like Rocky, she will soon have her own Hospitality Hound trading card.
“When someone encounters a Hospitality Hound, we hope they experience more than just a cute dog,” she said. “We hope they feel welcomed into our community. Maybe they’re missing their own dog while traveling, maybe they need a little moment of happiness, or maybe they simply stop to say hello and leave with a smile.”
“The Watch Dogs are a wonderful reflection of what makes Yountville special,” Kapjian said. “They bring together art, hospitality, community and, of course, our love of dogs. Ginger is at the center of town. She is both watchful and welcoming. She is also very photogenic.”
For Healey, the Positivity Watch Dogs are the culmination of nearly three decades as a professional artist.
She began selling paintings in 1997 and made her first dog sculpture in 2007. She initially created life-size versions of breeds ranging from chihuahuas and Labrador retrievers to bulldogs and sold them through a gallery in Laguna Beach, where she grew up.
The sculptures were originally called Watch Dogs because Healey incorporated numerous wristwatches into each piece. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she expanded both their size and their purpose.
“I decided people needed something positive to think about, so I started making the huge dog sculptures over 8 feet tall,” she said. “They were an instant hit, so since then I’ve concentrated on making large sculptures for public consumption.”
The optimistic messages are also rooted in Healey’s early career. In her 20s, she worked for motivational speaker Tony Robbins, an experience she said left her with a lasting appreciation for positive thinking.
“Right now, with the state of our country and the world, I think most of us could agree that it’s nice to have positive messaging for a change,” she said.
Healey has sold more than 250 sculptures, including more than 200 dogs. Her work has appeared in galleries, art fairs, botanical gardens and public spaces across the country and in Mexico.
Duffy Healey spent much of his career as a publisher but assisted his wife for nearly 20 years by applying fiberglass and grout, and helping market and sell her work. Two years ago, he became a full-time artist and the two now create their large public sculptures together.
Their process begins with an image of a dog. Some clients provide photographs of their own pets to be memorialized in custom sculptures. Elizabeth carves the form from foam, and Duffy coats it in fiberglass to make it waterproof and weather-resistant. Elizabeth then applies the decorative materials before Duffy grouts and cleans the finished sculpture. The foam core makes the dogs lighter and easier to transport than their size might suggest.
The Healeys maintain their primary studio in Wilson, North Carolina, and a smaller studio in Escondido, near San Diego where they generally create smaller dogs.
The couple’s connection to Yountville began after they delivered a custom sculpture to a client in Healdsburg. A friend connected them with a contact in Yountville, who referred them to the town’s public art program. “We are fortunate to be among a lot of other talented artists in Yountville,” Healey said.
Ginger is one of more than 30 sculptures displayed as part of the Yountville Art Walk. Most are available for purchase under two-year leases. If a sculpture sells before its lease expires, the artist provides a replacement.
If Ginger is sold, a portion of the proceeds would benefit Yountville Arts. As with Rocky, the Healeys have agreed to replace her with another Positivity Watch Dog if she sells before the end of the lease.
“We hope she finds a great permanent home,” Healey said.
The artist said she continues to hear from people who connected with Rocky and his message, “Never Give Up.” Ginger’s “Don’t Stop Believing” has already prompted references to both the San Francisco Giants baseball team and the Journey song of the same name.
“I love how different sayings resonate with different people,” Healey said. “We just want to make people happy and make them smile. That’s all that matters to me.”
If Ginger could speak to the people passing through Yountville, Healey imagines she would offer an enthusiastic greeting and comfort anyone who needed it. “She’s an easygoing dog, no walking or vet bills or picking up after her,” Healey said. “She’s available for adoption, so don’t be shy.”
Kapjian said Ginger’s message captures the spirit behind the Hospitality Hounds.
“Hospitality can be very simple,” she said. “Make someone feel welcome, give them a reason to smile and never stop believing in the power of a little happiness.”
