About Michael

There was a long series of events leading up to my enrollment in the graduate program at the Academy of Art University. I sometimes stop to wonder where I would be now if I’d missed just one of those steps along the way because my experience there has helped to define who I am as a person. I didn’t know I was a photographer and I certainly didn’t know I was an artist. January 2004 I bought a camera and became a photographer. With the help of the faculty and students at the Academy of Art University, I became an artist.

I left my first career as a cancer research technician after eight years to become a homemaker. Although I didn’t realize it at the time I bought my first camera, I was searching for a creative outlet in my life and I was hooked on photography from the start. A short year later I came across an advertisement for the Academy of Art University in a magazine and enrolled as a personal enrichment student. I thoroughly enjoyed my first classes which led me to enroll in the graduate program. My excitement for art and photography has grown at each step along the way.

Michael Kloth giving a lecture on Shelter Cats and responsible animal stewardship at Washington State University

I’ve been an animal lover for as long as I can remember. As I move through life I’ve come to realize that it is not enough for me to enjoy their company, but rather that I feel compelled to share my time and experience being an advocate for the homeless ones. I see that while people love their cats and dogs, they continue to make decisions that combine to condemn millions of them to death every year and I want to be a voice for change.

Each week I photograph adoptable animals at our local adoption agencies. My experience has been that quality photography is the first step in marketing these furry works of art to potential adopters. It is my hope that I can use these local animals as a voice for the millions of homeless animals nation and worldwide. My debut book Shelter Cats was created as a first step toward reaching that audience.

Having earned my Master of Fine Arts degree, I spend a portion of my time giving back to the art community through teaching. I am currently an Adjunct Professor of Fine Arts at the Washington State University Tri-Cities campus and am working one-on-one with graduate students at the Academy of Art University.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Three’s the limit

Spring, Maebe and Lyle during their first joint session

Spring, Maebe and Lyle the first time I photographed them all together.

If you saw my post on Thursday, you know that Lyle’s put his paw down and that we are at the limit of three dogs. I think three is actually a good number (most days at least) because I can walk them all myself while still maintaining my ability to be a good neighbor.

Taken probably less than five minutes after meeting Maebe

Maebe working her way into Robin's heart at my second session with her.

I’m not really one for spending a lot of time in the past. I think this is mostly a result of being chronically busy rather than anything else but because of it, and among other things, I rarely take the time to look through old photographs. It’s a shame really because when I do take the time, I’m reminded of a lot of happy memories. Anyway, today I was browsing through some old photographs and came across my very first photos of Maebe. As mentioned, she and Spring were both brought into our pack because I first spent time photographing them for the Woodford Humane Society and ultimately couldn’t say no.

Maebe wasn’t Maebe back then but was known as Rasha the 6 year old beagle mix. The first time I met Maebe, I was pretty sure that Robin would love her so when she was still at the humane society two weeks later, I brought Robin to help me with my next session. At first we took her home as a foster dog. We called her Maebe saying that it reflected her uncertain status in our pack and well, because we were watching Arrested Development at the time. Our very first walk with her, Spring and Lyle we walked past some neighbors that we rarely saw and when they asked about Maebe, I told them she was a foster dog and was available for adoption. No sooner were we out of earshot when Robin told me that Maebe was most certainly not available for them to adopt and I filled out the adoption paperwork on my very next visit.

Spring is the one and only humane society animal that has been so comfortable with me that has fallen asleep during our session.

Spring showing her vulnerable side for our second session. She was pulling out all of the stops trying to worm her way into my heart.

Spring’s story is a little different. I first met Spring (then Samantha) in May 2006 and if you’ve known me for any length of time, you’ll know that we were doing everything that we could to fight Little Bit’s lymphoma. Little Bit was one of those one in a million kind of dogs and in any case, we certainly were not going to bring a new dog into the home to potentially stress out LB. Spring was a little shaggy and super skinny back then but was quickly adopted. After eating three plastic crates in three months, Spring was back at the humane society. By August we knew Little Bit didn’t have very long left and were pretty much devastated. LB passed away at the end of the month and we didn’t want a new dog, we wanted Little Bit back. Clearly Lyle felt the same way because he was very obviously grieving (lots of moping, barely eating, etc). By this time, Spring was back at the humane society and she very clearly remembered me. In retrospect, I think she knew from the very first day she met me that she’d found her new home but this time she made it her mission to make sure that I was the one that took her home. We would not have adopted Spring if Lyle hadn’t so clearly needed a friend but sometimes things happen for a reason and she’s been a part of our pack for four years now.