Vermont Artist Stephen Huneck, RIP

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Vermont artist Stephen Huneck, renowned for his colorful dog art, has died.

From an article posted today on the Burlington Free Press website:

The 60-year-old St. Johnsbury artist died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Thursday, in Littleton, N.H.

His wife says he’d been despondent after being forced to lay off employees at his Dog Mountain studio and dog chapel.

We here at Seven Days were very sorry to hear the news. Back in March, videographer Eva Sollberger filmed Huneck for an episode of "Stuck in Vermont." We're reposting it here now.

In the video, Huneck explains how he became an artist after suffering a near-death experience.

"I got snowed in, and I carved this [dog] angel, and I was so high on doing it, and I felt such joy... And I just started carving like crazy. He sold all of them within a couple weeks, and I just got this big check. And I just said, 'this is it.' I'm not doing anything else... So it was an amazing ride."

Comments

[Molly]

This is such sad, awful news. There are countless thousands of animals - not just dogs - whose lives were saved and improved thanks to Mr. Huneck. He didn't just donate money to the HSCC, he would donate pieces of art for every auction they had and would give money and auction/raffle items to other animal welfare organizations in the area like Green Mountain Pug Rescue.

I hope that even in the depths of the despair that took him he knew how many people loved him and considered him not just a great artist but a great person.

This just breaks my heart. I hope that those close to him are finding comfort in this awful time.

[Morgana]

I am so deeply saddened by this loss...the dogs and cats and birds and other animals at Welcome Home Sanctuary Inc. are too...Stephen's work has lit up our lives since the beginning...now he is with all the Beloveds who have gone before at the Rainbow Bridge. Rest easy, dear Stephen...you will never be forgotten, your star will shine forever.