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This group is defined by animal imagery that is alternately anthropomorphic, humorous, satirical, and somber. Human behavior is frequently portrayed by animals, such as those characters of folklore and mythology or the daily comic strip. A greedy person is likened to a hog, and in the case of Karen Breschi's Pink Piggy, this trait can apply as a social critique of corporate America. Animals also assume human posture, such as Arthur Gonzales' rabbit that holds clay tablets like a sage. Animals have their own personalities, as anyone with a pet knows. Both Susannah Israel and Roberta Laidman have captured the expressive nature of dogs. Israel has accomplished this with her gestural use of the material, and Laidman's visible coil-building technique emphasizes the squatness of the bulldog breed. Kristen Hoffman captures the comical features of animal behavior in The Joke. Other artists exploit the nature of the beast for ironic purpose, like Mark Burns' teapot with its bee-sting spout or George Hanson's giant insect on manure. A more somber approach is seen in Ronna Neuenschwander's work of zebra, horse, and elephant hides. This herd reflects on the vanishing wildlife of American and African plains. Her poignant rendering of the animals as stick figures suggests an attempt at re-animation. Similarly, Jean-Pierre Larocque's horse is symbolic of extinction. Stone-like, it recalls the architectural remains of a dead civilization.
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