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"The work of Stephen Huneck is like laughter; enriching to life and uplifting to the soul". Boston Magazine


The Dog Chapel

 
Several years ago, I became seriously ill. It came out of the blue - Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome, an often fatal illness. I was in a coma for two months, and the doctors gave me little chance of survival. My wife Gwen refused to believe that I was not going to make it. They were very concerned for her. She slept on the floor of the hospital to be close to me at night, and spoke to me while I was in the coma. This made a deep impression on the doctors and nurses.
The Dog Chapel and Stephen Huneck Gallery on Dog Mountain in St. Johnsbury, Vermont.
Once the doctors told her I was passing away and doubted I would make it through the night. They told her they were very sorry and had tried everything. Well, that night I did stop living for about five minutes. I had a profound experience. I came out of the coma about two weeks later, to everyone's surprise, except Gwen's.

I had an amazingly strong recovery - I was 45 years old and had to learn to walk again (quite a humbling experience). But I must say the near-death experience, combined with what my wife taught me about love, and the appreciation I felt toward the most basic things we take for granted all had a profound effect on me. As an artist, I share the feelings I have with others through my art.

 
The Dog Chapel in St. Johnsbury, Vermont atop Dog Mountain

One day, not long after I was back home with my wife and three dogs, a wild idea just popped into my mind (a frequent thing, but after several weeks had gone by, this one was still there). I have found that in the case of a wild idea popping into my mind, then building a sort of nest of supporting ideas, I should give it some serious thought. The more I thought about it, the more I realized it was something I simply had to do.

I wanted to build a chapel, one that celebrated the spiritual bond we have with our dogs, and that would be open to dogs and people. People of any faith or belief system.

I built that chapel on Dog Mountain, our mountain-top farm in St. Johnsbury. I have styled it in the manner of a small village church built in Vermont around 1820. It is important to me that the chapel looks like it belongs with its setting of rolling mountains and pasture. The white steeple points up to the heavens, and on the top is a Lab with wings that turns in the wind and proclaims this place has a special affinity with dogs.


As you walk inside the chapel you will be bathed in the light of my stain glass windows. Dog carvings surround you, music plays, all reaffirming the connection between art, nature, and spirituality. I look at this chapel as the largest artwork of my life, and my most personal. It is my desire to make this a place both magical and transforming.

When you visit us, walk the land and enjoy the spectacular views yourself. This is a very private spot. Being on the end of a dead-end road where all land on both sides of the road are part of Dog Mountain. The 400 acre mountain-top farm is rich with wild life and trout filled ponds.

The sculpture garden in front of the chapel is wonderful to exhibit my artwork in such a breathtaking setting. I have created a beautiful light-filled gallery, where of course, dogs are always welcome.

There will always be a good supply of treats on hand, a small gesture to thank dogs for all they give us and for connecting us to nature, something that is getting more difficult in our high tech, paved over world.

Everyone is welcome at Dog Mountain, but it is my hope that dog owners will bring their dogs with them. It is a wonderful experience to go on a walk with your dog through an old forest, you will see how the dog becomes fully alert, your guide and protector. There they have no doubt who is the leader.