Performance Artist Laurie Anderson Opens Up on Late Husband Lou Reed, Love for Dogs

EAST HAMPTON, NY — Everywhere that world-renowned performance artist Laurie Anderson looks in East Hampton, there are vivid memories of her husband, the late musician Lou Reed, who passed away in 2013.

But despite the pain of having to move forward without him, Anderson, an avant garde artist, writer, composer and musician, has found strength in their great love story —and in her fierce devotion to animals, including her beloved dog Lolabelle who died in 2011.

Anderson loves her four-foot friend so much that she's even created a show just her fans — and their dogs. She's bringing a unique performance, a Concert For Dogs, to LongHouse Reserve on August 13, with a share of the proceeds going to the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons.

Anderson, who said guests can attend the concert even without a dog, first offered a performance of the show in Sydney, Australia, in 2010.

“It is a wonderful experience to be with people and dogs and music. The dogs like the music and pay attention,” said Anderson, who loved her own dog Lolabelle so much that she created a documentary, Heart of A Dog, about the pup.

A screening of the documentary will take place at Guild Hall in East Hampton on August 11; the film has aired on HBO, as well.

The documentary, however, isn’t only about Lolabelle — it's a beautiful tribute to her husband, who died at their home in East Hampton.

“Everything I do is a love letter to him. He was a remarkable man,” said Anderson.

"Life is very different without him everywhere. The whole world is filled with memories of him. Makes me very happy to remember, but he was not nostalgic," she said, of her soul mate.

“He was all about the future and how do we make the world better, how do we make it more beautiful,” she said. “He really appreciated the beauty in nature and in music.”

Just last week, a celebration for Reed was held at Lincoln Center in New York City, she said. "It was so beautiful."

As she traverses a new path without Reed, Anderson finds strength and purpose in creating.

She's inspired, too, by her love for animals: The upcoming concert was composed as a fun event for dogs and their human friends, she said, adding that much can be learned from canine companions.

“Dogs are listening. They are curious and I love that about them. They also have the skill of empathy. I like to watch them and wonder how can I be more like them. They are all ears and all eyes as they watch,” she said. “In the end, dogs like us and we like them, but we are their food supply. "

With a share of the proceeds from the Concert for Dogs going to ARF, Anderson said she's happy to support the not-for-profit. “ARF is an organization that pays attention to the welfare of animals and I’m interested in that.”

But the concept of pairing dogs and music isn’t the only creative collaboration Anderson is focused upon. The ever-cutting-edge artist has another idea brewing: “I'm also thinking about a symphony for mosquitos; I think they’d really like it.

For more information on Anderson's Concert For Dogs, click here.