Mention William Wegman and most people are going to think "dogs." Not the cute images that flow into photo contests in numbers second only to baby pictures, but photographs of his famed Weimaraners, seemingly held in their various unlikely situations through a combination of inherent curiosity and tolerance toward their human.

William Wegman, courtesy of Polaroid Collection "Fay and Andrea, 1987" from "It's a Dog's Life: Photographs by William Wegman." Click photo for larger image. 'It's a Dog's Life: Photographs by William Wegman' Where: Silver Eye Center for Photography, 1015 E. Carson St., South Side. With: Keith Sharp and Gayle Varre exhibit in the Members' Gallery. When: Noon to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and until 9 p.m. Thursdays. Admission: Free; 412-431-1810 or www.silvereye.org.

Wegman is also internationally known as a seminal figure in art video, and a traveling retrospective of his work in various media, including painting, premiered at The Brooklyn Museum in March.

But the unflappable Weimaraners are what's being celebrated in the 28 large-format color prints of "It's a Dog's Life: Photographs by William Wegman from the Polaroid Collection" at Silver Eye Center for Photography.

Wegman -- along with artists of the stature of Chuck Close, Lucas Samaras and Andy Warhol -- was invited by Polaroid in 1979 to experiment with the then-new 20-by-24-inch camera. Weighing 235 pounds and standing 5 feet high, the camera produces one-of-a-kind images with the characteristic, unfinished and chichi "Polaroid edge."

The camera and the dogs, with their deadpan compliance, were a perfect match.

The show is a mix of projects ranging from 1979-98. Mostly humorous, the photographs appeal to children and adults alike.

Carnegie Museum of Art exhibited "Fay's Fairy Tales: William Wegman's 'Cinderella' and 'Little Red Riding Hood' " in 1994. Those images also appear as popular children's books.

Photographs show range from the pure Wegman of "Rolleramer" -- dog on skates -- to the slightly creepy, costumed "Basketry" figures, which sport a pair of human arms. The atypical, google-eyed "Al, II" is part of "Strange but True," an exhibition inspired by vintage sideshow banners.

Crispness of detail is characteristic of the 20-by-24-inch camera, and it adds to the formal qualities of the works, as with the representation of the sheen and texture of "Four Front" fur.

Although at times one might wonder whether the animals are in distress, Wegman is said to be very close to his dogs.

That rings true in a memorable diptych of Man Ray -- Wegman's first dog, named after the great Surrealist -- made in 1982, the year of the dog's death, his graying coat evidence of the end of life but also adding to the dignity captured in the photograph.

A photograph by Wegman that will be auctioned for the benefit of Animal Friends at their Saturday gala is also displayed (www.animal-friends.org), and Silver Eye is collecting cans of dog (and cat) food for Animal Friends during the exhibition's run. Donors are eligible to enter a drawing for a Wegman book.

"Dog's Life" continues through Nov. 4 at 1015 E. Carson St., South Side. Keith Sharp and Gayle Varre exhibit in the Members' Gallery. Hours are noon to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and until 9 p.m. Thursdays. Admission is free; 412-431-1810 or www.silvereye.org.

NYC reception

Pittsburgh artist Diane Samuels' "Mapping Sampsonia," which was exhibited recently at the Mattress Factory, opens Oct. 28 at the Kim Foster Gallery, 529 W. 20th St., New York (through Dec. 9; www.kimfostergallery.com).

Samuels just completed a major commission for Brown University in Providence. Her "Lines of Sight," which addresses commonalities of art and science, is installed in an elevated glass pedestrian bridge that connects sections of the new Sidney E. Frank Hall for Life Sciences, dedicated Oct. 6.

Tiffany events

Carnegie Museum of Art has scheduled some unusual events to complement their current exhibition, "Louis Comfort Tiffany: Artist for the Ages," including bus tours to local Tiffany sites and workshop collaborations with the Pittsburgh Glass Center. Events are at the museum unless noted. Highlights are:

Stained glass workshops -- Sketch at the Carnegie and work at the Glass Center; one-day sessions Oct. 21 or Nov. 11, four-day session begins tonight and ends Nov. 8 (fee).

Oct. 28 -- Bus trip to Calvary United Methodist Church, North Side, and Stained Glass Resources, commentary by stained glass expert Rev. Tom Funk and restorer Kirk Weaver (fee).

Oct. 29 -- 1 p.m., Wendy Kaplan, curator of decorative arts, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and author of "Art That Is Life: The Arts and Crafts Movement in America, 1875-1920," lectures on "Women of the Arts and Crafts Movement in America."

Nov. 4 -- 1 p.m., Curator, writer and art historian Gabriel Weisberg explores the relationship between artist and gallery owner in his lecture "Lighting Up: Louis Tiffany and Siegfried Bing, Entrepreneurs in Glass."

Nov. 4-5 -- Glass mosaic class at the museum (fee).

Nov. 16 -- Bus trip to Third Presbyterian Church, Shadyside, and Chatham College; commentary by Chatham faculty member Elisabeth Roark on Pittsburgh Tiffany works (fee).

Hot shop glassmaking -- Dec. 2-3 with Rodman Gilder Miller, Seattle glass artist and Tiffany's great-grandson, at the Carnegie and Glass Center. Some glassblowing experience required (fee).

Dec. 9 -- Bus trip to St. John's Episcopal Church, Franklin, and Wendell August Forge (fee).

Also planned are drop-in family activities on weekends and Nov. 24, Saturday children's art classes and daily free exhibition tours. Information: 412-622-3131 or www.cmoa.org.