Cat Art Show 4, Los Angeles, Vernissage © Cat Art Show
In downtown Los Angeles, hundreds of cat lovers turned out for the opening of Cat Art Show, an exhibition featuring works inspired by the love of cats.
When Shannon Leigh first went to the event three years ago, she was "pleasantly surprised" by the level of artistic quality present. "Like, this is a real art show about cats," she said. Susan Michals, the curator and founder of Cat Art Show, is offended when people dismiss it as a specialized event for "spinsters". This isn't serious," she scoffed. The gallery featured over 140 works of art. From a "famous cat history" lecture to Vanessa Burgundy's cat-themed burlesque show, this show's 11-day run included many cat-themed events.
There was "a misrepresentation" of what it was like to be a cat lady, Michals said. Pop culture's love of cats and emerging artists' work inspired her to put together a collection. In 2014, the former journalist turned cat aficionado launched the show. As an example, Rose Freymuth-Frazier selected a piece called "Divine Intervention," which depicts the white fluffy cat using its paw to restrain Donald Trump's plush toy. Others "are simply an interpretation of our beloved," as Michals puts it.
Additionally, the majority of people in attendance at the opening night event are huge fans of cats. To paraphrase Amy Douan, "everyone should have at least two cats," as she said while wearing a pink cat-printed dress. Douan has four of them and plans to buy more if her apartment can accommodate them.
Our feline friends are dear to the hearts of the artists as well. For last year's Cat Art Show, Casey Weldon chose not to participate because his solo show in New York was entirely cat-themed. He referred to cats as the "ultimate ironic humor symbol" "Making creepy stuff and putting a cat on it is a lot of fun," he said. Instead of sentimental messages, the cat-themed Valentines in his collection feature lyrics from '80s rock songs.
Artist Scarlett River has a "heavily influenced cat portfolio," which she said was inspired by her cat, Chicken Lady, who wore a sad clown costume in her painting. "Cats are the most fascinating, wonderful creatures," she says, lamenting how the general public perceives them. River also insisted that they are more sensitive to human emotions such as jealousy than other animals.
History and photographer Dr. Paul Koudounaris believe that cats are "a muse in a way that other animals cannot." Koudounaris described cats as "enigmatic" and "sensual," noting that the pets were regarded as "necessary equipment for an artistic personality" by poets of the 19th century.
According to Michals, "there's a certain beauty in the way they jump or curl up," cats have an inherently aesthetic form. "Mewcifer," Koudounaris' portrait for Cat Art Show, is one of a series of images showing his cat Koudounaris in various costumes. As part of his ongoing "experiment in interspecies communication," he's also penning a book from the viewpoint of his cat, which he describes as "more than just a photo series."
When asked how he got his cat to dress up and take pictures in a costume, Koudounaris said, "It became a game where she realized she could please me." "She can tell what's working and what isn't just by the way my body moves or my posture."
In addition to the art show, Michals founded CatCon, a cat-themed convention aimed at creating a virtual community for cat lovers. Cats tend to be solitary creatures, so most cat owners meet up on social media to form bonds. "You've come together for your love of animals," she said at gatherings like this.
Melissa Aaron, a professor and cat lover, says meeting other cat lovers is just for fun.
CAT ART SHOW 4: A NEW BEGINNING debuts Thursday, October 14, 2021. The exhibition will showcase 70+ artists from 16 countries.
LOCATION: The Golden Pagoda, (formerly Hop Louie) 950 Mei Ling Way, 2nd Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90012, USA
Selena Mattei