Work by Dmitry Said Chamy.
"The smallest feline is a masterpiece." — Leonardo da Vinci
Pondering shows connections to art and humanity, I realized that cats, like artists, need plenty of quiet alone time, taking in their environment from above the fray. It’s no wonder a human sitting quietly at their easel is a good perch for an equally thoughtful feline. Mythology claimed that cats were the mediators between our realm and the spiritual realm. Perhaps an artist accessing their higher self would benefit from a feline thread between the two worlds.
Bridge Red Studios/Project Space is the cool cat and bedrock for an important core of Miami’s working artists. BRS/PS turns its sharply-tuned eye to the plight of our felines with the latest offering “CATS! The Exhibition” located in its North Miami project space. The gallery walls focus on our feline companions with 50 percent of the proceeds of the sale of art going directly to the Humane Society of Greater Miami, a no-kill shelter dedicated to rescuing and caring for animals.
A selection of South Florida artists have interpreted their relationships with cats in these presentations.
At left, work by artist Jen Clay; at right, Kristen Thiele.
Kristen Thiele operates and manages the ten Bridge Red studios along with her father, Robert Thiele, who purchased the building 16 years ago. Populated with a close “family” of rock-solid Miami artists in the studio spaces, Kristen and Robert are both successful, hard-working, well regarded artists. Lou Anne Colodny, first director of MOCA has converted her studio into an exhibition space located below Bridge Red's Project Space, called Under the Bridge.
I had a few questions for william cordova (yes, all lower case), curator of the concurrent Flag exhibition made up of artists that fly their flags above the building. cordova also is a studio participant in the CATS! show.
It was his suggestion for a cat show and I wanted to know what kick-started the idea?
Harumi Abe.
“The misunderstanding of cats as a domestic animal has been grossly perpetuated and stereotyped in popular culture," said cordova. "Domestic cats are actually therapeutic for humans. They lower stress and anxiety, are great company, raise the immune system and are independent. A cat themed art exhibition would bring attention in breaking certain general public stereotypes by sharing diverse works by established South Florida artists and their insights into the world of cats.”
cordova said when he was a child that cats gravitated to him and he to them.
“Cats are very independent but feel when humans have need for company. Today, I rescue cats and try to provide shelter for them. Humans sometimes forget how to be compassionate. But its these small steps that keep us grounded and more understanding of one another,” he said.
Kristen Thiele knows her way around the feline sensibility as well. I needed details. How many cats does she share her life with?
“ . . . At the building we have a solid core of cat lovers. Both Yanira (Collado, a fellow artist) and william take care of the feral cats outside. Yanira has many of her own. I have lived with cats most of my life and currently have two, Velcro and Kiki, and another, a foster, Mr. Meow,” she said.
And what about the cats as a conduit to access her creative self.
“Velcro sits on my lap while I paint, every day and for the entire duration. It's such a part of my working routine, that I would feel something was missing if he wasn't there. He definitely helps me to center and get into a good place when I work,” said the artist.
She said she found the Miami arts community to be welcoming of the synergistic quest for animal welfare.
“Almost all agreed to participate," according to Thiele. "Some had work that included cats as part of the composition, while others made work specifically for the show. The artists have all been very supportive of the idea.”
Left, work by Regina Jestrow and, at right, Lou Anne Colodny's contributions to "CATS!"
We talked about the pieces that she chose for the show.
“. . .(They) are from a series of work I started when I was in Chicago and continued in my move back to Miami in the 2000s . . . I had collected a lot of old discarded windows from around town (Chicago) and worked on the back of the glass. The series consisted of a cat and a dog, characters that went through several incarnations. Initially the dog was the foil for the cat. The latter works, ‘The Masterpieces,’ riffed on paintings from Art History. I have two in the show; ‘Mona Lisa’ and ‘Black Magic’ (Magritte).”
My mind then swerved to how Jazz men were referred to as “Cool Cats.” As I noodled around on the internet looking for the meaning, one suggestion was the similarity to a cat: quick on his feet, resourceful, but with a languid, slightly aloof quality.
Connection comes across as a central topic in this exhibition . . . whether it’s with another sentient being, or the mind of a working creator, or your own thoughts and ideas at the time.
More thinking, fewer mindless reactions might be worth a try in our modern world of share anything, anytime. Galleries offering up selections that provoke a moment of contemplation may benefit by more space in our crazed calendars.
Cats are deeper beings than merely spending waking moments worrying about how fancy their food dish is, and so are we. With a theme such as cats, it’s interesting to take in each artist’s sensibilities, not only the way they interpret the directive, but unique characteristics bubble up in the method used in tackling the task.
We really are all different little snowflakes, aren’t we? Not prone to reacting similarly, our intellect and emotions go off in very separate directions which can either get us all in trouble or contribute to a diversity of new ideas working in tandem.
I welcome a chance to see what Bridge Red is up to from exhibit to exhibit. The people, the ambience, the lack of empty content provide a solid ground to stop for a moment.
BRS/PS celebrates what Miami brings to the party before Art Week rolls over town in a few months. It’s time to find our creative foundation, honor unique qualities that fall from our palm trees and wash up on aqua shores.
WHAT: “Cats! The Exhibition”
WHEN: Opening reception, 4 to 6 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 28. Show runs through Nov. 9.
WHERE: Bridge Red Studios, 12425 NE 13 Ave., North Miami
INFO: (305) 978-4856 and www.bridgeredstudios.com/
