Painter Nuni Lee poses in front of an oversized work with one of her five cats.
Photo provided
Artists Ana Meza and Nuni Lee perhaps would wish their latest exhibition to have nine lives rather than a span of a mere six weeks. That would seem especially fuzzily fitting for their dual display “Ethereal Times: A Cat Art Show” running through July 29 at 411 Gallery at 411 Sixth St. in downtown Columbus.
Lee, who lives in Atlanta and is friends with sculptor Meza of Columbus, is a painter with five cats and a bazillion reasons to love and depict them.
“They are my models,” she said with a laugh.
And striking ones at that. A dramatic, pink-hued, portrait-style close-up of her first feline, Minnie, now 8, estimated to be part Maine Coon, is proof positive.
“With this, we didn’t worry about how seriously people might take our work,” Lee said. “We just wanted to create art about cats — and have a lot of fun with it.”
Heavens to Meow Mix, consider that done. The first thing visitors see when walking in the gallery door is Meza’s funky filament-topped cat tree with a bit of a stair-step theme that marks much of her symbolic work. Behind that hang some of Lee’s paintings of her own cats and others, ranging from oil on canvas to acrylic on canvas.
Lee wants her painted cats to be eye-catching. Yet, she wants viewers to see something beyond what is on the canvas. In essence, she wants them to see what’s in their own heart.
“Ideally, I want this work to remind people of their own cats,” Lee said.
Needless to say, humor abounds behind the scenes in this exhibit, thanks to the woman who lightheartedly adorns her phone texts with cat emojis. Plus, the lightheartedness includes the fact that Lee has five cats, which her husband decided is quite enough, thank you.
“When we got the fifth one, I had to write him a letter promising not to adopt any more cats,” Lee said. “So I signed up to volunteer through the local (animal) shelter, to make sure I can get my weekly dose of cats.”
Columbian native Meza, who moved from Atlanta to Columbus in August, has spent considerable time and effort often infusing her sculptures with Latin influences.
“But I also hope that people can find a sense of playfulness within my work,” Meza said.
Look no further than the blindingly blue feline figures, plus the magenta ones that she created via a 3-D printer. Some look strikingly like a sphinx or related breed, judging by the detailed skin on the animals’ flanks.
“I hope that people notice some of the bright colors,” Meza said.
Doubtful they could miss them. Her pieces are constructed of everything from PLA biodegradable plastic to plywood. And the show itself is built on more than whimsy. Ten percent of all sales of the pieces will be donated to a local cat shelter.
“Nuni and I always have felt very strongly about supporting shelters,” Meza said. “We think it’s so important to be able to give back.”
Plus, the artists’ reception at 5 p.m. June 29 will include a booth outside the gallery on the Sixth Street Arts Alley where art will imitate life and people can adopt cats in need of homes. Meza is understandably proud of those practical links to the show.
She herself has two cats.
“Oh, I would love to have five cats like Nuni,” she said with a laugh. “But I would need a bigger place. I have just a small apartment.”
But clearly, she boasts one big love beyond her art.
About the show
What: “Ethereal Times: A Cat Art Show,” by sculptor Ana Meza of Columbus and friend Nuni Lee of Atlanta, Georgia.
When: Through July 29. Artists’ public reception is 5 to 7 p.m. June 29.
Where: 411 Gallery, 411 Sixth St. in downtwn Columbus.
Admission: Free.
Information: artsincolumbus.org
