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Community Corner

Political Cats Featured at Clayton Fine Art Gallery

Digital artist Jay Thompson and self-proclaimed curator of Cat Works, has created a feline-populated Victorian-era art world in which cats are almost humanized by their clothing, facial expressions and related bios.  Approximately 30 of his newest compositions will be featured as part of Clayton Fine Art Gallery’s holiday exhibition reception, “The Visual Storytelling of Cat Works,” from 6-9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6, at the gallery (21. N. Bemiston).  The event is free and open to the public.

Thompson’s work reflects a slight undertone of social responsibility and morals mixed with a mischievous sense of humor.

“Cat Works is a fully formed concept of a feline-ruled world built around a time-period that existed 100 to 150 years ago,” Thompson said. “Inexplicable subject matter abounds for my paintings.  “For example, the cult of the machine, the society of narcissism, and politics are all topics visually brought to life by these cats.”

In his latest painting, “Keep Calm and Carry On,” cat jurors dressed to the nines are returning from lunch.  According to Thompson, the Nine Angry Felines are about to find against science in the “Einstein vs. Jesus: The Right to Free Thought” trial at which “Tea and Milk Party attitudes and beliefs are prevalent.”  

Thompson said the idea for the Cat Works series resulted from the boredom that sprang from his retirement as a film animation designer six years ago. 

In fact many of his images feature photographic backgrounds found in materials he accessed through the Library of Congress (a public domain).  By digitally painting costumes and settings on and around the cat characters, Thompson has created a world which, in many ways, mirrors today’s political issues and social insecurities.

The Cat Works exhibition, which is scheduled through January 6, also features work by six guest artists and a variety of resident artists. The gallery, opened earlier this summer by Jim Irwin and Jerry Schmutz, features a wide array of art ranging from oil paintings, pastels and water colors to acrylics, photography, sketching, sculpture and more. Exhibited artwork typically changes every eight weeks.

Gallery hours are Wednesday through Friday (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.), Saturday (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and Sunday (noon to 5 p.m.).  Visit www.claytonfineartgallery.com for more information.

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