There were happy cats and sad cats, a cat with a hip hairdo, a girly cat with a pink nose, and a “psycho cat,” according to the artist, that was straight out of “Mean Girls.” One cat followed a fish to a house on top of a hill. Another looked content with the full bowl of cat food a few inches from its nose. Fifty children submitted work late last month to a drawing competition sponsored by Island Cats, a volunteer group established five years ago to care for Roosevelt Island’s large outdoor cat population. And the results were so impressive that contest judges – members of the rescue group – decided to give the awards of $20 to 15 rather than the planned 5 artists.

All the drawings will be exhibited during the week of December 14 in the Orphans International window on Main Street, where Island Cats will hold an Open House on Saturday, December 19. Among the items for sale then will be work by an adult professional artist, Gilda Hannah, who will paint a pet portrait as a raffle prize.

The children’s art selected for awards, judged not only on artistic merit but for its reproducibility on Island Cats merchandise, posters, and fliers, was created by Lillian Bak, Jose Benitez, Noa Betel, Maria Cacuci, Freddy Domenech, Jamil Fuller, Sally Goldberg, Orna Khan, Jonah Michel, Val Neves, Christian Pacheco, Melanie Ramos, Amanda Severe, Mathew Tendean-Luce, and Connor Whelan. Some of the work was by Island toddlers, the rest by students at PS IS 217 and The Child School.

Camille Mouquinho, who teaches art at The Child School, confessed that she is an animal lover, and clearly several of her students are, too. Some drawings were ready-made for animal rescue posters. Other artists talked of taking good care of animals. “We can all help. Stop buying pets and adopt them,” Mr. Michel said, referring to the adoption of rescued rather than store-bought animals. Mr. Pacheco, whose swirling “Stray Black Cats” was startling in its bold assurance, urged WIRE readers to “be kind to cats we see on the streets.”

How can children’s artistic imaginations best be unleashed? “I love chil- dren and let them do what moves them in art,” Ms. Mouquinho said. “I am always calm and try to make the art room a loving, peaceful place where their creative juices can flow. I treat them all as serious artists. Being posi- tive is key.”
Drawing cats seemed to be a popular assignment. Melanie Ramos, a student at PS IS 217, likes the designs on cats’ fur, she said. “I also like their personalities. They are all different from each other.” In her drawing, a large cat, fierce-looking but well-manicured, straddles small skyscrap- ers. “The cat I drew is the Queen of the City. She protects the City.”

Noa Betel, who is 5, contributed a smiling cat that clearly has a little bit of ladybug in its genes. Why does she like to draw cats, Ms. Betel was asked? “Because they’re cute. And their tails are so long. And I like to see them when we’re walking to the park.” The last sentence was punctuated by long pauses. It was not nap time, her mother reassured the reporter. The artist was just eager to get back to her drawing pad.

Posted by The Wire on December 12, 2009.