Listening to the muse
Artists honor their furry companions through creativity, support for Felines & Friends
7/4/2009
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The Santa Fe artist shares her home with four cats, two of which were rescued by Felines & Friends. The sculpture, Diva, bears a striking resemblance to Siri, who, along with Sam, was once a part of a feral cat colony off Siringo Road.
"I definitely drew my inspiration for Diva from my experience with the kitties and my life with them," said Tobey, whose jewelry, bronzes and paintings are featured throughout the country, and locally at Ventana Fine Art on Canyon Road. "And especially Siri, who is very Egyptian looking."
Tobey is one of a growing number of area artists who not only draw inspiration from animals, but give back to their furry friends through donating their art to the nonprofit animal-rescue group.
Diva, the first in a limited edition of 45, is being offered as a raffle for the group. Tickets are $50, and the drawing will be held as soon as 250 tickets are sold. Additional pieces of the edition are available through Felines & Friends at the special price of $4,500.
For Tobey, offering the sculpture was a happy sacrifice. She even collaborated with executive director Bobbi Heller in creating the series.
"I decided I wanted to do something really wonderful because of what Felines & Friends does for these kitties and cats in Santa Fe," Tobey said. "I wanted to give something back, especially now when there are so many animals who need homes and so many people who are being forced to give up their pets."
Aside from providing inspiration, cats often provide a welcome diversion in the studio, Heller said. And some even guide artists in their creative endeavors.
"When I speak with artists, they talk about how the cats are great company and a diversion when they might otherwise not take a break," she said. "But major artists tell me the cats supervise their painting process."
Artist McCreery Jordan, for example, told Heller that her kittens initially thought paintbrushes were for their amusement. "We joked that she should let them paint as well," Heller said.
William Haskell adopted a Maine coon several years ago at an adoption event at Manitou Galleries, Heller said. The cat, Blue, had a sad history and took some time to settle in but soon became "king of Bill's studio," she said.
Several other area artists have adopted cats through Felines & Friends, including Forest Moses, James Roybal, Gail Gash Taylor, Bill Worrell, and gallery owners Alex Windsor Betts and Tom Moxley.
Painter SJ Shaffer, who sometimes allows her private acrylic paintings to be copied for massive ceramic tile murals, also was moved by the group's work to offer one of her pieces as a fundraiser. The Passage 2, a 43-inch by 46-inch ceramic mural which lists at galleries for $3,800, is being offered to Felines & Friends supporters for $3,000.
Shaffer, who donates a percentage of her sales to the group, says she became involved with Felines & Friends when she needed help with an injured, semi-feral cat in her neighborhood. Volunteers came to her rescue, and she wanted to return the good deed.
The owner of two high-maintenance but endearing cats, Shaffer said she was amazed at the lack of animal welfare in the city when she moved permanently to Santa Fe from Sedona, Ariz., last year. Aside from highly vocal dogs that lived in her neighborhood, there were also feral cats that hung around the studio.
She grew fond of one stray in particular, whom she named Silver Dollar, and cared for the unneutered Tom as best she could. One day she noticed it was dragging its back leg.
She called several animal-rescue groups, but Felines & Friends was the only one that was quick to respond. Volunteers trapped the cat and provided veterinary services, which included neutering.
The cat found temporary shelter through a foster home and eventually found a permanent home. Now named Grover, Shaffer said the family who adopted the cat was immensely curious about the feline's history.
The nonprofit's good work for otherwise forgotten animals needs support, she said.
"It was the greatest thing," she said. Shaffer, a longtime Los Angeles illustrator who works only in originals, considers her work a blend of folk, Spanish, Native American and California — styles that are grounded in spirituality.
Michelle Tapia is another artist who has offered to donate a portion of proceeds from select pieces of her jewelry. An entire section of Tapia's Web site, www.kittyhope.com, is devoted to animals.
Any orders for dog or cat jewelry that goes through the Felines & Friends Web site generates a 10 percent donation to the group. Tapia used to take care of cats at Petco, Heller said, and "is owned by three or four cats who are the inspiration for the expressions on her work."
Taylor's adopted cat, now named Sophia, became the subject of an oil painting, Copycat, currently on display at Manitou Galleries. It's just one of many animals in the Santa Fe artist's repertoire. Taylor's also considering donating art as a fundraiser, Heller said.
Much of the proceeds from the sale of donated artwork is targeted for specific funds, Heller said. The raffle for Tobey's sculpture, for example, is to benefit the group's surgery fund. The sale of Shaffer's mural will benefit the Lucky Fund, which helps offset major veterinary costs.
Information about buying raffle tickets or purchasing artwork directly is available through the group's Web site, www.petfinder.com/shelters/NM38.html. The tickets can also be purchased at the group's displays and adoption events at Petco, Teca Tu, and Zoe & Guido's.
To view the artwork directly or learn more about the artists, visit the following Web sites:
SJ Shaffer, www.shafferthegallery.com; Rebecca Tobey, www.ventanafineart.com; Gail Gash Taylor, www.manitougalleries.com; Michelle Tapia, www. kitty hope.com.