‘Dogs, Cats and all Those Hats’

Miki Boni’s whimsical cats wearing hats will be the featured exhibit at In-Town Gallery, 26-A Frazier Ave., during June. Her work will be on display at the First Friday reception, which opens “Dogs, Cats and all Those Hats” on June 1 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the gallery.

Boni, a Southside artist, paints as many animals as she can fit into her schedule and is often referred to as the “Chattapet Painter.” The native New Yorker began as a street painter doing portraits in Manhattan’s East Village.

“Ever since the two kittens and my dog, Rex, became part of our family as a child, we have never been without a pet,” says Boni. “This pet whisperer seems to understand their moods, and finds their own character traits while mentally wandering into the mindset of who is the pet and who is the owner.”

Doing street portraits early in her career made it an easy transition to animal portraits. Her ability to sense animal personalities has led to more than a few commissioned pet portraits.

“My pet commissions have also included goats, pigs, llamas and cows,” she says.

Recently Boni did a fundraiser for Wally’s Friends, a nonprofit spay/neuter program. She produced a photographic wall calendar picturing firemen with their pets. Calendars are for sale at several places including In-Town Gallery.

Further i maginings brought Boni to the representation of dogs and cats in hats that matched their personalities. Using the printed fabrics that appear in many paintings, a turban shows up on a Cleopatra cat in a stately pose. There is a happy dog with a bird nest of baby chicks as a head covering and another painting of “Sweet Tsu” with a kerchief tied around her head.

Gallery hours are 11 a.m.6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday.

For more information: 423- 267- 9214 or www. intowngallery.com.

I N- TOWN GALLERY CONTRIBUTED I MAGES “Cleocatra” by Miki Boni.

“Aristocat” by Miki Boni.