Overlooked Gem Of Art Basel: Art Meow-sel

WLRN's Marva Hinton loves cats. I mean, she really, really loves cats.

So, it came as no surprise to me that when planning a visit to Art Basel last week she decided her time would be best spent at Art Meow-sel in O Cinema: a gallery dedicated solely to cat-related art.

It's weird, I know. But it's also kind of brilliant.

As someone who isn't an art aficionado, yet has a lot of opinions about cats, I have to say that this gallery  was awesome.

Here is why.

First, the gallery featured a painting by late night comedian/host David Letterman. The painting, I must say, is pretty amazing.

Marva also ran into a cat version of Napoleon-- of course. 

Because I don't understand a lot of modern art, but I do understand the awesomeness of Cat Napoleon, I can easily see how this is the best painting in all of Art Basel.

She also told me that there was a participatory component of the gallery, which also looked pretty cool. That white post-it in the middle is great.

Attendees also had a chance to get a photo altered to make them look like cats.

Here is a photo of Marva with her husband, Derrick:

All in all, Art Meow-sel was an overlooked gem last week.  Sure, Botero, Picasso and Matisse had a spot in last week's festivities, but I think Art Meow-sel should have gotten some serious attention, too.

Marva also insisted that I put a picture of one of her two cats in this post. So, here you go -- a cat:

Credit Marva Hinton /WLRN