News-Press Article: Meowl Show

Cats and owls add up to “meowls” at Howl Gallery

Article by Charles Runnells, News-Press.com

What do you get when you cross a cat with an owl?

If it’s the Internet, you get something called “meowls.” And now that weird meme is soaring out of iPhone screens and landing at Howl Gallery in Fort Myers.

Gallery co-owner Andy Howl stumbled on the online phenomenon last year while trying to come up with a group show featuring local artists.

“It’s just a weird Internet thing,” he says. “I just thought it was cool.”

Those photoshopped meowls — a word that combines “meow” and “owl” — splice an owl’s head on a cat’s body, or a cat’s head on an owl’s body. Howl compares the results to mythological characters such as the Minotaur or the Chimera.

For the new show, the tattoo artist came up with a pen-and-ink, coffee-stain image of a spooky Halloween creature with a cat’s head and an owl’s body. Other local artists imagined, among other things, a Cheshire Cat meowl (Loki), a battle-robot meowl (Jay Lana) and an Egyptian meowl (Mellissa Escolas). There’s even a meowl shooting light beams from its eyes (Kevin Gavidia).

There are about 20 paintings, sculptures and other pieces in the exhibit, and Howl has big hopes for show attendance. The exhibit opens Saturday and continues through Sept. 2.

“Everybody loves cats,” he says. “And everybody loves owls. It’s fun. We’re just trying to have fun.”

Even cooler: The word “meowl” rhymes with “Howl.”

“I thought I could do a whole series and call it ‘Howl’s Meowls,’” Howl says and laughs.

Connect with this reporter: Charles Runnells (News-Press) (Facebook) @charlesrunnells (Twitter)

If you go

What: The Meowl Show

Where: Howl Gallery/Tattoo, 4160 Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers

When: The exhibit opens with a 7 p.m. reception Saturday and continues through Sept. 2.

Gallery hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Admission: Free

Info: 332-0161 or howlgallery.com