Scooby-Doo by Paige Tashner
It's an understatement to say that Paige Tashner adores felines. The artist from California has many real ones, and they served as models for her steel ring sculptures called Purr Pods. They were my earliest attempts at sculpture. Tashner reflected, "I had to learn how to weld rather quickly. At the annual Burning Man arts festival in Nevada, the sculptures were a huge hit. Several of Tashner's devoted fans "have left me gifts at my campsite this year," he reveals. She paid tribute to her three departed feline friends by naming the trio after their names, with one of the figures being dubbed "Scooby-Doo" in honor of the animated dog character.
Harold Sims, who operates the Catman2 no-kill shelter in Cullowhee, is currently caring for Scooby in Jackson County. Additionally, Sims is the curator of the American Museum of the House Cat in Dillsboro. Tashner remarked, "He reached out to me." The artist Sims was looking for donations of cat-themed artwork.
I jumped right into investigating the Catman2 base camp. Tashner added, "I support everything he does for animals, including the museum, the fundraising for the shelter, and the low-cost spay and neutering. In Sims's museum, you'll find a collection of "cat"-related items. He finds great solace in the set. This is the carousel we built for the museum," Sims said. "We have art glass from France, England, and Germany, wind-up cats and games.
Due to pandemic difficulties, including a lack of staff, the museum is currently closed. In any case, we anticipate opening again in the spring. Sims is donating the sculpture of Scooby-Doo, which is currently on display at the shelter, to the city of Sylva as a permanent fixture in the hopes that it will attract more visitors. Instead of having it way out in the middle of nowhere, "I'd rather have it there," Sims said. Tashner is very interested in having the public meet her big cat.
"It makes them happy, and they think of their pets and become a little more aware, especially of what Harold is doing," she said. Sims believes that by promoting Scooby-Doo, more people will be interested in visiting the cat museum once it reopens, thus increasing the amount of money that can be used to help find cats-loving homes.
Without me and others who care about what we're doing, it's really tough for them to find a home. You could say this is our life," Sims said. Although there is a section of Sylva's Bridge Park that does not allow dogs, the sculpture will be installed there within the next few weeks. Since this Scooby is a feline, that argument falls flat. Yes, it's a character, Sims joked.
The sculpture reflects the community's dedication to public art. In the heart of our community. We hold our festivals here because we're proud of it, said Ben Guiney, commissioner of Sylva. It's a piece of art with a touch of whimsy and a valuable message about the value of feline companions. Tashner remarked that the family relied heavily on their pets for solace during the pandemic.
Selena Mattei