Cat videos have become the glue that holds the Internet together. Will the Internet Cat Video Festival have the same stickiness for museums?
The Contemporary Art Museum of St. Louis is hosting the two-day festival July 18-19, featuring cat-themed activities and, of course, videos. Both days are sold out.
“People ask why this is interesting, why this is contemporary art? The question we’re posing is: Is it? Is it contemporary art?” said Brie Alley, festival co-chairwoman. “How technology is changing, how we look at art, how we’re making video, how we’re showcasing our photos that we take … Everybody has a camera and can do video on their phone, so it’s making pictures and film so much easier to produce. It’s really changing the way we think about art itself.”
The Internet Cat Video Festival began in 2012 at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis. The festival was wildly popular, which led to program tours. The St. Louis festival will include cat costumes and a “make your own cat ears” booth, face painting, cat toys, a cat photo booth and several cat charities, including Tenth Life Cat Rescue, which will have cats up for adoption.
CAM also sponsored a cat video contest through its Facebook page. Winner Chris Ward will present his film.
Related Events
Internet Cat Video Festival
July 18-19, 2014
Contemporary Art Museum
Sold out
This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Brie Alley's name.
Cityscape is produced by Mary Edwards and Alex Heuer and sponsored in part by the MissouriArts Council, the Regional Arts Commission, and the Arts and Education Council of Greater St. Louis.
