Crazy Eights –The darkened building in the background is the San Albino Church surrounded by turbulent waters, demons and monsters swimming in the Rio Grande river. In the foreground a very solemn Rosemary, with one human eye and one feline, protectively cradles Lily in her arms. The number eight in the title is based on the meaning of the number in numerology as a representation for “authority”. And is a reference to something Rosemary remembers a priest once having told her, “There is no authority without love.”
The Priest and the Cat
Lily to the Rescue – Like a feline super hero, Lily, swoops down from the heavens as he comes to rescue of a small cat drowning in the river. Drawn to the dramatic event a gathering of the animal kingdom cheers their new hero while providing encouragement to the panicked victim.
The Conversion of Padre Gatuno – Based on the conversion of St. Paul, falling from his horse on the road to Damascus. This painting shows the priest falling from a plane, realizing his parachute is not opening. In the river, cat angels hold out a net to catch him while God’s hands reach down from the clouds above. Written around the painting are God’s words as he speaks to the priest, “Your name is now Gatuno and all has been forgiven.” In the bottom of the painting, the priest sits in the yard of his house, as animals come to him. At the top of the painting three patron saints of animals St. Francis, St. Martin de Porres, and San Pasqual, bear witness to the conversion while a heavenly choir of feline angels sing.
Lily Takes Padre Gatuno to Paris – During an early morning walk along the River Seine, Rosemary sees an image in her mind’s eye with such vividness and clarity it seems to almost exist in the real world. Seemingly out of the corner of her eye, she saw a fleeting image of Lily and the priest flying over the river. And with the vision, came an idea to paint a series of paintings showing the priest and Lily traveling to places Rosemary herself would like to visit. In this painting, Lily and Padre Gatuno are seen flying past the gargoyles on Notre Dame the Pont Alexandre bridge is in the background.
Flying Over Russia – The priest and the cat continue their magical journeys as their flight over St. Basil is witnessed by a multitude of cats perched atop the domes. Padre Gatuno is seated upon a firebird, which in Russian fairytales is symbolic of hope, new life and rebirth.
Lilly Takes Padre Gatuno to Morroco – The cat and the priest enjoy a bird’s eye view of the city from their magical flying carpets.
Benvenuti a Roma – The final painting in the series shows Lily with his real-life best friend, Lukey. When Lily died, Lukey mourned his absence for many days. In this painting the two feline friends are shown flying over Rome with the priest. From a Vatican window, Pope John can be seen waving as they fly overhead. At the time of this painting the priest and the pope were in failing health. After the painting was complete, both Pope John and the priest passed away. Not too long afterward, Lukey joined his friend in heaven.