New exhibit at the Piano Craft Gallery is the cat's pajamas!

"Cats and Crystals," an exhibit by Erik Grau that opened at the Piano Craft Gallery, 793 Tremont Street, on Friday, October 6, combines two widely popular themes: feline companions and things that sparkle and shine.

While the initial draw may be plain to see, "Cats and Crystals", which runs through October 28, has a highly personal and evocative quality that goes beyond the initial fun of cat-kitsch and glimpses of glitter cleverly grouped and positioned around the gallery. Directly in front of the entrance, a tableau that evokes Grandma's living room awaits, with an armchair sporting an overstuffed cat pillow and an afghan, a side table filled with cat figurines and crystals, and a pole lamp adorned with cascading strands of crystals.

Elsewhere, cats and crystals peek out from tables tall and small; from the shelves of the gallery's desk; and from deep, recessed windows that give the figurine arrangements a shadowbox effect. One ceramic cat rolls on its back under a coffee table while elsewhere, another climbs a wall near some of Grau's paintings, which also feature both themes. "All of that stuff usually sits in my home, so now my home is a very empty place," Grau said.

Grau, president of the gallery, displays many paintings of his own 14-year old rescue cats at home, his portrayal of their eyes bringing the canvases to life, as well as cat bric-a-brac from his own home. Many of the figurines, decorative plates and other items are mid-century retro, bringing warmth to the vast, white-walled space. Another revealing and recurring detail in the paintings is a set of coasters sporting the MBTA logo.

"I am a dedicated T rider. I used to travel around and do consulting in the public schools, and I knew every bus route, every train stop, what was the closest stop to every school I worked at. I was like a master of the T," Grau mused. In an effort to present a variety of media, Grau fabricated large and lifelike "crystals" of foam and paint to augment the actual crystals scattered throughout the gallery.

Grau hinted at an even higher level of realism to come: he is thinking of bringing his cats to the gallery during the exhibit's run. "It was too much commotion [at the opening], but I think I am going to bring them down when it's a little quieter. It'll activate the space in a new way."

For hours and other details on "Cats and Crystals" at the Piano Craft Gallery, 793 Tremont Street, Boston, please visit http://www.pianocraftgallery.com/cats-and-crystals-oct-5-28-2018/