Wild Kingdom

Say cheese and smile. No, not you, but that calico cat on your lap or the retriever by your side. Artist Andrea Gianchiglia, now exhibiting at the Donald Palmer Museum at the Springfield Public Library, shares her passion for animals and an ability to capture them in paints in a show entitled Paws and Claws: Animal Portraiture by Andrea Gianchiglia. If there's a pet in your life, or you simply admire animals, you owe yourself a trip. 

Through April 30, viewers can visit the Museum to see a sleepy gray tabby, a pair of puppies in a river and even an alpaca gazing into the distance. Horse paintings dominate, larger than the rest, on two walls of the museum. However, Gianchiglia doesn't limit herself to pets; her website lists images of wildlife, as well. 

Gianchiglia, a graduate of the University of Hartford's Hartford Art School, teaches at the Somerset Art Association, the Visual Arts Center of NJ, and the Hunterdon Arts Museum, as well as accepting private commissions for artwork. Her long history as an artist is marked by work centered on animals.

"While growing up," explains Gianchiglia in an artist's statement, "I was surrounded by dogs, cat and other small companions who inspired my love for animals." She recalls a beloved pet who led her to this career path. "I remember especially our dog Kane, a rottweiler, whose love for our family was the inspiration that led me to specialize in animal portraiture. It's my way of paying him back for all the joy he brought to my life."

The Donald Palmer Museum is open during regular library hours, seven days each week. There is no admission charge, though donations are welcome.

As Gianchiglia pursues her shared passion for animals and art, she performs commissions, often painting beloved pets. "It's a real pleasure to receive a call from another animal owner who wants to honor a living pet or commemorate a beloved companion with a portrait that captures the essence of their personality."

Indeed, the portraits at the Palmer, from alpaca to pampered pooch, show not only the pet but the personality within.