TO BRING IN THE MONEY

This series of Lucky Cat portraits began as part of a project in New York’s Chinatown. The Lucky Cat appeared in my photographs of storefronts almost immediately. I soon discovered that this figure, also known as Maneki Neko (Beckoning Cat) is actually Japanese, yet it is has become an integral part of the Chinatown landscape. As the owner of a restaurant on East Broadway said, they are there "to bring in the money."

My work often defines a sense of place in time and memory, primarily places intersecting my life. In 2004, I began spending a good deal of time in Chinatown and felt particularly drawn to the photographs that included Lucky Cats. These became a focus and led to a portfolio called Watching, which is viewable on my website: www.slbehr.com.

As I revisited my work with new ideas in mind, I began cropping images to produce these portraits. To Bring in the Money has now expanded beyond Chinatown – I search out Lucky Cats everywhere and often find them in unexpected places. Each is different, though the differences, like the cats themselves, can often go unnoticed. Primarily white or golden, they can seem sad, happy, stoic, shy, even angry. Sometimes the left paw is raised (inviting people or customers), sometimes the right (wealth and good fortune), and sometimes both. Though mass produced, they are unique and individual.

And of course, they are always beckoning.

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The photographs in this series are archival Epson prints, and are available for purchase or exhibition. Please contact me at: photo (at) slbehr.com for more information.