7Bodega cats are as essential to New York City as the subway! The skyscrapers! The yellow cabs! Or some (including us) might argue. Bodega cats are cute, sure, but really, they're around to keep mice out of bodegas, which are mainstays of NYC culture. Simone Johnson is their eager and gifted portraitist, capturing them at work--which is to say, napping on crates of fruits, stacks of canned beans, and amidst twelve packs of beer, one eye always open for intruders.

Learn more about this painting, Simone's inspiration for her Bodega Cat series, and Pure Vision Arts' mission in the insert that is included with the puzzle.

About the Artist:
Simone was born in 1971 in Manhattan and currently lives in Staten Island. Her whimsical and imaginative art depicts brightly colored scenes of animals, particularly cats. She has participated in a number of Outsider Art exhibitions in New York and abroad and her work is included in numerous private collections. Simone creates her work at Pure Vision Arts (PVA) studio.

About Pure Vision Arts:
Based in NYC, Pure Vision Arts provides people with autism and developmental disabilities opportunities for artistic expression and builds public awareness of their important creative contributions. PVA is an initiative of The Shield Institute (which is celebrating its 100th year), a non-sectarian, publicly-supported educational and human services agency providing wide-ranging services to children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities.

Product Information:
* 1,000 piece puzzle
* Four page color insert included in box
* Completed puzzle size: 26.5x19.25 in (67.30x48.90 cm)
* Box size: 10x8x2in (25x20x5cm)
* Designed in Brooklyn, NY Printed, assembled, and packed in the USA.
* Made with 100% recyclable materials