Section B · The Characters & Their Stories

The Universe

Character-based acrylic paintings by Alejandra Leibovich. For available paintings and prices, Send an Owl.

"The Universe is Less Scary with a Friend." Acrylic on Canvas by Alejandra Leibovich 48x48

B1 · Painting

Universe Found Less Scary When Somebody Sits Beside You

"Orbit" and "Minicat" have discovered that the universe is full of things that look suspicious. Very suspicious. Giant blue trees that weren’t there yesterday. Two suns in the sky. Hills that may or may not have moved. And something dark in the water that Minicat has been watching for the last twenty minutes. Orbit thinks they should go investigate.

Minicat thinks they should investigate from exactly where they are.

So they sit together and watch.

They are not scared. They are being careful. There is a difference. Scared is running away. Careful is waiting to see if the giant blue thing has teeth.

Orbit moves a little closer to Minicat.

Minicat notices. Normally she would move away. This time she doesn’t.

The universe can continue doing whatever suspiciously cosmic thing it is doing. They’ll keep an eye on it. Together.

"The Day They Decided to Stay Together Forever" · Acrylic on canvas · 24x24 by Alejandra Leibovich

B2 · Painting

Two Friends Settle the Matter of Forever; Ocean Declines to Comment

The Day They Decided to Stay Together Forever. Acrylic on canvas, 24x24.

The day Minidog and Pucci Pucci decided to stay together forever, the world was behaving strangely. The trees had grown round things nobody remembered seeing before. The ground was changing colors. And the ocean kept coming closer, then going away, then coming closer again, as if it couldn’t make up its mind.

Pucci Pucci watched the water carefully. Minidog watched Pucci. A wave came toward them. They moved back. The wave moved back too. They moved closer.

So did the wave. This went on for a while.

Eventually they decided the ocean was probably not following them. The world, however, was clearly going to keep changing. Trees would grow. Water would move. Things would appear. Things would disappear. Tomorrow might look nothing like today.

Minidog leaned against Pucci Pucci, and grab his hand.

Pucci Pucci, who usually preferred everyone slightly farther away, stayed exactly where he was. And that was it. No promises. No ceremony. Nobody even said anything.

They just decided that wherever the ground moved, wherever the ocean went, and whatever strange thing appeared next, they would find out together.

Forever seemed like a very long time.

But next to a friend, it didn’t seem long at all.

"Everybody Thinks They Know Where They Are" Acrylic on Canvas 36x48 by Alejandra Leibovich

B3 · Painting

Are we even experiencing the same world?

Everybody Thinks They Know Where They Are. Acrylic on Canvas, 36x48.

Orbit and Minicat are standing in the middle of their reality, trying to make sense of what they see.

Elsewhere, Minidog and Pucci are living in theirs. Mundo and Pucci seem to have found another one entirely. Lucky is off to the side, presumably convinced that his version is the correct one.

They are all looking at the same universe.

But they are not necessarily seeing the same thing.

Each character has their own point of view, their own fears, memories, assumptions, and ideas about what is safe, strange, beautiful, or completely normal.

And somehow, all these different realities exist at the same time.

Which makes understanding each other slightly complicated.

Same universe. Different realities. Everybody certain they know where they are.

B4 · Painting

Feelings Placed in Jar for Safekeeping; Minidog Not Informed

Minicat and the Things We Try to Keep Safe. Acrylic on Canvas, 20x24.

"MInicat and the things we try to keep safe" by Alejandra Leibovich Acrylic on Cavnas - 20x24

"Minicat" knows that some things are too important to leave lying around.

Feelings, for example.

They can get lost. Stepped on. Forgotten somewhere. Or worse, discovered by Minidog.

So Minicat keeps this one in a jar.

Inside is something small and precious made of memory, attachment, tenderness, and all the things Minicat would rather not discuss.

The world outside can change all it wants.

This stays safe.

Or at least safer.

Sometimes that is enough.

B5 · Painting

Minicat Breaks Her Own Rule, Steps Toward Pink Lake

Minicat’s Rule. Acrylic on canvas, 24x24.

"Minicat's Rule" by Alejandra Leibovich - Acrylic on Canvas - 24x24

"Minicat" had a rule. A very important rule. If something was scary, suspicious, unexpected, moving, not moving, moving strangely, or possibly considering moving…

…someone else should go check first.

Usually Minidog. Sometimes Mundo.

Occasionally Orbit. Never Minicat. That was the rule.

Then one day Minicat found herself standing in front of a very suspicious pink lake with nobody else around. Except herself.

Minicat looked at the lake. The lake looked back. Which proved nothing.

She waited. Nothing happened.

She took one small step closer.

Sometimes being brave is just what happens when everyone else is busy.

Unfortunately, the universe had never read Minicat’s rules.

B6 · Painting

Squirrel and Dog Launch Spaceship Over Objections; Spoon Unexplained

Bunny & Couch Will Figure It Out. Acrylic on canvas, 24x24.

"Bunny & Couch Will Figure It Out" by Alejandra Leibovich - Acrylic on Canvas - 24x24

"Bunny" (left) was not a squirrel because she looked like a squirrel.

Bunny was a squirrel because she had once hidden three hundred and twelve acorns, forgotten where all of them were, and then blamed the weather.

"Couch" (right) was not a dog because he barked.

Couch was a dog because he believed every problem in the universe could be solved by lying down on it.

The two of them lived on a small round planet that looked as if someone had started drawing a moon and then gotten distracted halfway through. The hills were soft and lumpy. The trees grew tall, skinny necks with little pom-poms on top. The sky was always the color of warm toast.

One afternoon Bunny announced, “I have a plan.” Couch immediately became nervous. Whenever Bunny had a plan, gravity usually got involved.

“What kind of plan?” asked Couch.

“The excellent kind,” said Bunny.

Couch became even more nervous. Bunny pointed proudly at a strange machine sitting on top of a rock. There were buttons. There were levers. There were pipes. There was a spoon taped to the side for reasons nobody remembered.

“What is it?” asked Couch.

“It is our spaceship.” Bunny climbed on the left. Couch climbed on the right. They argued about which side was better for driving the ship, for ten minutes. Finally, Bunny pulled a lever. The hills trembled. The clouds scooted out of the way.

And suddenly, WHOOSH. Space was enormous. Neither of them spoke, but they smiled. The planet began shrinking below them. The pom-pom trees became tiny dots.

“If we get lost?”

“We’ll figure it out.”

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B7 · The classifieds of a private universe

The Cast, Described in Full

Who’s who

Orbit

The friendliest one you will ever meet

"Orbit" has never met a stranger. He has only met friends he hasn’t talked to yet.

A big black-and-white cat with a giant heart, Orbit is convinced that almost everyone is interesting, almost everything is worth investigating, and almost every creature would benefit from being his friend.

Dogs? Friends. Frogs? Friends. Bees? Probably friends. Suspicious moving shadows? Potential friends until proven otherwise.

Unlike Minicat, who prefers a healthy distance from most living beings, Orbit believes distances exist mainly so you can cross them and say hello. He is curious, cheerful, affectionate, and blessed with the rare ability to find wonder in ordinary things. If there is a mystery, Orbit wants to solve it. If there is a problem, Orbit wants to help. If there is a lonely creature sitting by itself, Orbit is probably already on his way over.

Orbit sees the good in everyone, including those who insist on being grumpy. Especially those. His greatest gift is making others feel welcome, whether they wanted to be welcomed or not.

Who’s who

Minicat

The crankiest one you will ever meet

"Minicat" is one of the crankiest cats you will ever meet. Not the kind of cranky that complains all day. The advanced kind. The efficient kind. The kind that can communicate disappointment with a single look. She likes routines, quiet places, and knowing exactly what is going to happen next. Unfortunately, the universe keeps refusing to cooperate.

A mysterious white spot appears in the middle of a pink lake? Suspicious. A strange noise comes from behind a bush? Suspicious. A leaf moves when there is no wind? Extremely suspicious. Minicat believes most things deserve a thorough investigation, preferably conducted by somebody else.

Her first, best, and only friend is Mister Mundo Cat. Mundo understands important things, like the value of silence, the beauty of sitting still, and that friendship does not require constant conversation. Sometimes they spend an entire afternoon together without saying a word. To Minicat, that is an excellent conversation.

Small, observant, stubborn, and endlessly curious despite her best efforts, Minicat notices things everyone else misses. A mysterious white spot in a pink lake? Suspicious. A strange noise behind a bush? Suspicious. A leaf moving without wind? Extremely suspicious. While she would never volunteer for an adventure, adventures have a habit of showing up uninvited. Her greatest challenge is that the world keeps being far more interesting than she would like it to be.

Who’s who

Bunny

A squirrel, but not just any squirrel

"Bunny" is a squirrel powered almost entirely by curiosity. If she discovers a button, she pushes it. If she finds a map, she follows it. If she sees a sign that says Do Not Touch, she immediately wonders who made the sign and what happens if she touches the thing.

Creative, optimistic, and delightfully overconfident, Bunny believes most problems can be solved with imagination, persistence, and a completely unreasonable plan. She collects strange objects, invents improbable machines, and sees possibilities everywhere.

While her adventures often begin with “I have an idea,” they usually end with Bunny discovering that courage is not the absence of fear, it’s deciding that something is more interesting than being afraid. Her greatest gift is helping others see that the unknown is not something to avoid, but something to explore.

Who’s who

Couch

A dog with a surprisingly brave heart

"Couch" is a dog who believes the world would be a much better place if everyone took a nap before making important decisions. Thoughtful, loyal, and wonderfully practical, Couch approaches life with caution, common sense, and a healthy respect for gravity. While Bunny is busy inventing problems and solutions at the same time, Couch is usually the one asking whether either of those things is a good idea.

He loves comfort, routines, snacks, and knowing where he will sleep at night. Yet beneath his cautious nature is a surprisingly brave heart. Couch may worry about the adventure, question the adventure, and suggest postponing the adventure until next Tuesday, but when a friend needs him, he always shows up.

His greatest gift is reminding others that courage doesn’t always look like charging into the unknown. Sometimes courage looks like taking a deep breath, climbing aboard a very questionable spaceship, and going anyway.

Who’s who

Minidog

If there is a sandwich, Minidog was involved.

Minidog is a small dog with fluffy blond hair, a giant heart, and absolutely no understanding of why anyone would ever want to be grumpy.

If there is a sandwich in the house, it was almost certainly made by Minidog. Sandwiches are his favorite food, favorite hobby, and possibly favorite invention. If you are sad, he will make you a sandwich. If he is sad, he will make himself a sandwich. If nobody is sad, he may still make a sandwich just to be prepared.

After being found lost on the side of the road, Minidog decided the cats were his family. As far as he is concerned, he is also a cat. A very handsome cat. A cat that barks, wags his tail, and occasionally chases squirrels. Nobody is perfect.

Minidog believes everyone deserves a compliment and is happy to provide one. Mundo is one of his heroes. Orbit is one of his best friends. Minicat is one of his best friends too. Minicat disagrees. Minidog believes she is confused.

His favorite place in the world is taking a nap next to his family. The closer the better. Especially if Minicat complains about it. To Minidog, that is just her way of saying she enjoys his company.

Who’s who

Mundo

If there is an Orbit, there is a Mundo.

Mundo is a giant fluffy gray cat who moves so quietly that people often wonder if he can teleport. He can’t. Probably. Nobody has ruled it out completely.

Mundo lives by a simple set of rules. Rule number one: Food is food. And I eat it. If there is cat food, he eats cat food. If there is dog food, he eats dog food. If somebody explains that it is not intended for cats, Mundo listens politely and continues eating. Rule number two: Most problems are not actually problems. They are things happening. Rule number three: A good nap is never wasted.

While the rest of the family worries, investigates mysteries, builds inventions, falls in love, makes sandwiches, or argues about whether a white spot in a pink lake is dangerous, Mundo remains remarkably calm. He has the rare ability to make himself comfortable almost anywhere and become friends with almost anyone without making a big deal about it.

Mundo is Minicat’s best friend, Orbit’s brother, Minidog’s hero, and the unofficial center of the family. Not because he tries to be. Mostly because everyone eventually ends up sitting next to him. His greatest gift is making the world feel a little less complicated than everyone thought it was.

Who’s who

Pucci Pucci

Who needs magic when you can hide behind the toilet?

"Pucci Pucci" is a small kitten with a remarkable talent for disappearing. If you are looking for him, he is nowhere to be found. If you stop looking, there is a good chance he is quietly watching you from somewhere nearby.

Shy and cautious, Pucci Pucci prefers to let everyone else test the world first. New people? He’ll wait. Strange noises? He’ll wait. Unexpected changes? Definitely wait. He usually comes out when the house is quiet, and nobody is paying attention. In fact, if you want to see Pucci Pucci, the best strategy is to pretend you don’t.

Like his brothers and sisters, Pucci Pucci loves going outside. The grass, the leaves, the bugs, the smells, and all the tiny discoveries waiting in the garden seem much less intimidating than most visitors. Outside, he becomes a brave explorer, carefully investigating the world one pawstep at a time.

Gentle, observant, and endlessly curious beneath his shyness, Pucci Pucci notices things others miss. He may not be the first one to walk into a room, but he is often the first one to discover something interesting hiding there.

Who’s who

Lucky

Food first. Love second. Naps third.

"Lucky" is a big cat with a big belly, a big heart, and an even bigger love for food. If there is food in the house, Lucky knows about it. If there are treats in the house, Lucky knows where they are. If you are thinking about opening a bag of treats tomorrow, Lucky somehow knows that too.

Lucky loves being outside. He spends his days patrolling the yard, hunting suspicious leaves, chasing lizards, inspecting bugs, eating grass, and making sure everything is exactly where it should be. If a butterfly flies by, Lucky investigates. If a squirrel appears, Lucky investigates. If a blade of grass looks slightly different than yesterday, Lucky investigates.

Unlike Minicat, who keeps her thoughts to herself, Lucky believes every thought deserves to be shared immediately. He is one of the most talkative cats you will ever meet. If breakfast is late, he has comments. If lunch is late, he has more comments. If dinner is late, he has prepared a full presentation.

Waiting is very difficult for Lucky. Being bored is even worse. Lucky firmly believes that life should contain snacks, adventures, hunting, snacks, sunshine, snacks, naps in the shade, and occasionally more snacks. Whenever the world becomes too quiet, too slow, or too boring, Lucky takes it upon himself to fix the situation.

Usually by announcing it very loudly.

Appendix · As reported on the front page

From the Front Page

When the Planets Moved, Acrylic on Canvas by Alejandra Leibovich

B8 · Painting

When the Planets Moved

STREETS REPORTED MOVING.

Child decides not to mention it.

When I was little, I believed the streets of my city moved.

Not metaphorically. I thought they actually changed places.

I didn’t tell anybody because even as a child I understood that this was probably not the kind of information one should casually bring up at dinner.

I grew up during a military dictatorship. There were soldiers, rules, secrets, things adults didn’t explain, and an understanding that being noticed was not necessarily a good thing. I became very good at watching. At disappearing. At trying to understand what was safe, what wasn’t, and what might suddenly change.

It marked my childhood and, without me knowing it, planted the question that would follow me into adulthood and eventually into my paintings:

Are we safe?

As a child, I learned to pay attention. Who is around me? Should I be visible or invisible? Are safe? And if things change suddenly, am I safe?

Decades later, those questions became the world of my paintings.

My characters find themselves in beautiful, strange, sometimes uncertain places. They don’t quite know if it's safe. They look around. They assess the situation. They wonder if they are safe. They stay close to one another.

They are doing what I did as a child.

Except they have much more interesting planets to visit.

"I grew up in a dictatorship" Acrylic on Canvas by Alejandra Leibovich

B9 · Painting

Minicat and the Boots

This is Minicat playing me as a little girl.

The military was part of the landscape of childhood. Adults were enormous. Authorities were even bigger. And scary. Their boots, represented by the giant paws, were all around school, and the city. Adults were scared of the military. Acquantances, friends or family were being taken by the military. Never to come back.

There was no choice but to just be there. Minicat isn’t running. She is watching.

She is doing the calculation I became very good at as a child: Is this safe? Are we safe?

Those questions stayed with me long after the boots disappeared.

"Hiding in Plain Sight," Acrylic on Canvas by Alejandra Leibovich

B10 · Painting

Hiding in Plain Sight

Back then, I experienced antisemitism. I already knew the world wasn’t always safe. Now I was learning something else: sometimes being different could make you a target.

So I became very good at blending in.

In this painting, Minicat is playing me as a child, surrounded by dogs that don’t look like her. She is a cat, that looks like a dog right there in the middle of everyone, hiding in plain sight.

This became one of my childhood survival strategies. And I created a Childhood Safety Check List that included:

Don’t call attention to yourself. Watch. Listen. Figure out the rules. Try to look like you belong. Stay invisible.

It worked so well that eventually I built myself an imaginary invisibility cloak.

Of course, there was one small problem with becoming invisible:

Nobody could see me.

"My Onion Planet" Acrylic on Canvas by Alejandra Leibovich

B11 · Painting

Cat Builds Entire Planet Around Herself, Discovers One Flaw

Onion Planet. Acrylic on canvas, 12x12.

"Minicat" decided the safest place to keep herself was somewhere nobody could reach her.

So she added a layer. Then another. Then another.

A layer for strangers. A layer for disappointment. A layer for things that hurt. A particularly thick layer for unexpected visitors.

Eventually Minicat had built an entire planet around herself.

It worked perfectly.

Nothing could get in. Nothing could hurt her. Nothing could even find her.

Minicat sat safely in the very middle, pleased with her excellent work.

For a while.

Then she discovered the problem with building a world where nothing can reach you. Nothing can reach you.

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