In August of 2024, Dr. Michel Barrett brought a bit of Japanese folk art and tradition to the Montana Women’s Prison. Maneki-neko are Japanese talismans thought to bring good fortune and wealth to their owners.

From the dawn of creation, cats have demanded their images be captured and preserved to stand the test of time. Montanans are no exception to cat law, and immediately took to photographing their feline masters as soon as photography was invented.