Visual Arts: Culture breaks offer wall-to-wall enjoyment
Just a few short shopping days till Christmas and your schedule is jammed.
But even if you are racing around checking off your final holiday errands, you might still need to refuel with a piping hot latte or steaming bowl of soup.
Why not multitask and take in a little culture while you take a break.
More and more coffee shops and bistros are giving over their wall space for the display of original arts and crafts.
Here are a few places to view original art while sipping an espresso.
“Combining art and books is the Liberty Café adjacent to Auntie’s Bookstore at 404 W. Main Ave.
More than two dozen florals, landscapes, still lifes and portraits are on display during December. There are oils, pastels and watercolors by Ethelynn Coleman, Thelma Giampietri, Emma Randolph and Dixie Slaton.
“The Liberty Cafe is a wonderful space to show work,” says painter Coleman. “It has incredible light and expansive wall space.”
“A number of coffeehouses exhibit art, including Thomas Hammer Coffee Roasters, 210 W. Pacific Ave., where the figurative artworks of Clancie Pleasants and Colton Worley are on display.
“The Shop on South Perry is another place that blends fine coffee with fine art. During December, Jamey Cunningham’s digital screen prints are in the spotlight. Stop by The Shop, 924 S. Perry St.
“If your family is taking in a movie or grabbing a quick lunch at River Park Square, wind your way back to the Kress Gallery (on the third level on the way to the restrooms) to see the Palouse landscape paintings of Leonard Heid of Moscow, Idaho.
“While in River Park Square, adults can sip a taste of wine at the Arbor Crest Wine Cellars on the third level in the Atrium Cafe and view the impressionistic oil paintings of Kyle Paliotto.
Two other downtown wineries offering art are Barrister Winery, 1213 W. Railroad Ave., with fiber art by JoAnne Bailey; and Grande Ronde Cellars, 906 W. Second Ave., showing Balinese sculpture and carvings.
“The Prago … Argentine Cafe, 201 W. Riverside Ave., is showing the three-dimensional multimedia pieces of Miriam Gregg.
“Far West Billiards on the corner of First and Monroe is a place to see work by student and emerging artists.
“Just south of Far West at 122 S. Monroe Ave. is the Brooklyn Nights lounge, where the paintings of Rob York are being showcased.
“The artwork is getting a lot of attention,” says owner Jody Harville.
Art in windows, on street
You don’t even have to go inside to view art in downtown Spokane – you’ll run into it on almost every street corner.
“”Carousel on Parade” features 26 brightly painted ponies, tigers and giraffes roaming the streets. The fiberglass animals were decorated by local artists as a fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Spokane.
“When walking downtown between River Park Square and the STA Plaza, glance inside the windows of Global Credit Union, 726 W. Riverside Ave., to see a variety of fine art photographs.
“Another window to peer into is The Spokesman-Review production building at 1 N. Monroe Ave. On permanent display is a glass, neon and metal installation created by Steve Adams of Spokane.
“From Another Time” is “about the development of what has come down to us as the modern alphabet,” says Adams.
North Idaho places
The Pend Oreille Arts Council gallery is in the lobby adjacent to the Power House Bar and Grill, 120 Lake St. in Sandpoint.
“Light, Shadow & Words” features two-dimensional artwork with poetry published by Lost Horse Press.
“In Coeur d’Alene, downtown restaurants featuring art include Barrel Room No. 6, Bella Rosa, Brix/The Beacon, Cafe Doma, Cricket’s Steakhouse, Pita Pit, Toro Viejo and The Wine Cellar.
“The Moscow Food Co-op, 121 E. Fifth St., is showcasing co-op employee artists in its cafe seating area.
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