PRINTBeautiful bistros
Restaurants spice up more than food by displaying local art
Michelle Peltier
Artist David Spear describes how he was inspired when painting the characters for Arcadia, which hangs in Sophia’s on Providence Road. Spear has also done work for Addison’s, Sophia’s sister restaurant.
August 26, 2009 | 12:00 p.m. CST
A restaurant’s ambience makes a statement almost as strongly as its food, and little makes for better ambiance than art. Restaurants such as Addison’s use local artists to show patrons what they’re about.
Artist David Spear’s work, which hangs in both Addison’s and Sophia’s, is possibly the best-known amongst Columbia restaurants. Owner Adam Dushoff and his partners had empty walls for a year while trying to agree on something for Addison’s. “We didn’t want to put knick-knacky stuff up,” Dushoff says. Spear, a waiter and bartender at Addison’s at the time, offered to paint four signature pieces.
Dushoff and Spear say the pieces have helped to bolster business. “Our image was enhanced greatly by having the art up,” Dushoff says. “Having art adds comfort to a place and adds to experience,” Spear adds. For the art in Sophia’s, Spear married Greek mythology with Columbia scenery. Sophia’s is filled with art, even the ceiling holds a piece. In the entryway, look up and you’ll see art on the ceiling depicting the sun and moon gods of Greek mythology, Helios and Selene. All together, Spear created six pieces for Addison’s and 10 for Sophia’s.
Art can also lend a historical perspective; the works at Ernie’s Café and Steak House is a virtual timeline of the restaurant, with some works dating back to 1942. Owner Tom Spurling says the art shows the character of Ernie’s. Among the collection is a psychedelic painting that Spurling dug out of the attic. The main artwork, a vibrant oil painting of San Fransisco’s skyline, was created by a mother-daughter duo, Jeanne and Kristin Ramlow. “It adds some fun and color to the restaurant,” Jeanne Ramlow says.
Leigh Lockhart, owner of Main Squeeze, has been featuring a different local artist in her restaurant every month since she opened 12 years ago. Lockhart, who built her business upon ideals of sustainability through using local resources, thinks featuring local art was an obvious ingredient for Main Squeeze.
Since Main Squeeze’s inception, its walls have seen a wide spectrum of artforms by a colorful array of artists. None of them have been charged to display their work, nor has Lockhart ever taken a percentage of the art sold. “I believe everybody who calls himself an artist deserves a place to show their work,” Lockhart says. “It helps them to gain confidence.” Some of the notables Lockhart remembers include Lisa Bartlett, who now owns Artlandish Gallery, and Josie Sullivan who specializes in assemblage art and creates pieces from unexpected odds and ends, and who also sold her first creation at Main Squeeze in 1998.
Artwork isn’t just exclusive to the walls of restaurants. Each year, Les Bourgeois Winery hosts a contest to choose the artwork featured on the labels of its collector’s series wines. Among the judges for the competition are the owner, Curtis Bourgeois, and the winemakers themselves. Anything that can be submitted electronically is fair game for the contest: Photos, watercolors and acrylic paintings have all won in the past. Winners also receive the opportunity to display their work for four months in the bistro at the winery. “It’s an expression of our winemakers’ craft in a way,” says Rachel Mills, marketing director. “Pairing local wine with local artists is a good fit.”
Artwork is an essential component in creating the individual environment of every restaurant. So before eating up, soak in the handpicked delights that furnish and liven up the place.
Check out the walls at these other Columbia eateries, where the art is as local as the fare, and fulfill your art appetite!
TELLERS GALLERY AND BAR
Tellers typically changes its decorations on a monthly basis to maintain a hip, upscale environment. It’s such a popular venue, there is a six month waiting list for artists to display their work. It also proves to be profitable for some artists — painter Emma Ginsberg says she has shown twice and sold eight paintings from each show.
UPRISE BAKERY
Because Uprise wants to support local artists, no cut is taken from sales. “What makes Uprise so special is that it attracts people of all walks of life,” says Adam Stockman, visual art curator. This month, Ted Nelson’s abstract work is featured.
HEMINGWAY’S WINE AND BISTRO
The art at Hemingway’s has a personal touch — it was done by owner Julie Allen. “When my husband gave me this assignment, I was like a deer in headlights,” Allen says. “But when we put the artwork up, it pulled it all together.” Her photos, which were put on canvas, include close-ups of a Rolls Royce hood emblem and martini glasses. “We wanted to give you a sense that you could be anywhere,” Allen says.
