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closeLocal artist combines the organic and unnatural in art exhibit at Sumner café
Sumner coffee shop hosts show for area artist and hopes to continue utilizing stage for art displays
Roxanne Cooke
A local East Pierce artist combined the natural and unnatural in his art installation, “Almost Human,” on display at Beyond the Bridge Café in Sumner last Friday.
The installation focuses on geometric shapes mixed with organic shapes, said the artist, who prefers the moniker “Cash.” The display featured old electronics, old books, crates, string and wood blocks painted with animals.
“I call it urban art,” said Cash, 20.
Each piece was arranged on the stage of Beyond the Bridge for the evening. The string runs through the entirety of the installation.
“It’s organic,” he said. “It breaks up the straight lines. It adds a little chaos.”
The painting was done freehand on unaltered found objects, Cash said. Even the wood blocks retain portions of labels stamped onto them.
Part of the message in his work: Stop aiming for perfection.
“Imperfection can also be a positive point,” he said.
But Cash is open for interpretation of his work.
“As long as they take something away from it, I’m happy,” he said.
Cash, who lives in Bonney Lake, has drawn since he was very young and started painting in high school. As part of his senior project, he took lessons from a Mexican folk artist. He’s attended one year of college and is currently working at a sheet metal shop in Algona.
The artist’s friendship with an employee at Beyond the Bridge Café helped him land the show in Sumner. The fun, relaxed atmosphere and young owners mesh well with his personality and art style.
“I just got kind of lucky,” Cash said. “This is a good place for me.”
Recently he hosted a bigger show at Urban Outfitters in Seattle and he’ll soon be part of another art show in the Greenwood neighborhood of Seattle.
The shows are his opportunity to meet new people, learn from others and talk about his work. As a natural introvert, it helps to put himself out there, he said.
“This has been a really good experience,” Cash said.
His art show in Sumner coincided with the café’s free latte day, aimed at Sumner Arts Festival attendees.
“Today’s given us some really good exposure,” said co-owner Tricia Rubke. “Cash has done an awesome job.”
Rubke and her husband, Ben, opened their coffee shop, located next door to The Old Cannery, in November 2006. This past winter they remodeled the interior to make more room for a stage and seating.
Aside from “Live at BBC” nights for local musicians, the couple wanted to make use of the stage all month long, so they brainstormed what to do and came up with the idea of featuring local artists such as Cash.
“This is exactly how I had pictured it in my mind,” Tricia Rubke said of Cash’s setup.
The two hope Cash is the first of many artists they feature in the shop.
“I want to give everybody a voice,” Ben Rubke said.
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UPCOMING EVENTS AT BEYOND THE BRIDGE CAFÉ
For more information on upcoming events at Beyond the Bridge Café, visit www.myspace.com/beyondthebridgecafe.