The Traveler

Issue date: 4/14/08 Section: Life & Style

Media Credit: Stephen Ironside Artwork hangs in the dining areas of Common Grounds, located on Dickson St. The restaurant is allowing local artists to submit their artwork for the café for the month of April.

Looking for a local place to display artwork? The Common Grounds Gourmet Espresso Bar hosts a local artist display program that features the work of three or four artists a month.

"For a long time, people have been hanging their art in Common Grounds," said Greg Mack, program art director and creative director of TaylorMack Advertising. Mack also has a background in painting and drawing.

The artwork is displayed throughout the establishment, doubling as wall art and decoration. Many of the pieces are placed close to the tables where patrons can easily view them while dining.

"Invisible Feather" and "3 Through the Pines," two vibrant works by local artist and fine arts teacher Tom Molesso, sits above customers dining at the bar on the immediate left upon entering Common Grounds. Both pieces are priced under $500.

Any artists interested in displaying their work can contact Mack through e-mail or from the Common Grounds Web site to inquire about available space. There is a $25 hanging fee and negotiations are handled directly through the artist, which includes selling and discussing pieces with interested patrons.

Mack was asked to take over the program this past month and saw no problem in directing the program along with the public relations duties his company provides for Common Grounds, he said.

TaylorMack Advertising and Common Grounds do not receive commission from the artwork sold, he said.

"We want to promote local talent in a way that gives them the greatest exposure," Mack said in a press release. "Dickson Street is the entertainment center of the city and region, so there's no better place to display your work than Common Grounds Gourmet Espresso Bar."

The number of people who frequent the popular coffeehouse exceeds the number of those who attend area galleries, making Common Grounds the best place to ensure the artist's work will be viewed, Mack said in the press release.

He is also interested in opening up the local art display program to other establishments, which are all places that he views as having crowds frequent in the morning, noon and well into the night, he said.

For more information, please contact Greg Mack at 479-444-7770, ext. 17 or Art-Director@CommonGroundsAR.com.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools