Sunday, July 1, 2007

The Starving Artist Cafe Showing Jean Bourque Art


During the month of July art work by international artist Jean Bourque will be on display and for sale at The Starving Artist Cafe at 1103 "B" Ave. West Columbia, SC . (not too far from Zesto's) The oil painting above is "Yellow Brickroad" inspired by the book and movie "The Wizard of Oz". Emerald City is shown to the far right of the painting and since this is just a small slice of the yellow brick road; there is no clear cut path as to how one gets there. This 24 by 18 inch piece of art was part of the SC Oil Painters Invitational and was juried to tour 12 venues for a year. Besides that it was also juried by Dean Mitchell into an Art Show at Fort Walton Beach, FL. Since the owners of The Starving Artist Cafe had a poster up about "The Wizard of Oz" it was only natural that the artist would exhibit this special piece.
Jean Bourque has selected 17 pieces of art for this wonderful multi room art show, filling the entire restaurant. The art collection includes six oil paintings, and other paintings include the use of mixed mediums such as silk, paper and gold collages, acrylic paintings, a large mixed media neon colored pastel under glass called "Night Lights at the Fair", and even an enhanced monotype print on an acrylic background with pastels; entitled "Pink House of Art" a rather unique take on the artist's first home purchased, which was a pink house.
The largest piece is a 3 foot by 2 foot silver aluminium framed work entitled 3-3-3. The piece was done as an emotional release; when the artist's son Adam had to leave USA to go to Kuwait with the US Army on March 3, 2003, before the war was declared. The piece is set on a sky colored background and one can feel the strong emotions evoked looking at the work. Although the work is about something as unpleasant as a son going off to war, it is felt that many people can relate to the emotional traumas of life and feel a sense of unity with this painting. The painting is pleasant to look at with its pastel colors and pretty clear blue sky.
While enjoying the art work at The Starving Artist Cafe you can have lunch or dinner, dine on the nightly specials or have one of their great desserts; perhaps Red Velvet cake. You may want to try the delicious Chicken Salad Montage with fruit and walnuts a special old fashioned recipe like mamma used to make. Their Tuesday evening special is an entree called; "Country Style Steak". My dining companion enjoyed it so much; she got an extra one to go. The wait staff tells us this is the house favorite. The menu says they also have daily vegetarian specials.
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NIGHT OWL'S DELIGHT
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Tom Wood (co-owner) had been involved with the theater at The Village Square Theatre in Lexington. With that in mind; he decided to include late night hours for Friday and Saturday nights. The Starving Artist Cafe stays open until 2 am. They feature a late night brunch from 11:30 pm to 2 am which is the perfect alternative to existing late night places. So after a night of theater, a night on the town or after dancing and clubbing stop in and have a delicious Eggs Benedict or the yummy Bananas and Pecan French Toast.
You can call ahead for "You Go Girl Gourmet" or for directions at 803-791-3770.
Hope to see you there....
yours truly;
Jeanee

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