Walking into Open Eye, it’s hard not to feel inspired. From scrap-art sculptures at the cafe’s entrance to vintage doors leaning nonchalantly against walls, the shop seems almost to breathe a creative aura.
Often called the town’s living room, the coffee shop has earned this epithet in its more than 10 years of existence. Residents flock to the space for non-corporate coffee and to immerse themselves in a visually stimulating setting.
The owners’ commitment to giving local artists and musicians the opportunity — at no cost — to share their work within the context of a small, friendly community fits this living room moniker well.
Nature photographs by Stan Lewis, which feature curious-looking close-ups of flora and fauna, hung from the cafe’s walls during the month of November.
Meuiner’s other shop, Caffé Driade, is small and intimate. Nestled in the trees along East Franklin Street, the cafe is quieter than the bustling Open Eye, but the two shops share similar qualities.
Potential applicants to work at both shops are encouraged to submit a piece of art that is indicative of their passion for coffee.
Lisa Ramsden, a recent job applicant to Driade, created a large collage in the shape of a latte during her application process. Doubling as a written letter, the piece expressed her desire to contribute to Driade’s creative coffee culture.
Cup A Joe, run by local coffee roasting company Joe Van Gogh, strikes an unusual pose in Chapel Hill’s Timberlyne shopping center. From the outside, it’s less than extraordinary.
But inside, the bright, busy art work on the wall tells a different story. Oguntoyinbo’s work adds to this ambiance.
Oguntoyinbo feels that his art is “too unusual” for more structured spaces, he said.
He finds the gallery process subjective, he said.
More than bypassing galleries, the artist hopes to make the spaces where his work is displayed a little more intriguing.
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“If it helps places look a little cooler, I’ve done my job,” he said.
Defining a culture
Unconventional art spaces like Cup A Joe aid local artists, just as they are inseparable from cafe culture itself.
“Everyone notices the one or two day gap when there’s no art,” Cup A Joe barista Kemp Watson said. “You’ll see people stop and stare,” he said.
“Or leave early,” a customer said playfully while walking out on a recent afternoon.
These coffee shops contribute to the artistic community in obvious ways.
But their interest in exposing their patrons to the arts can be seen on a smaller scale, too. At all three cafes, baristas swirl elegant shapes into their lattes — a small reminder of the universality of art.
Contact the Arts Editor
at artsdesk@unc.edu.