Found Art
Serendipity blooms in local restaurants and salons
by Gretchen Collins

At the Palace Café on Cherry Street owners James and Brooke Shrader included art, and other local products, from the conception of their restaurant. “We came to the design table together to produce the restaurant that patrons see today,” James Shrader, who is also the chef, explains. “Art is something that is very subjective and produces emotions in people, much like food. I believe that art and creative restaurants go hand in hand.”

One of his inspirations was the Dahlia Lounge in Seattle. The Dahlia Lounge exhibits such Pacific Northwest artists as Dale Chihuly and Elain Hanowell. Providing a venue for Tulsa artists is one of Shrader’s goals.

In Shrader’s case, he approached the art community, shared his ideas, and they produced pieces that complemented the Palace Café. “The artwork is chosen based on my personal tastes and how it flows with the feel of the restaurant. The concept of our dining space is somewhat funky and eclectic.”

He believes that art adds a lot of interest to the restaurant. “Patrons enjoy the feeling that the art evokes for the most part.” All of the art in the Palace Café is for sale and at least five pieces have been sold through the restaurant. “In talking to my friend and local artist, Rosemary Daugherty, she has had a lot of interest sparked through the restaurant. It definitely is a good way to get visibility.”

Daugherty is responsible for what Shrader calls the “girls” which currently grace the east wall of the café. They are beautiful, colorful, and certainly have that eclectic quality, perfect for the Palace Café.

While Shrader has yet to hold an opening, it is something that he is considering. “We have thought strongly about doing a featured dinner with the artist and having a special wine dinner to feature a local artist.” The Palace Café is hoping to implement this in August.

“The art display in the restaurant has created an ambiance that is impossible to duplicate,” Shrader says. “I cannot even imagine the feel of the dining room without Rosemary Daugherty’s ‘girls,’ the wonderful, colorful pillars on the west wall by Matt Moffett, or the creative wine rack and hostess stand provided by Lisa Regan, ‘the garden diva.’ We are so lucky to have all of this wonderful talent in Tulsa, and it has been an asset to my business to have all of these original works of art to help me create the look and feel that is eclectic, original, and all mine.”

From UrbanTulsa.com
Originally published by Urban Tulsa Weekly Thursday, August 04, 2005
©2005 Urban Tulsa Weekly.
http://www.urbantulsa.com/article.asp?id=2786