Bay Ridge

Bay Ridge artist finds a gallery close to home

February 18, 2015 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Artist James Rose drew this Bay Ridge street scene. The buildings lining Third Avenue inspired his artist’s eye. Image courtesy of James Rose
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A Bay Ridge artist who is inspired by his surroundings has found a place close to home to exhibit his work.

James Rose is currently exhibiting his paintings and drawings at Caffe Café at 8401 Third Ave.

Rose lives with his family a block away from the café.

The artist will host a reception for his artwork at Caffe Café on Feb. 27 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Rose revealed the secret to how his favorite coffee shop has miraculously been turned into a homegrown version of the Louvre.

“I live a block from Caffe Café and frequent it like most other people in my neighborhood. And one day it dawned on me, I should have some artwork in here,” Rose said. “Mike, the young owner/operator of the shop, was all for it. He also asked if I could make a drawing of the shop. I agreed. We negotiated that we trade coffee for art. My wife and I buy coffee all the time, so it is a total win-win for us and the café.”

The plan is to have a rotating group of artists present their work at the cafe, according to Rose. Every two months Rose will rotate new art work in the café. But on June 1, he will invite another artist to take his place. That artist will have two months to show his or her work. From that point on, Rose will be inviting a different artist into the café every two months.

The drawing of the café that he did at the request of the owner will be on permanent display.

Rose’s work has been shown in galleries in neighborhoods all over Brooklyn, including Carroll Gardens, DUMBO, Park Slope, Greenpoint and Bushwick.

Until now, however, he did not have the chance to display his work in his own neighborhood of Bay Ridge. He currently has three pieces on display in the cafe.

“There is plenty of culture in Bay Ridge. There are great restaurants, diverse specialty shops, dance schools and a real feeling of what New York used to be. But not a lot in the visual art experience,” Rose said.

Rose described his art as realistic representations of the neighborhoods he lives in. The work on display at the café was inspired by Bay Ridge, he said.

Rose is originally from the Hudson River Valley, and he has lived all over the U.S. He studied art in New England and lived in San Francisco for many years.

In 2008, he relocated to New York City, first living in Manhattan and then moving to Queens. In 2012, he and his wife, Jennifer, started a family and moved to Bay Ridge. The couple has two sons.

For more information, email Rose at www.jamesfredericrose.com

 

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