Café offers art, music

Gallery West Espresso is a café, an art gallery and a music venue all in one. \nThe café, located at 702 W. Kirkwood, next to Flora Restaurant, offers both a café-style setting for the coffee-drinkers, plenty of artwork to admire and lots of open space to study or chat with friends.\nTJ Bloomfield, general manager of Gallery West, said his business provides a unique setting.\n"We have drum workshops offered on Monday nights, belly dancing performances, and a weekly tarot reading," Bloomfield said. "Those are just a few of the events we offer." \nOne particular event Bloomfield and his employees particularly enjoy is the upcoming Full Moon Celebration. The event occurs once a month. This evening's celebration will feature James Yang, who will play an erhu, an ancient Chinese instrument. His wife, Jenny Yang will be demonstrating Tai Chi. The event will start promptly at 7:30 p.m. Next month on May 16 the Full Moon Celebration will be Pangea Belly Dancing. \nThe atmosphere attracts a diverse crowd of customers, many saying Gallery West is a great place to come with friends just to talk. \n"I like it mainly because I can come and sit down and it's very relaxing, the environment itself is something I would come back for," said freshman exploratory major Chris Drayton.\nIn addition to the many events that Gallery West offers, the art gallery is also something that makes the building come alive. The interior of Gallery West contains artwork in various forms from the Asian nation of Bhutan. The art provides a unique backdrop for both events and the café.\nThe local artists who are featured throughout the business add character to rooms in Gallery West. Resident artists Carol Miller, Lee Layman and Norm Ladd have several pieces in Gallery West. \n"Working with them and putting their things up give the place that unique setting. These people are known around the community and are old friends, they've sold art everywhere," Bloomfield said.\nGallery West also has featured artists. This month, Jennifer Blue Blanchard is the featured artist and her collection is being displayed. Her original artwork ranges from oil paintings to ceramics to cloth designs and even an interactive piece. Her collection will run until mid-May. Bloomfield also said that any artist that would like to be featured can call him at Gallery West.\nThere are many difficulties with beginning a business that is fairly uncommon. Bloomfield said the hardest part is dealing with the artwork and the many events that take place.\n"Trying to find new artists and even scheduling all the various events that we put on can be difficult, but I have a good staff that help to take care of things so I can focus on the harder tasks."\nOne employee, Blaine Lowery, who has been working at Gallery West since it opened in January 2003, says he likes working there because of the atmosphere, "I like to be around the artwork and the music, I really enjoy music and I have a really good boss."\n"The main reason (for starting the café) was to give something back to the community and also to provide jobs and most importantly, make great coffee," Bloomfield said.