Lauren Sweeney, Natures Bounty @ Geechee Girl Rice Cafe.

Bananas and Oranges, watercolor.

Lauren Sweeney, Natures Bounty @ Geechee Girl Rice Cafe

Ranunculus Bud and Budding Alyssum, watercolor by Lauren Sweeney.

Lauren Sweeney said, “This is a show I decided to include just watercolors that predominantly included what I call natures bounty: fruits, vegetables, shells from the sea and some of the man made objects.  Because it’s sort of a unique opportunity for me to focus more than I have for shows in the past trying to show a little of the diversity that I’ve done.  But, this is twenty paintings, so, it’s a lot of work.  The way this show came about is that they have a curator that goes around including Post Open Studio Tours and she liked my work and asked me on the spot if I would want to do a show here.  She’s the one that arranges the show, goes to the art openings…what she did was go through the POST listings and see which artists looked good to her and then she went around to them.  She invited me out here (Mt. Airy) to see this place and I love it, this space makes all art glow.  It’s a really good space and it allows you to really see the art.  It’s a restaurant so normally you can only see it when they’re open but tonight we’re having the first art reception.”  Lauren Sweeney said she got free publicity through a free networking service called Patch, check it out.  The website gives info and what’s going on in different Philly neighborhoods but it doesn’t exist in Center City yet.

Lauren Sweeney, Natures Bounty @ Geechee Girl Rice Cafe.

Geechee Girl Rice Cafe is operated by five sisters, DoN talked with chef/owner Val Erwin about art being part of Geechee Girl Rice Cafe‘s business plan, “We do regular shows of artists. I have somebody on my staff that curates them, works with the artists and hangs the shows.”  Does art draw customers?  “Well, in the most ideal situation, yes.  I mean, that isn’t why we started it but hopefully it does.”

Lauren Sweeney, Natures Bounty @ Geechee Girl Rice Cafe.

Lauren explained to DoN, “I decided early on to use existing work and create new work focused on nature, the tomato painting I started at the Fitler Square Art Fair, while I was there.  This has been a great opportunity for me to expand into this neighborhood.  I’ve met some of the gallery owners, there are all kinds and it’s been a real motivating factor.  The show is two months long and runs through the end of August.”

Geechee Girl Rice Cafe – This weekend’s specials:

• Corn chowder
• Geechee Girl house salad with herb toasted brie, candied pecans and fresh peaches
• Fried okra & jalapenos w/ herb sour cream sauce
  
• Roasted marinated beets garnished with Lancaster County goat cheese
• Geechee Girl crabcakes with herb sour cream sauce.  Jasmine rice and Asian slaw
• Chicken gumbo garnished with Carolina gold rice.  Served with sauteed greens
• Individual peach cobbler served warm and topped with vanilla ice cream.

Brunch specials

• Peach lemonade: lemonade topped with fresh peach nectar
• Orange-currant scones with white icing
• Geechee Girl crabcakes w/ herb sour cream sauce.  Jasmine rice and heirloom tomato salad
  
• Grits souffle with oven roasted tomatoes.  Thick sliced bacon and herb scrambled eggs
• Buttermilk pancakes with peaches and whipped cream

    World’s best fried chicken every Wednesday this summer.  Get there early ’cause when it’s gone, it’s gone!

 

Photos by DoN.