What started out as a one off  back in 2007 has now blossomed out into a permanent summer event and a new corner of Barga Vecchia – The Art Cafe – open to the public. Two years ago it started as “Art at the Osteria” – a season of art on show through the summer at the L’Osteria in Piazza Angelio. Inside the main sala, paintings by the Barga artist Alba Calamari were on permanent display but added to that was an exhibition of paintings outside the Osteria. The work on view was only one large oil painting on an easel but that painting was changed daily over the summer giving regular clients of the Osteria a daily glimpse into the artistic thought processes and visual games of another of Barga’s artists – the painter Keane. (his site is here)

[Click here for slideshow]

Last night was the official opening of the Art Cafe – a corner of Piazza Angelio set out with tables and a chairs with service from the L’Osteria and a painting on an easel by Keane. The painting will be changed daily and the exhibition should last for most of the summer … it really depends on just how many paintings he has to show but word on the street is that his studio is full of recent work.

At the opening last night, among some of the very fine wine being drunk at the tables was floated the idea that other artists could be invited to join in this slow motion exhibition and so maybe the Art Cafe might be expanding … who knows?

On this day..

• Crop circles or aliens at the football stadium - 2009
• Moray Concert Brass - 2008
• “L’inafferrabile Weltanschauung del pesce rosso” di Fabrizio Gabrielli - 2008
• La Galleria - Zucca, Kova, Dente, Barrile - 2007
• Wedding - Putsman Farquharson - 2007