Phoenix Light Rail Celebrations

Even though the Roosevelt Station wasn't one of the official 'celebration' stops, the Fair Trade Cafe was 'a buzzin'. Everyone had a great time and the Phoenix Light Rail was greeted by overwhelming enthusiasm by Cafe patrons. The new light rail system should prove to be a boon for downtown businesses and having the gateway to the arts district station right opposite should make the Fair Trade Cafe a premier stop for commuters and visitors alike.


Yesterday also saw the conclusion of our Christmas Fair Trade Art Exhibition and this week sees a return to our regular program of exhibitions of the works of local artists, this month with the work of Vav - see cafe website for details. We shall. of course have a selection of Fair Trade art and crafts on display at the Cafe and are looking forward to the imminent arrival of our first five limited edition prints of Luis Varela's 'Cascada'. Watch this space!

Fair Trade Cafe Joins Phoenix Light Rail Celebrations

On Saturday, 27th December, from 10am - 5pm, Phoenix celebrates the opening of its new light rail system - having put up with the disruptions over building the thing for the last couple of years! Station celebrations will occur along the entire 20-mile METRO alignment. There will be music, activities and exhibits at many park-n-ride and light rail station locations. Shuttle buses will be available to take you back to your car. Rides will run from 10am - 8pm and are totally free.

As the Fair Trade Cafe stands right outside the light rail station serving the downtown Arts District - Central/ 1st Ave and Roosevelt - we are taking part in the celebrations with pavement art and craft displays and, of course, plenty of Fair Trade coffee! I shall also be down there from approximately 10am - 2pm giving guided tours of our Fair Trade fine Art works. So, if you are heading downtown to check out the light rail - drop on by and see us at the Fair Trade Cafe!

Aboriginal Art from Australia

We currently have three pieces of aboriginal art on display at the Fair Trade Cafe. The painting above is acrylic on canvas and is called "Women's Ceremony". The artist, Katie Kemarre, was born 1943 and is from Antarrengeny, in the Utopia Region, NE of Alice Springs. Katie is a well known artist in Australia and participated in the "Utopia - A Picture Story Exhibition", a silk batik by 88 Utopian artists, which toured internationally. She generally paints using acrylic on canvas, but also does the occasional wood carving.

She has been exhibiting since 1989, not only throughout Australia but also in the USA. Her exhibitions in the U.S include Portland Oregon (The Cove Gallery; Urban Wine Works; Mary's Woods; Portland Art Museum), Knoxville, Tennessee (Art & Soul Gallery; New City Merchants) and also the Mbantua Gallery USA Exhibition in Portland, Nashville, Knoxville, Greenwich and New York in 2004.

These are very unique and interesting paintings - every one of them has a story to tell. Come by the Fair Trade Cafe and check them out for yourself!