Donald “C-Note” Hooker’s Coffee Bar stands out as a unique gem within the realm of coffee-inspired art. Featured prominently in the Everything Coffee prisoner art exhibition, curated by Treacy Ziegler through Prisoner Express, this piece captured the spotlight in 2018.
The exhibition unfolded at two venues during 2018: Gimme Coffee’s Cayuga Street spot in Ithaca, New York, and their Trumansburg location.
Everything Coffee presented an array of paintings and poetry crafted by prisoners, with a distinctive twist on the visual art segment. Curators challenged artists to step beyond conventional coffee-themed imagery, urging them to craft their works using coffee as the main medium.
C-Note’s Coffee Bar is a prime example of this creative endeavor. Known for his artistic prowess even behind bars, C-Note ingeniously created the semblance of an ice cream bar using instant coffee. Watercolor details added depth with delicate highlights and shadows, and a layer of floor wax lent the piece an exquisite shine. A standout feature is the figure within the art, sculpted entirely from wax.
This innovative approach to using coffee grounds and other materials transforms Coffee Bar from a simple representation to a profound commentary on creativity under constraints.
Add a conversation-starter to your collection
Enhance your space with the engaging and innovative Coffee Bar art print by American prison artist C-Note. This art print, rich in story and creativity, promises to be an eye-catching focal point. Click on the image below to see more 👇
