The Art Cafe – Where Artists Are Made
Contributed by Judy Vars
Welcome to The Art Cafe, a vibrant hub of creativity nestled in Palmer, Alaska. We are thrilled to announce that Becky Holsinger has taken over as the new owner bringing her passion and extensive experience in the arts to our beloved community space.
Becky, originally from Pennsylvania, relocated to Palmer from Taos, New Mexico, almost 3 years ago in search of new adventures and to be closer to her grandchildren. With a background in owning and operating Pieces, a 25,000 square foot second-hand store and Vagrant Heart an artist space in Taos Becky brings a wealth of knowledge and a fresh perspective to The Art Cafe. Her experiences abroad and a lifetime immersed in the arts make her an invaluable addition to our thriving artistic community.
Under Becky’s leadership, we have exciting plans to revitalize the local arts scene. We are invigorating the First Friday Art events in Palmer and the wider Mat-Su area with monthly art shows and artist receptions; Michelle Cornelius is our featured artist in February, Nancy Angelini-Crawford will in March. Our diverse range of classes will expand beyond the usual offerings to include unique art forms such as book art, acrylic art, encaustic art, hat making, Ukrainian Egg Dyeing, Mindful Art combined with yoga, kids’ art fun this summer and Mixed Media Madness Wednesdays! are just some of the new activities we are eager to share with you. We warmly invite artists with unique skills and ones interested in the gallery space to join us and share their talents with the community.
At The Art Cafe, we believe in providing an oasis of creativity where you can leave your cares behind, relax, and express yourself. Our dedicated team of artists-baristas, including Laura Felpel, Kyla Peria, Judy Vars, and Willow York, is committed to ensuring a seamless and inspiring experience for all who visit.
Although Becky officially took ownership in July 2024, the previous owner, who decided to sell after six years to focus on personal art and other ventures, helped lay the foundation for what we are today.
We invite you to visit The Art Cafe and explore our Tesserae room, ceramics, Art Gallery, and Classroom. Savor a cup of espresso, indulge in some fudge or ice cream, and most importantly, unleash your creativity in our welcoming environment.
For more details on our classes and events, please visit www.theartcafeak.com. call or 907 745-6100. You can also connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
We can’t wait to see you and share in the joy of making art together!