BLACK BEAR CAFE BELLINGEN EXHIBITION AND MURAL
Selected Limited Edition works from local artist
CRYSTAL TATE currently on display.
Follow the fun on instagram @artistic.crystaltate
Please enquire with the artist if you have any questions.
The story
Meet Crystal
Crystal was a home birth in Dorrigo, raised here in the valley and went to the local high school. Her mum worked in this cafe back when it was The Boiling Billy, owned by our favourite Lolly Shop owners Bobby and Nigel.
Crystal tasted coffee for the first time sitting right there at the window table.
Born with a pencil in her hand, Crystal has always been creative and enjoyed making art. But it wasn’t until she became a nurse and spent time with older people who were reflecting on what was ACTUALLY important (when they thought back across their full and varied lives) that she started to see a pattern. Just a handful of people and one or two places- our world as we defined it- was everything.
The meaning of life.
This inspired Crystal to create art that connects us to what matters most. Through saturated, joy-filled landscapes and sweet watercolour portraits, Crystal makes art that brightens our space and warms our heart.
Hidden Valley
As Crystal reflected on which handful of places told her story, she knew where she had to start.
This artwork was the first of her hand drawn digital landscapes and depicts Bellingen as Crystal remembers it from the old look out up onto of the hill.
This view reminds her of the quiet, hidden community that she will always belong to. A place where she is truly known.
Black Bear Collab
How a mural is born…
I had been walking past the cafe for months. Eyeing off the wall space and working up the confidence to ask for what I wanted. I fronted up to the service window to introduce myself and Ed (the owner) looked straight at me and said-
”Hi! I know who you are and yes, we would love to have your art on the walls”.
I was back with a selection of work within the week. It gives me such a thrill to see my art on the wall in my home town and even more so when it heads home with a happy collector.
Pretty soon after meeting, Ed was keen to discuss a mural that would be eye catching and celebrate this beautiful place we called home. We came up with the concept of a vibrant local landscape depicting the iconic Ngali “Old Man Dreaming” mountains.
We decided to keep the bear.
The bear was painted by Ashan Normoyle, another local artist I grew up with in the valley. I loved the idea of building on the story rather than re-writing it completely.
I am grateful for the opportunity to bring this vision to life!
