After the recent remodel at my favorite cafe (Fair Trade!) in downtown Phoenix, I was eager to see what new artists would be featured this month. Once again, it’s a pleasure to learn about a new creative – this time it’s Dakota Drake who works in mixed media with acrylics, and digital tools to create some excellent work! She refers to herself as a woodland creature who enjoys living in the Arizona desert. While dropping into Fair Trade Cafe for a hot tea after Ash Wednesday services at Trinity Episcopal Church, here are couple of her paintings I enjoyed:
“Make Your Own Luck” reminds me of other paintings with “Day Of The Dead” themes I’ve seen at the Burton Barr Library Gallery (a block north of Fair Trade Cafe) and other venues in downtown Phoenix. The planchette sends little chills up and down my spine, implying risky supernatural contacts and spiking thoughts of journeys into an unknown void. Both paintings are good examples of contrast, and how Drake likes to work with different genres. Another thing I appreciated reading about Drake was her decision to move away from her initial career in the business world.
During the Covid pandemic she decided to pursue creating artworks full time. In my estimation this would be a major relief to make that big of a shift to a new way of life. However, not everyone is able to make that transition, so it’s admirable for those that can, finding a greater sense of fulfillment elsewhere. Her works seek to express the importance of nature and unspoiled wilderness to the public, while at the same time being able get in touch with personal feelings. In addition, Drake now teaches art to students of all ages.
I enjoyed looking through her website which shows a variety of prints and original works for sale at reasonable prices. To see more of Dakota Drake’s work, check out the following site: http://dakotadrake.com As mentioned earlier, the Fair Trade Cafe is an ideal venue to view works by Drake and many other Arizona artists. The cafe is also a great place to relax with a latte, or a hot tea and has scrumptious snacks and sandwiches for breakfast or lunch. Fair Trade is popular both with locals and visitors to Phoenix. It’s also very close to the Trinity Episcopal Church’s Olney Gallery, which I’ve profiled here several times before.
For more about Fair Trade Cafe ☕️ check out: http://azfairtrade.com
