■ Café Racer owner Kurt Geissell (seated on left), OBAMA curator Jo David (standing) and employee Cissy Miller (whose 10-year-old Ruby is the namesake of the Ruby Room) talk shop in the café’s bar area, located just beyond the Official Bad Art Museum of Art’s doorway. photo provided by Jo David
Both newcomers and regulars of Café Racer, 5828 Roosevelt Way N.E., now have some new art to look at - even if some of it may be considered an eyesore.
The Official Bad Art Museum of Art opened inside the café on Saturday, Nov. 15, and curators Jo David and Marlow Harris are hoping that more bad art keeps pouring in.
"The news is out, and we've opened the floodgates," David said, the day after the grand opening. "As we get art that's really bad, we lower the bar. Hopefully, people will bring in something that is really horrible."
THE OBAMA ROOM
The Official Bad Art Museum of Art, cleverly shortened to OBAMA, is located in the new addition of Café Racer. After the owner, Kurt Geissell, decided to expand his café, the new walls looked bare in comparison to the rest of the space. A friend and patron for years, Harris wanted to help him out.
Harris knew about a Bad Art Museum in Boston, and while the Seattle museum couldn't be directly associated with that one by name, the idea stuck. She and husband David, who both have art degrees, decided to take on the duty of collecting bad art. David also manages the website and designed the OBAMA logo.
THE ART OF BAD ART
The creation of bad art is not usually the intended outcome, Harris explained: "People actually think they are creating something beautiful. There's not a lot of difference between good and bad art; it's just that the good is intentional."
She added that only a couple pieces in the collection were created to be bad. She and David found some pieces, but people brought in most of the bad art.
David describes how one couple brought in a painting, which they wanted to lend to the museum. It had been stored in their attic, but in the family for years.
Currently, the museum has more than 30 pieces on display, and if enough is donated or loaned, the couple would like to have different rotations or exhibits. "We could have themes like sad puppies, big-eyed children, or unicorns and rainbows," Harris said.
SHARING SPACE
The creation of the OBAMA room started about six weeks ago and has required many hours and a lot of energy. Carmen Dacquisto, a friend of the owners, has seen the amount of time the couple has put into this museum. "They worked really hard to get everything in its place. They documented everything," she said.
Dacquisto plans to open a salon, called Café Razor, inside Café Racer. The salon will share walls with the OBAMA room.
During the evening, Café Racer becomes the stage to many local bands and solo artists. They have everything from rock bands to a blues musician. "There are so many different kinds of people who come. There is a lot of talent here," Dacquisto said.
Michelle Summers, who works at Café Racer, agrees. "This is the most amazing place to come, to talk with local artists. People try out new songs and sounds here," she said. "Everyone collaborates their music and art.... That's why I'm here."
Every person who works at the café is an artist: the owner, managers, waiters, even the cooks. According to Harris, anyone, including customers, can have an art show in the café. All the profits go directly to the artist, and the café doesn't take any commission.
DONATIONS WANTED
Those wishing to donate bad art to the museum can simply bring the piece to the café and give it to someone behind the counter.
Harris and David like to know any history of the art and how the piece was acquired. If that information is not known, a name and address will suffice.
They also like to know if the piece is being donated for good, or if it is just on loan.
Only want two-dimensional paintings are needed, and they should be framed and ready to hang. (More information on the bad art museum can be found at www.officialbadartmuseumofart.com.)
Remember, the art that may be one person's trash, may be treasure for the people of Café Racer. "Bad art is found in the eye of the beer holder," as Harris likes to say.
