When we first spotted Rony Jobel's art installed as a banner mural in front of the New Flags grocery store in Santa Elena and then at the Welcome Center in San Ignacio, we knew we wanted to connect with this prolific artist raised in the Cayo District. Fast forward and now Rony has opened the Artz Cafe on George Price Highway as of June 20.
The Artz Cafe's soft opening in mid-June featured a pop-up art market with artists James Ramos and Gianni Martinez, who had her art featured in the "Our Sea, Our Life" exhibit at Reyna Gallery which closed June 30. The market opened at 8am-2pm to showcase local creative talent which was the point of creating the cafe.
When we went to visit the Artz Cafe last Friday two incredible baristas, Melva and Hilcia, made the best "bon bon" El Salvadoran coffee with sweetened condensed milk in mason jars "to have" and the best freshly baked meat pies we've ever had. There's an extensive list of protein shakes that the gym across the street seems to favor via social media posts. Milky Chance played softly in the background as they shared stories of this lovely being artist who envisioned this cafe for years had a beloved relationship in the community introducing the neighborhood kids to a variety of his adored animals and of course art.
After visualizing the cafe for a year, a month ago Rony gained access to the old de-commissioned gas station across from Tropigas that he artfully renovated into the space for creating and experiencing art it is now. Inside the furniture is beautifully painted with Rony's art. The shelves are lined with art by Rony and other local artists including James Ramos and there are reproductions of the artist's art on mini canvases and a selection of bold colors of paint that can be purchased to paint right in the cafe. Melva mused on how they had their first customer - a youth who was able to paint their own canvas in there.
Later meeting Rony on a quiet Saturday evening while working on his latest painting, we learned that he had actually been mentally planning the cafe for four years. He reflected on how in his creative beginning at 3, his mother shared art picture books with him that led to his interest in making art noting that she still had his first work in crayon in Orange Walk where he grew up. 12 years ago Rony arrived in San Ignacio (after spending 2 years in Houston, Texas), where he's been steadily painting and beginning to envision building his own cafe gallery. The "Artz Cafe" spelled with the "z" specifically, was included in the cafe name to honor a dear friend who ran the Artzmosphere gallery and arts space in San Ignacio where Rony had the first exhibition of his art. In the midst of the discussion he remembered that he first exhibited at the Imagination Factri in Belize City in 2007. He has had continued success having his art exhibited at Belizean Arts in San Pedro. Now at Artz Cafe the artist has a space where he can continually exhibit not just his art, but other local artists as well.
Artz Cafe has possible plans for future markets- perhaps a night market and other public events including exhibits featuring local artists. Suggestions of a poetry night, DJ events with food trucks and even a plant market all came up. They're currently opened only during the week, but that may change in the near future as well.
Many thanks to the lovely staff who make the experience truly warm and welcoming while sharing their favorite works of art with us.
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