Thursday, April 29, 2004
More "Classic" criticism from my days at LOUD
The Sedate and Irate
The Red Cup is one of those little spots that, if Oklahoma City were a big tourist destination, the locals would go out of their way to keep a secret. Not only do they serve some of the city’s most badass chai, but the owners have taken pains to make artwork into an integral part of the atmosphere. That atmosphere is very laid-back, and is imbued with a whimsical element that I found very pleasing.
The outside of the Red Cup has several key features I enjoyed. There is a small pond with a wrought-iron fountain, made from old scraps of equipment, which is not only intriguing but also oddly soothing. Leading to the pond are cement blocks mixed with bits of broken coffee mugs, which I found to be appropriate for a coffee shop. By the parking lot, a giant Red Cup watches over the cars from an enormous mural, and the vending machine out front for the “local daily newspaper” has been defaced with the word “LIES.” I chuckled a bit when I saw that.
Inside, the color red dominates much of the interior. Go figure. However, almost all of the artwork inside the café in some way features red cups. They include graphite pencil, paint, watercolors, crayon, magic markers and colored pencils. And while they are of varying quality (for example, some have a childlike dimension that is only made by little children), they all work together. One piece that stands out in my mind is “Busboy’s View” by JR Long. It is a watercolor of a sea of empty tables with little red coffee cups waiting to be bused. Again, I chuckled when I saw that.
Finally, for a limited time you will be able to take home Red Cup matchbooks, featuring the Red Cup Logo. Now, I understand that most people don’t think of matchbooks as “high art,” but it is important for us to remember that, just as any screen printer will tell you, someone put a fair amount of effort into designing and producing those matchbooks. They may not be Van Gogh, but they are free.
The Sedate and Irate
The Red Cup is one of those little spots that, if Oklahoma City were a big tourist destination, the locals would go out of their way to keep a secret. Not only do they serve some of the city’s most badass chai, but the owners have taken pains to make artwork into an integral part of the atmosphere. That atmosphere is very laid-back, and is imbued with a whimsical element that I found very pleasing.
The outside of the Red Cup has several key features I enjoyed. There is a small pond with a wrought-iron fountain, made from old scraps of equipment, which is not only intriguing but also oddly soothing. Leading to the pond are cement blocks mixed with bits of broken coffee mugs, which I found to be appropriate for a coffee shop. By the parking lot, a giant Red Cup watches over the cars from an enormous mural, and the vending machine out front for the “local daily newspaper” has been defaced with the word “LIES.” I chuckled a bit when I saw that.
Inside, the color red dominates much of the interior. Go figure. However, almost all of the artwork inside the café in some way features red cups. They include graphite pencil, paint, watercolors, crayon, magic markers and colored pencils. And while they are of varying quality (for example, some have a childlike dimension that is only made by little children), they all work together. One piece that stands out in my mind is “Busboy’s View” by JR Long. It is a watercolor of a sea of empty tables with little red coffee cups waiting to be bused. Again, I chuckled when I saw that.
Finally, for a limited time you will be able to take home Red Cup matchbooks, featuring the Red Cup Logo. Now, I understand that most people don’t think of matchbooks as “high art,” but it is important for us to remember that, just as any screen printer will tell you, someone put a fair amount of effort into designing and producing those matchbooks. They may not be Van Gogh, but they are free.
