Cindy Arsaga
The Artist’s Eye
by Maryevelyn Jones
Fayetteville Free Weekly
2003
Cindy Arsaga and her husband Cary founded coffeehouse culture in Northwest Arkansas when they established their first coffeehouse more than 10 years ago in downtown Fayetteville. They currently own and operate the Block Street Bakery and Arsaga’s Espresso Cafes at Crossroads Village and the Crosscreek Center and now inside the new Washington Regional Medical Center.
I drew Cindy while she talked about the coffeehouses and art.
“What I love about having a place like we have is that it’s a gathering place for people, and that was the reason we wanted to do it,” Cindy said. “We didn’t even make coffee in our house. We didn’t know anything about espresso. It was just that we wanted to create a space for people to be… I think partly because we started with that intent, and partly because communities just need places like that– it happened.”
Cindy believes that a goal of bringing different eclectic people together exposes the cohesive nature of our community.
Surprisingly, the Arsaga’s did not incorporate art in the original coffeehouse idea.
“The nicest part of doing a coffeehouse was that art became a part of it.” Cindy emphasized that she owes that part of it to her friends Ron and Renee of Russellville who asked if they could hang art on the walls and have a show just as Cindy and Cary were putting the original Arsaga’s location together.
“We really hadn’t pursued that or thought about it.” Because of Ron, Arsaga’s had it’s first show. Very soon after, artists booked up shows for the next year. Since then, art has become a really important part of all the locations. The Block Street Bakery may not have much wall space, but local artists created the designs and color schemes there.
Although Cindy and Cary hadn’t considered art at the forefront of the first Arsaga’s, art was part of Cindy Arsaga. She held a fascinating show of her own paintings at the Gregg Street location.
“I have always been interested in art, and I’ve always wanted to have art be a part of my life,” she explained. “I’ve been drawing and painting, off and on most of my adult life. I took a few classes at the University. I was a nurse for 13 years; and when in school for nursing, I took art classes as electives from some wonderful artists.”
Now that her children are grown she feels more freedom and space in the house to paint. She painted with Kathy Thompson during the last three years, who Cindy said is “a great inspiration.”
Cindy knows what emotions artists go through when selling their work. She said a painting that she sold was, “the one that was the most heart wrenching to produce; and I was really grateful that somebody saw that, responded to it, and bought it.”
Her understanding of artists influences her art business decisions. Arsaga’s only takes a 15 percent commission. “We tried to keep it low just because I feel it’s a great benefit to have art on the wall. We get something out of it and so does the artist.”
“It’s always fascinating to see what people come up with. The shows are always different and usually really good. I love that part of it.”
Cindy said people frequently approach her about both music and art. Today’s year 2005 waiting list for artists to display at the Crossover location shows the patience of artists wanting to display at the popular coffeehouses.
Not everyone is aware of Fayetteville’s significant community of artists, but according to Cindy; “The great thing about this area is how much talent is here and just waiting to have a venue to display.”