Originally published in the Platte County Record-Times December 8, 2021.
WHEATLAND — The Purple Cow Café and Gallery, located at 962 on Gilchrest Street, hosted an art gallery from six to ten p.m. on November 4.
The showcase consisted of about 30 pieces of art displayed throughout the inside walls of the Café. Attendees could come and go as they wished and purchase an artwork if arrangements could be made. Free beer, wine, soda, and water was offered during the exhibition.
The Café is owned and operated by Brian Slattery, a Rochester, New York, native. Slattery previously worked in Colorado before moving up to Wheatland.
“I was trying to get to Casper,” said Slattery. “I was doing construction and had been in Casper remodeling a hotel for six months and feel in love with Casper.”
“But every time I tried to get a place there, they would be rented before I even could get a chance. And somehow, I ended up here.”
The inspiration for the café came to Slattery as he was originally looking for space for an art studio and trying to find a good quality pizza restaurant.
“We don’t have good pizza here and I am an artist, and I figured why not just combine the two,” said Slattery.
“This originally started as—I was looking for an art studio, and Dan my landlord said, ‘Well I got the perfect art studio for you,’ And when I walked in here I said, ‘This is not an art studio, this is a pizzeria.’”
According to Slattery himself, his interest in art goes back to his time in high school and growing up in Rochester. These styles and methods of art influence how Slattery does his own art.
“I was an ADD child and we’re very hands-on,” said Slattery. “I love to learn everything there is to learn.”
“Art growing up was fine art in high school, then as I grew older it turned into street art, a lot of graffiti. Everything was trains and buildings and murals.”
“I still do art to this day as street art, maybe not so much illegally. But if I can get a commissioned wall I’ll take it.”
Slattery is currently the only person who works at the Purple Cow. He expects to hire employees but is optimistic about finding people who will fit into the aesthetic of the Purple Cow.
“So far, it’s all me,” said Slattery. “The whole business is in my name, but I will have to hire people at some point.”
“I’m hoping to be so overwhelmed with pizzas and pastas and drinks that I’m going to have to have a whole crew here and hopefully I can find a crew that will suit our atmosphere and blend very well.”
Slattery was pleased with how the art was being received by those who attended but hopes to have the attention focused on the food and drink of the café.
“The art is taking off better than I thought it would but it’s going be all about the menu,” said Slattery. “It’s all about the kitchen and the pizzas and the pastas and the garlic knots and maybe some deserts.”
One of the artists featured during the gallery was Kevin Phillips from Fort Collins, Colorado. He was invited to the art show by a friend.
“A friend of mine Patrick, brother of Charlie, he got me in touch with Charlie and then Charlie gave me the invite to come down and show some artwork,” said Phillips.
Phillips’s interest of art started in a high school welding class with a metal sculpture he made for fun. After going to college, Phillips worked in the finance industry until his move to Fort Colorado where he chose to practice art full-time
Phillips describes his art as psychedelic pop art and cited surrealist Salvador Dalí and street artists Banksy and Shepard Fairey as his inspirations. He described his visit to Wheatland for the gallery as interesting.
“I’ve only been to Wheatland a handful of times, and I would definitely say coming here was a surprise,” said Phillips. “I didn’t expect it to be as cool as it was.”
“And just the fact that it’s not just a horse and a cow and a barn painting. There’s a lot more represented just here from street art and a little bit more contemporary art which is nice to see in Wyoming.”
James Meyer 