Root Cafe Walls Say Hello To Stephanie Urban And Justin Brennan

This month, the Root Cafe's walls welcome Stephanie Urban, local fabric artist, and Justin Brennan, local painter!

In May 2009, Stephanie Urban gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Kaia Belle Urban. Before she was born, Stephanie handmade everything for the nursery. Unfortunately, Kaia never got to see her room. Shortly after birth, she was diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome and she passed away at only 34 days old, almost 3 weeks after having open-heart surgery. During this time, Stephanie’s husband lost his job, and within two months, Stephanie lost her job as a graphic designer as well. But she is one talented, inspiring and resilient woman. She decided that, in honor of her daughter, she would "listen" to her calling. A very creative individual by nature, Stephanie launched Little Lion Designs (Kaia Belle’s nickname was "little lion" because she was such a fighter), and she now makes beautiful re-purporsed fabric artwork for adults and children.

Stephanie’s work is truly unique, beautiful and timeless. It comes completely finished and ready to hang. Each piece comes with a fact flyer on congenital heart defects and what you can do to help. Plus, she leaves as little a carbon footprint as possible--she gathers fabrics from thrift stores, tailors, quilters, etc. and washes all fabric in an eco-friendly baby detergent. All buttons or ribbons are from the clothes she gathers and cuts up for use. She makes her own starch, and uses a child-safe non-toxic fabric glue to adhere the pieces together.

According to Justin Brennan, "My artwork deals with human emotion that is often represented through abstract male portraits or completely abstract images. I use saturated colors in most of my work because this is how I see our world and society plainly, dismally, and vividly. Human emotions are the focus of my work, although the emotional content of my work is sometimes revealed to me after the painting is complete. I am influenced by the skateboard art that surrounded me in my adolescence growing up in Cleveland. Other strong influences include the German and Abstract Expressionists. I sincerely look forward to you taking something from my paintings that has escaped me."

All through the month of August, you can come in and gander at Stephanie's fabro-centric worlds of wonder and Justin's painted facets of the human psyche. Come check out their pieces and enjoy a slice of pizza with your green ginger smoothie! We hope to see you there!