Barb Stigen and her husband, Greg, opened the Art Cafe in Palmer a year and a half ago, but its origin can be traced back to the Stigen family home many years before. The present location, an old mechanic shop converted to a storefront, serves Palmer as a creative outlet for families, events, and classroom-style instruction.
The Stigen’s Alaska story began in the 1980s. Barb had jumped aboard the Alaska ferry to seek adventure, and soon found a job working for the State of Alaska. She met Greg who had been working at Prince of Wales Island. Before long, Greg and Barb were married and moved to Wrangell. In time, and after several children, the family moved to Haines and operated Grizzly Greg’s Pizzeria. After an economic downturn hit Southeast Alaska, and with the kids having grown up, Barb and Greg picked up and moved to Wasilla, seeking new opportunities.
Even though she had no formal training, Barb was adept in several art mediums so she started offering classes. As interest grew, her operation moved from a room in their home, to their remodeled home garage. An increasing number of clientele and their need for more space to incorporate art parties motivated their new direction.
A local businessman, Tony Berberich, purchased the mechanic shop and offered the space for lease to Barb and Greg. With a lot of elbow grease they turned the building into what it is today, a fantastically creative atmosphere of art and Alaskana. As Barb states, “I wanted to create a comfortable place for the community to walk in and feel at home.” Now Barb works with local artists from around the state to offer all kinds of classes and event opportunities, making the Art Cafe a gathering place for the community.
The Art Cafe provides a creative space for artists of all levels and mediums to come in and work on their projects, while also offering up a wonderful place to anyone, artist or not, to enjoy an espresso, have some homemade fudge, or cool down with some premium ice cream. The Art Cafe pairs perfectly with Palmer’s effort to establish itself as Alaska’s premier destination and a great place to live.
For more information about the Art Cafe, visit their website: theartcafeak.com
Barb Stigen and her husband, Greg, opened the Art Cafe in Palmer a year and a half ago, but its origin can be traced back to the Stigen family home many years before. The present location, an old mechanic shop converted to a storefront, serves Palmer as a creative outlet for families, events, and classroom-style instruction.
The Stigen’s Alaska story began in the 1980s. Barb had jumped aboard the Alaska ferry to seek adventure, and soon found a job working for the State of Alaska. She met Greg who had been working at Prince of Wales Island. Before long, Greg and Barb were married and moved to Wrangell. In time, and after several children, the family moved to Haines and operated Grizzly Greg’s Pizzeria. After an economic downturn hit Southeast Alaska, and with the kids having grown up, Barb and Greg picked up and moved to Wasilla, seeking new opportunities.
Even though she had no formal training, Barb was adept in several art mediums so she started offering classes. As interest grew, her operation moved from a room in their home, to their remodeled home garage. An increasing number of clientele and their need for more space to incorporate art parties motivated their new direction.
A local businessman, Tony Berberich, purchased the mechanic shop and offered the space for lease to Barb and Greg. With a lot of elbow grease they turned the building into what it is today, a fantastically creative atmosphere of art and Alaskana. As Barb states, “I wanted to create a comfortable place for the community to walk in and feel at home.” Now Barb works with local artists from around the state to offer all kinds of classes and event opportunities, making the Art Cafe a gathering place for the community.
The Art Cafe provides a creative space for artists of all levels and mediums to come in and work on their projects, while also offering up a wonderful place to anyone, artist or not, to enjoy an espresso, have some homemade fudge, or cool down with some premium ice cream. The Art Cafe pairs perfectly with Palmer’s effort to establish itself as Alaska’s premier destination and a great place to live.
For more information about the Art Cafe, visit their website: theartcafeak.com
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Inspired at a young age, Cecil has turned his love of photography into a lifestyle and a business, with a desire to capture the beauty and character of wherever his camera takes him. Always primed to set off on a new adventure, Cecil and his wife, Anne, have spent their eleven years of marriage going on road trips, touring Alaska and the country, and planning ahead to their next destination. Cecil has combined his artist's perspective and aptitude for design in order to contribute his talents to the collaborative effort of bringing Last Frontier Magazine into a reality.
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