There is nothing tiny about the Tiny Tree Café, other than perhaps the Bonsais.
Bonsais at the Cafe
Everything else is a grand vision from two creative couples, Heinz and Pauline and Roman and Jenny. Between them, they have created a space that is at once welcoming and calming and at other times a creative hub and meeting place. There is so much about this unassuming place that appeals to me. There is parking on the street and to help you locate it with a landmark, it is almost opposite the Loreto College in Coorparoo. Its exact address is 420 Cavendish Rd, Coorparoo QLD 4151. See the link for opening days and hours as well as the invitations to the art exhibitions.
Tiny Tree Cafe
Go along and enjoy a coffee and cake – and not just any ordinary cakes. A lot of them are homemade by a Polish baker in the area and the owner, and there is an aura of Austrian fare which will leave you wanting more. Almond croissants, cream slices, and Polish buns, there is a good selection of coffees and teas as well. On the right side as you enter the café with its small coffee tables and wooden chairs reminiscent of a street café in Austria or France, is the Bonsai collection. Some choice plants in the most beautiful blue ceramic pots.
The Cafe
The café extends back into an antique display area with items for sale and beyond is an Art Gallery. As Pauline brought us our chai tea in lovely cups and saucers and our cakes, she explained that their aim was to have art exhibitions every five weeks which is over and above running the café, the bonsai and antique sections and keeping all of them fresh, active and engaging. So, it is a big commitment but one which they have been doing successfully for some four years. They display local artists as well as foreign artists from the US and Japan. Their aim is to make art accessible and free for people in the area and beyond. I suspect that they love what they offer and that is one of the reasons they do it so well. She handed me a card that said 'Coffee, Cake and Culture'. A good triple C of their aims.
Some of the antiques
The art is spread over three galleries. Revolving exhibitions come and go and as one artist has displayed their artwork, another is getting ready to hang his or her works. In between some work by Andre Van der Kerkhoff, which is more permanent and other artists who keep works on display. Most are for sale and there is something to appeal to everyone's artistic tastes.
Andre Van der Kerkhoff
Conny Van Lint with her beautiful sculptures in galvanised wire all hand made.
Alan Fletcher is currently on with his 'Lost in Space' exhibits until the 14th May as well as Nic Woolford and his series "The Forgotten". One of my favourites was Jenny Braithwaite's bird series.
I particularly appreciated the artist who did this work- where all the proceeds from its sale go to a Ukrainian Fund.
There is so much to admire and take in, and of course, part of the attraction is that it is ever-changing.
This individually crafted dog chess set was one I loved.
As if all this was not enough and you needed more, there is also Network 2, a boutique adjoining the café selling some beautiful clothes.
I can see book groups gathering at one of the long tables, women having a get together after a long while, men discussing the finer intricacies of bonsai growing over a brew and families gathering for a morning of cakes and some culture.
It is the perfect meeting place, one which inspires and nurtures. These two creative couples have nailed our needs holistically.
Tiny Tree Café is on Facebook and Instagram. #tinytreecafe
