SSH Café of the Month: Bush ’n’ Berry Indigenous Art Café

The Bush ’n’ Berry Indigenous Art Café, located at the corner of Redfern and Renwick streets, Redfern, has just come under new management. It is now a colourful dot on the community landscape, thanks to the combined efforts of four local individuals: Dr Mick Asher (landlord), Adam Hill (local artist whose incredible work is being displayed and whose walk-in studio is located upstairs from the café), and new managers Colin and Sue Vincent.

All four are passionate about keeping Indigenous art alive within the area.

Dr Asher, of Hungarian descent, whose influence has been most instrumental in the community over the years, set about championing Aboriginal art, primarily at Boom Malli, a co-operative of artists once based in Leichhardt. The local GP, whose health practice was once located next door to the café, wanted the building to be an Indigenous social one-stop shop.

Both Adam Hill and the Vincents are keeping true to Dr Asher’s wishes by delivering not only original-tasting bush tucker, mighty fine burgers, café food, and unforgettable Aroma coffee, but some of the finest examples of modern and classic Indigenous art that the area has to offer (alongside Gallery Gondwana in Danks Street).

There are colourful Indigenous symbolic creations on the ubiquitous clay garden plant pots, on the sugar bowls, tea-pots, light-shades. Each pattern tells a tale, and truly brightens up the café.

It could be viewed that the use of common household items is poignant and iconoclastic: traditional Dreamtime art deserves to be recognised within today's society, and should have a more prominent place in the homes and gardens of modern Australia – a constant reminder of the true history of the soil we all walk on.

All meals average at $5.00 and art pieces are priced individually.

Source: South Sydney Herald August 2008 www.southsydneyherald.com.au