'Feine Presents 'Local Landscapes' with New Art Exhibit

When visiting 'Feine Coffee Shop in Conshohocken for coffee of pastries over the next several weeks, you may see some familiar sights - in the form of paintings all over the walls.

Local artist Jon Bandish - who lives just over the borough line in Plymouth Township and works at Ikea - has more than a dozen pieces of art, many of which depict local scenes from the Plymouth, Whitemarsh and Conshohocken area, hanging as part of "Galeria 'feine," the art gallery arm of the coffee shop.

The Schuylkill River is featured, as well as large power lines along Butler Pike, an abandoned gas station, and more. His scenes extends into Philadelphia, and there are some beach paintings as well.

According to Bandish, he likes to portray the links between "what we do and what natures does - how the world we create interacts with the natural world."

Bandish also appreciates scenes in which objects are "are left to fall apart," which is shown in some of his paintings on display at the coffee shop.

The artist also takes interest in what buildings and locations used to be. He said that he found a location in Kensington that used to make ammunition for the Civil War and World War I, but was used as a toy factory between wars.

"There is an element of kitsch there," Bandish said.

The paintings, most of which are available for purchase, will be on display until March 9.

'feine, located at 813 Fayette St. in Conshohocken, is open from 5 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays.

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