Emily Catharine Dean Showcases Forever 27 at Café Nola

If you passed by the window looking into Frederick’s Cafe Nola on Sunday, you may have seen Emily Catharine Dean standing on a small step ladder, hanging the newest artwork to be displayed within the small restaurant nestled in the historic district. For Emily, it wasn’t just any artwork, but her very own (stunning) collection of celebrity portraits as part of her new Forever 27 exhibition.

Emily Catharine Dean, now 27,  was inspired when she first learned about the The Forever 27 Club back when she was only 18 years old. The Club celebrates a collective group of numerous talented individuals in the realm of music who lost their lives at the age of 27, including Jimi Hendrix, Amy Winehouse, and Kurt Cobain… all of whom lost their lives to differing causes. “It’s such a strange but cool phenomenon,” Dean said of the Forever 27 Club. “It was so interesting conducting the research and learning each individual story. Not every person died of an expected cause. It’s just such a crazy coincidence!” Dean chose 15 faces to display throughout the café, each palette using oil based paints in an array of different, vibrant colors.

(photo courtesy of Emily Catharine Dean)
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Dean is no rookie to the art scene. The local artist recalls her love for drawing and painting beginning at a very young age, especially since she was raised by incredibly supportive parents who always provided encouragement to pursue her passion for art. “I grew up going to art classes at the Delaplane and other extracurricular programs around Frederick,” she said. “I went to a Summer seminar in Savannah in 2005 where I picked up oil painting. I haven’t looked back since.”

(photo courtesy of Emily Catharine Dean)

Now through October 25th, Emily Catharine Dean’s “Forever 27” portraits will hang in the quaint Patrick Street café and will give daytrippers and diners alike a chance to stop in for a cup of coffee or for an evening of live music and experience the talent Frederick’s art scene has to offer.

On October 3rd, Dean invites everyone to stop by Café Nola between 3pm and 6pm to enjoy the opening reception, as well as partake in the meet-n’-greet that allows everyone the chance to get to know a little more about Emily and and her incredible showcase. “The venue is perfect,” Dean said. “I’m really excited for Saturday!”
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Come by between 3pm-6pm for the reception. Live music by local musicians including Ponyboy Blues begins at 10pm. Café Nola is located at 4 E Patrick St, Frederick, MD 21701 ​