ART: Nikki Hoke Prayer Flag Oil Paintings

Inspired by her travels to northern India this past spring, local artist Nikki Hoke produced a series of prayer flag oil paintings, which are featured this month at Thump Coffee in downtown Bend.

Hoke says that while spending the majority of her time traveling in the mountainous areas of Dharamsala and Manali, she became fascinated by the Tibetan influence in India, especially in the village of McLeod Ganj.

“Being home to the Dalai Lama, many Tibetan refugees leave their homeland and hike dangerous mountain passes to cross into India and make a life in McLeod Ganj. They are displaced and living in a country very different than their own, and yet are incredibly resilient and proud. As a result, beautiful prayer flags hang from nearly every tree in this area. They are a symbol of the faith of the Tibetan people, as well as a very important reminder of their homeland.”

“I was moved by seeing this, and compelled to in my own way recreate the feeling I had when I first looked up into the trees, and saw the prayer flags gently blowing. This series is an interpretation of my personal feelings about my experience in this small part of India.”

Hoke recently graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Read her weblog at nikkihoke.blogspot.com.

featured coffee: El Salvador Kilimanjaro – Direct Trade, Organic

For more, see the January thumpology.

CUPPING: Sunday, Jan. 25, 1:30-2:30 pm

Note: This month’s cupping will be on the last Sunday of January, instead of the usual third Sunday of each month. Please join us for this low-key and fun exploration of the ins and outs of tasting coffee like the pros. Get details at our website and by subscribing to this newsletter.

Winter Warmers


Seasonal Baked Treats
· Pecan Pie Bars
· Pecan Raisin Sweetbread
· Carrot bread (with side of cream cheese frosting)
· Pumpkin Cranberry Coffee Cake

Seasonal Hot Drinks
· Pumpkin Spice Latte
· Maple Spice Latte
· Peppermint Mocha
· Hot Apple Cider