The Dirty Spoon Cafe

Description

The Dirty Spoon Cafe depicts Winfred Rembert’s childhood memory of a lively juke joint in his hometown of Cuthbert, Georgia. From afar, the interlocking bodies that fill this scene with high style and dynamic movement appear to be painted on a flat surface. A closer look reveals that Rembert carved every detail—from buttonholes and pinstripes to strands of hair—in leather. Upon completing his intricate composition, Rembert painted it with dye that saturated the leather’s surface, contributing to the work’s smooth finish and rich color.