Local Art with Lunch at Cosi

Cosi on Purchase Street is offering a little more than a great sandwich these days.

The restaurant is featuring an exhibit called "Natural Perspectives" by Port Chester photographer Scott Dengrove, allowing patrons to get a dose of a culture while getting a quick bite to eat. 

The exhibit came to the eatery after Scott's wife, Jena, noticed that there wasn't much decoration on the restaurant's walls while she and her husband were eating there. She told Scott to inquire about it, so Dengrove talked to the manager and arranged to have his exhibit showcased at Cosi.

The collection features 18 photographs from Scott's travels across the country.

"My job has me on the road quite a bit, so I get to travel to cities all across the country," Dengrove said. "This affords me the opportunity to both view and capture some really beautiful natural scenery."

Dengrove, who has been doing natural photography for about five years, includes photos in his exhibit that capture the beauty of different regions of the country, including here in Rye.

Though some pictures were taken on the West Coast, one particularly stunning shot, "Upon Further Reflection," was taken at the Rye Nature Center.

"It was the beginning of spring and I was scouting the location for a portrait shoot. I came upon the lake and just had to capture that image," Dengrove said. "The Rye Nature Center is a beautiful place to visit in any season."

However, regardless of the location, each of the shots are unified through the vivid colors and focus Dengrove captures in each image.

The photos bring a bit of vibrancy to the eatery. They are mounted on Cosi's walls without frames but stretched over a canvass that makes them appear lifelike, as if you could pick the flower right off the stem in one photo or have a serious staring contest with a peacock in another. 

Dengrove said the photos, though in the unlikeliest of places, can serve as an example of how Rye and other areas can highlight the work of local artists.

"I think it's very important to sponsor local artists in the community. With the current financial situation happening all over it seems that the arts are always one of the first things to get cut, both in the schools and in the community," Dengrove said. "Supporting local artists allows people in the community to be exposed to art and beauty that that they might not be exposed to otherwise."