Eileen Roddy

Art, book, coffee, tea and music lovers can find something to whet their appetites or satisfy their desires at Signs of Life.

Clay Belcher and his wife, Beth, wanted to create a place where people could enjoy uplifting literature, art and music in a coffee shop setting. The turn-of-the-century building at 722 Mass. fit the bill. So Belcher left his job teaching architectural engineering at Kansas University and opened the store in March 2003.

Its name, “Signs of Life,” derives from the title of award-winning singer/songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman’s album.

“I loved his lyric: ‘Where are the signs of life in your heart?'” Clay said. “I hope people have their lives and hearts nourished when they come here.”

The upper-floor art gallery is airy and spacious, and its original wood floor is restored. There are paintings by two English artists: colorist Sara Hayward and Paul Powis, an abstract landscape painter who has exhibited in London and New York. His Mediterranean landscapes are particularly colorful.

For those who prefer tapestries, there are several large ones by Marilyn Grisham, who has exhibited her work since 1966. Her early inspiration came from her childhood in the Flint Hills. You also can feast your eyes on magnificent bronzes by Jim Brothers, including his large must-see “Plains Destiny.” Bronzes by Benjamin Victor are displayed in the downstairs bookstore.

Book lovers can delight in a variety of theological and philosophical writings, or books on art, relationships, biblical studies, management and religious curricula. Inspirational cards, gifts, CDs and videos also are available. A large table, used regularly by diverse groups, nestles in an alcove behind the bookshelves.

Musicians can admire or play the 1894 Steinway (Model A) piano near the entrance. Staff and guests of the Americana Music Academy provide different styles of live music on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Larry Carter usually opens with an hour of improvisational folk piano, followed by a guest musician. At 8 p.m. Tuesday, you can hear Jim Krause perform a variety of music while you relax and sip your drinks in the adjacent comfortable sofas and chairs.

The coffee shop opens at 7 a.m. Mondays through Saturdays. It has plenty of tables and chairs in and outdoors. A colorful bench painted by Karen Combes, a student of the JAMS program (Jobs in the Arts Make Sense) takes pride of place. She’s intertwined her symbols of life, peace and happiness with a large cup of coffee.

KU English major Matt Cisneros, an experienced barista, combines great service with an extensive knowledge of tea and coffee. He showed me a fair variety of loose teas and bags. (They hope to extend their offerings in the fall.)

I chose the loose-leaf black breakfast tea. Matt served it with piping hot water and an unsolicited side of milk. I resisted a Joe’s Bakery sandwich and a slice of povitica, a Croatian bread.

As I lolled and sipped my tea, I watched people line up to purchase the usual array of coffees. The shop’s main suppliers are J&S Coffee of Lawrence and PT’s in Topeka, but there’s also a variety of new Venezuelan coffees supplied by Nueva Mission. This is a co-op venture formed by Tom Wheat of Lawrence to help farmers provide a better quality life for their families. He buys coffee at fair-market prices, and if crops fail, the farmers still get paid for their labor.

KU doctorate student Ikuyasu Usui, from Japan, a regular customer, loves the place.

“People are friendly, and I always find a seat,” he chuckled.

If you want a place to warm your heart, catch your breath and renew your spirit in an uncluttered, restful place, Signs of Life is the place to go.

Tea – 4

Coffee – 4

Service – 5

Ambience – 5