What’s Crackin Cafe in northeast Mesa has an exclusive display of a rare European artwork on loan from the private collection of Rockin A Ranch from outside Stillwater and Perry, Oklahoma.

The piece, originating from late 1960s West Germany and Amsterdam, showcases the iconic “Girl in the Red Hat” — a mysterious figure who has appeared in various works across the globe, including with notable Southwestern artists, according to a release.

The painting, part of a larger series created by Range’ — pronounced “Ron Jay” — a Dutch painter active in the late 1960s and early 1970s, brings a slice of postwar European culture to the heart of the Arizona desert.

The Mesa business, What’s Crackin Cafe, is at 6663 E. McDowell Road.

Range’ was known for his striking use of blue hues and heavy-palette technique — an oil-based style so thick that some works reportedly took decades to fully cure. The featured piece remains rich in texture, color, and history, the release states.

The story behind the artwork may be just as compelling as the painting itself. From 1969 to 1971, while stationed with a NATO unit in Seckenheim, West Germany, a U.S. Army service member and his family were introduced to Range’ during his regular visits from Amsterdam. With his Mercedes full of original works, Range’ would transform military apartments into impromptu galleries. These informal gatherings not only brought European fine art to American soldiers but also laid the foundation for a unique collection of nearly 30 pieces — now part of the Rockin A legacy.

Rockin A Ranch has been a family project of the Arstingstall family since 1995. John and Andrea Arstingstall, both alumni of Oklahoma State University and instrumental in the revitalization of Zion Lutheran Church in Stillwater, are the stewards of this collection. Today, their son continues to share the art he grew up with, offering the public a rare opportunity to experience these timepieces in person.

What’s Crackin Cafe carries Rockin A Ranch’s full line of spices, sauces, and mercantile — available in-store and online — and is now extends this partnership into the arts.

The painting will be on display for a limited time, inviting guests to reflect on an era when art, culture, and connection transcended continents.

For information about the artwork, Rockin A products, or upcoming events, go to whatscrackincafe.com.