Written by Lori Thiessen
Coffeehouses are a great place to mesh all sorts of activities. People use them to meet casually with others or to do work or to create.
The creative process can take on many different forms. You may want to visit a particular coffee house to write in your personal journal. There may be a local cafe whose vibe inspires you to draw or compose poetry.
As a way to draw people into a cafe, some owners display the artwork of a local painter, or have an open mike night for writers or singers/musicians or spoken word artists or comedians. Heck, the cafe owner may just want to support local artists.
This isn’t new for coffeehouses. Since the heyday of coffeehouses in 18th century England, coffeehouses have been hosting artistic events. Art and book auctions, writers meetings and recitals of new music all took place in coffeehouses around London.
Think about the beatniks, or beat poets of the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. New ideas and new thoughts seem to percolate in the coffeehouse environment of that time. Maybe it was the caffeine.
These days, the coffeehouse is largely the birthing ground for new business but artistic endeavours are still very much alive in the coffeehouse of today.
Q: What artistic events do you see at your local coffeehouse? Do you do any creative/artistic work out of a coffeehouse?
Until next time,
May your coffee always be freshly brewed!
4 responses so far ↓
TongLIn Lok // August 19, 2008 at 12:30 am |
May be a little nosy, I like listening to others dialogue quietly, I like chanigng coffee house. Somehow every one has their own characteristic.
coffeeshopoffice // August 22, 2008 at 2:38 am |
Hi TongLin!
Thanks for reading the blog and leaving a comment. Yes, people watching and eavesdropping are wonderfully entertaining so long as no one catches you doing it!
Cheers,
Lori
lavanna // September 23, 2008 at 4:03 am |
I like to paint people that I see in coffee houses. I have such an addiction to this habit that I can no longer do studio work. Thank you so much for your wonderful, informative blog. I eavesdrop, also, and keep an “art journal” from my coffeeshop treks.
coffeeshopoffice // September 24, 2008 at 4:40 pm |
Hi Lavanna!
Thanks so much for reading my blog and your kind comments.
I’m so envious of people who can draw and paint. Such an amazing talent to have. What kinds of comments do you get when you do your work in the coffee shop?
What first drew you to do your art in the coffee shop?
Thanks again, Lavanna!