Picture this: coffee meets photography meets community. That’s exactly what happened on May 12, 2024 at the Mother’s Day West Cliff Outdoor Market. On that foggy West Coast morning, local coffee brewer Lizzy Long Legs Coffee and Renee Wall Photo set up to present the community with an interactive experience full of sensory explorations.
In the months leading up to the event, Lizzy approached me with an invitation to collaborate. She had seen my macro photography and was a fan of my work. She explained that she had an idea to create a series of individual roasts, each inspired by a different photo of mine. We'd then offer the community tastings and inquire about which photo they think corresponded with it. Lizzy is an amazing community member with a knack for bringing people together, so I excitedly agreed to this plan.
On the day of the event, people gravitated to our booth, curious about the unique coffee experience that we promised them as they passed by. What ensued was unlike any tasting experience I'd seen before. By asking people to "guess" which of the four photos they think inspired each of the four coffee roasts, they were prompted to be fully present while engaging in the samples we served them. Were the flavors they were experiencing light and delicate or full and complex? Did they taste earthy or floral? It was fascinating to watch people make sensory connections between taste and sight. A photo that one person found to be complex, another found whimsical. It's all open to perception, which made for a playful yet philosophical adventure for everyone involved.
Lizzy and I, with the help of our friends Dawn and Mike, poured tastings, sold photos, and chuckled with friends and community members all day long. The fog broke and the sun came out in the afternoon. When we packed up, we unanimously commented on what a joyous day it had been. Not only did we share our passions, but we ignited curiosity and creativity in every person who came to our booth that day.
I'm grateful and honored that Lizzy asked me to join her for this event, and for her commitment to sharing her love for her community through collaboration, opportunity, and open-hearted fun.
Wish I could have made it! Looks super cool