Mathew 26:27

This mixed media installation references both my Catholic upbringing and the similarities of religion with coffee culture.  It was a mixture of photographs, sculpture, scented candles, and sound.  A reverential environment was created to give viewers an immersive experience to challenge them visually, but also stimulated their sense of smell through the burning of coffee scented candles while hearing chants of the coffee vernacular. 

The coffee bean was the central focus of the installation.  It was revered as a symbol of the sacred akin to the “host” at church.  The bean was a insignificant object, with respect to the space which it occupied, but placing it on the "altar" demonstrated the power which it really possesses to fuel this industry. 

The altar was constructed from coffee cups and referenced aspects of consumption and repetition.  Ritual is deeply rooted in both religion and coffee culture as customers consume drinks, talk with baristas, and share a sense of community each day.  Similar to worshipers who visit their churches, mosques or temples each week to engage in their spiritual fix.

The wall of photographs behind the altar document espresso stands and coffee shops.  These locations are the structures for people who worship the drink.  While on initial inspection they appear similar, each is unique in architecture and style.  Windmills, floral shops, and even a dentist's office are transformed into "tabernacles" to the coffee bean.

Off to one side of the installation is a shrine to the Legend of the Dancing Goats.  This is an origin story on how a monk tending his herd in Yemen discovered coffee during the 16th century. This shrines references statues of saints, within a church, where people can worship their "deity" in private.  Just like myths and stories in most religions, this legend lends a credence to how it all began.   Viewers left artifacts at the shrine during the duration of the exhibit.

The opposite side of the installation contained a ceramic baptismal font filled with coffee. Baptism welcomes an individual into a spiritual community, just as drinking in a coffee house gives people a sense of inclusion.  The scented candles above the font produced the aroma of the bean to align with the ritual of incense in a church.  The odor of both is intoxicating.

Finally, the audio portion of the installation was the "language of coffee" spoken in a mantra-like way.  Viewers heard Gregorian like chants of their favorite beverages being repeated while experiencing the installation. These are the prayers that are uttered daily through interactions between customers (parishioners) and their baristas (priests).