Cannon Coffee Owner Developing Cultural Trust

Nathan Mallory, co-owner of , grew up in Titusville, a small town in northwestern Pennsylvania that he described as having few outlets for creative expression.

It's because of this experience, he said, that he understands the need for an artist's voice to be heard and he wants to create a cultural trust for Brookline so artists can share their work.

“See that table?” Mallory said, and pointed towards a group of customers seated at a table piled with paperbacks. “There's probably a ton of poetry sitting there. This is what the cultural trust is about. Ideally, it's giving Brookline the opportunity to showcase (the art) we have, that you can take an artsy-fartsy coffeehouse and it can give people a voice.”

The trust's endowment would include endeavors such as offering free writing and painting workshops. The goal is to not only use the trust as a way to make art happen for Brookline, but also have the artists involved with the trust give their time and talent back to the neighborhood.

According to Mallory, the Brookline trust will not be set up as a grant-based entity that exclusively awards cash. The focus will be more on providing artists with a way to advance to the next level in their creative careers. For example, Mallory is working with a publisher to get an anthology of poetry published featuring Brookline writers.

“It's basically taking an individual and giving them the biggest advantage with as little money as possible,” Mallory said. “It depends on the situation. Whatever we raise fundraising-wise, will be given back in some way.”

He envisions raising money through fundraisers and donations. Artists would be able to solicit the trust, which would take care of the funding, which could be repaid though teaching classes or, say, royalties on a recording.

Though the cultural trust will not be a part of Cannon Coffee, the shop will act as a catalyst, with plans to sell calendars, greeting cards, a poetry anthology and an album featuring Brookline artists as a part of a fundraising and outreach approach for the trust.

“We're taking it outside the walls of the coffeeshop because I want it to be Brookline's cultural trust, so everyone can see the proficiencies of the community's artists,” Mallory said. “I'm not a proficient artist, songwriter, or musician. But I admire it and want people to know I admire it. I want people to know it can be bigger than an open mic night that is successful.”

The cultural trust has not begun operation yet, but Mallory is collaborating with corprate sponsors and speaking with individuals interested in making up the board of trustees. This board will be in charge of allocating funding, Mallory said, while a separate group will oversee fundraising.

“The idea is to put Brookline on the map as a place where art happens,” said Cannon Coffee co-owner Benjamin Haake. “People are really receptive to the idea, and the feedback we've gotten has been really cool.”

Rachel Barone said that she thinks the trust for Brookline is a “fantastic” idea.

“(Cannon Coffee) is doing so much for the community,” she said. “It's drawing people back to the boulevard. There are not many big names that come from Pittsburgh but there are so many talented people that live here that can't get out of the monotonous slew of the city.”

For high school student Ryan Retcofski, hanging out at Cannon gives him a chance to explore artistic possibilities.

“You can't find a lot of stuff like this in Pittsburgh,” he said. “I get to hear new things, some things I hate and some things I like. I come here to socialize — there's good looking people, a different mix of people. It's a good atmosphere.”

Before she takes her place at the piano on open mic nights, Charmaine Baldt said she gets a little nervous but that the opportunity to perform at Cannon is cathartic, and watching other performers is emboldening.

“Several of us locals have found new inspiration there, a place to experiment and grow, and I just love how supportive they are of all things art and local biz,” Baldt said. “I love going (to Cannon Coffee) and seeing all the young folks gather for open stage — we are sometimes full to capacity — and other days (Cannon) is good for company and the homey and arty atmosphere.”

Mallory said that even though everyone writes or paints or sings, having a place for creative virtuosos to come together and share experience and work is a paramount aspect of artistic development.

“The most advantageous part of what art does for people is when they come to a place full of people who listen to them and care about what they have to say,” he said. “It only takes someone who writes poetry a few times for someone to tell them that they're good before they realize it, and before you know it they're in a workshop.

"It doesn't take long after someone in the audience tells them that they love to read their work before they're wanting to learn inflection and wondering how to do slam poetry. It's a way to learn about your voice.”