Residents Revel in Photo Sessions for Community Mural
RustiCoffee owner Tara Amiel takes part in a photo session for the community collage with photographer Josh Madson. Photo: Frank Langen
By Laurel Busby
News & Information Editor
Numerous residents delighted in hanging out at Canyon Square on Saturday to be photographed for the community collage being created by photographer Josh Madson.
“What a great day,” Madson said afterwards. “Everyone was so wonderful, and it was so great to hear what a difference an experience like this could make for the community. I’m excited to do our next shoot here in November.”
Residents repeatedly shared how much they enjoyed both the camaraderie of the event and the simple fun of the photo sessions.
“The event was fabulous,” said RustiCoffee owner Tara Amiel. “I can’t tell you how great the photographer Josh was…. He was very generous with everyone he photographed. Old, young, dogs, kids…. It was infectious. People wanted to be in on it.”
Amiel said that many people who hadn’t wanted to get their picture taken changed their minds and joined the endeavor, which will end with a community mural of photos to be unveiled on Dec. 12 at Gallery 169.
Her RustiCoffee employees had a blast taking photos together and individually, Amiel said. Madson even pulled out a leaf blower to let them enjoy a wind-blown experience for the group picture.
RustiCoffee workers (left to right, Michael Pradels, owner Tara Amiel, Loulou Martinez, and Madeleine Whalen) squeeze together for a group photo taken by photographer Josh Madson.
One of Sharon Kilbride’s favorite pictures from her Canyon Square photo session with Josh Madson.
“I can’t remember the last time the vibe felt so perfect,” Amiel said. “Everybody in the Canyon came out for it—people I hadn’t seen for a while and people who hadn’t seen each other for a while. People were standing and sitting for an hour. Kids, people on bikes, dogs…. This is exactly what we needed down here—an uplift of spirits.”
The Canyon Alliance Board Member Sharon Kilbride was another satisfied Canyonite, who treasured the day’s event.
“It was a great gathering of Canyon locals talking and enjoying themselves at Canyon Square on this cloudy fall day,” Kilbride said. “Josh was really fun and energetic, and he really spent a lot of time on each photo subject. Everybody was really happy with the results. He’s a very motivating guy.”
Kilbride, who was photographed with her dog, Coco, said that Madson took about 50 pictures of each person, and then the residents could pick their two favorites to keep for free.
Frank Langen, the owner of Gallery 169, said that 114 photo sessions were held, but that because many photos were of groups or couples, the number of participants may have reached 200.
“They had fun,” Langen said. “The joy that Josh Madson and his community collage spread is immeasurable.”
(Prior Canyon News coverage of the Madson community collage project can be found here.)
Canyon Square welcomes people for the community collage photo sessions.
