reimagining the venetian coffeehouse for today’s disconnected world

civil discourse for a disconnected world

what is this?

permission to be is a social experiment and evolving performance art piece: In a society where we hide behind metaphorical masks every day, this flips the script: by putting on a literal mask, you are free to reveal what’s usually kept inside. In a world where honesty feels risky, we too often stay silent out of fear of judgment, cancellation, or being misunderstood. Permission to Be seeks to create space for honest dialogue with complete strangers, 1:1


interested in being a participant?

  • fill out the interest form below and let me know why you want to be part of the exhibition
  • sign a release form for taping and adhereance to the principles
  • you will be contacted once I review the form and schedule you for the session

what happens the day of?

  • We meet up in the filming location, put on a mask (literally), and have an unscripted conversation about your story. your beliefs, and the things you don’t often say aloud.
  • These conversations are filmed and will be compiled into a media performacne piece to be pitched to galleries worldwide around themes of silence and the masks we wear

    • *we embrace pluralistic principles involve recognizing the validity of multiple perspectives, embracing "both/and" rather than "either/or" thinking, and fostering a commitment to dialogue and collaboration across difference



our principles

guiding principles

  • Hate is not tolerated.
  • Judgment is left at the door.
  • Courage, vulnerability, and curiosity guide us.
  • Deep listening (this is not a space to persuade)
  • Anonymity (your identity remains anonymous)

participants must commit to these principles to take part.*

what were the venetian coffeehouses?

in 18th-century Venice, coffeehouses were more than places to drink coffee: they were the city’s living rooms. artists, merchants, nobles, and travelers gathered to exchange ideas, debate politics, and share news. They blurred class lines and sparked creativity, though not without contradictions: some cafés catered to elites, others excluded women, and the scene faded as society shifted. Their legacy reminds us of the power of physical gathering to cultivate community and dialogue.

how do we reimagine them?

like the Venetian coffeehouses that sparked civic exchange centuries ago, this project reimagines them by capturing the authentic thoughts and perspectives of individuals from all walks of life. The use of art as a medium highlights the need for discourse with the intention of understanding a different perspective, even if we might disagree with it. Highlighting the beauty in diversity and releasing the need to control how others exist in the world.

apply now

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