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Coffee Shop Culture and Art Documentary to be Filmed Cross-Country

Updated on August 4, 2011
From left, image of Eric Stahl and Kyle Maier pictured with their paintings outside of The Ragged Edge coffee house, located in Gettysburg, Pa.
From left, image of Eric Stahl and Kyle Maier pictured with their paintings outside of The Ragged Edge coffee house, located in Gettysburg, Pa. | Source
Image of Eric Stahl working on one of his free-hand paintings of the sun adjacent to The Ragged Edge coffee house.
Image of Eric Stahl working on one of his free-hand paintings of the sun adjacent to The Ragged Edge coffee house. | Source
Image of skull painting using spray paint and stenciling techniques by Kyle Maier
Image of skull painting using spray paint and stenciling techniques by Kyle Maier | Source
Joint effort by Kyle Maier and Eric Stahl using paint dripping, stenciling and free-hand techniques.
Joint effort by Kyle Maier and Eric Stahl using paint dripping, stenciling and free-hand techniques. | Source

How the Idea Came About

When Kyle Maier and Eric Stahl became friends at The Ragged Edge, a local coffee house, art gallery, and eatery, they had no idea that they would end up filming a documentary on coffee shops.

"Our goal is to make enough money selling our paintings to take a road trip across the country to make a documentary on coffee shops like this one," Filmmaker Maier said of The Ragged Edge, located in downtown Gettysburg, Pa.

Maier, originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, lived next-door to the coffee house. He, along with his girlfriend, Aimie, thought it would be a great idea to document the phenomena of massive communication that occurs at local coffee shops.

"It's a meeting point for so many cultural sects," explained Maier. "And this seems to be one of those places where everybody meets, and comes together. So, it really opens up the line of communication."

Both Maier and Stahl had seen the evolution of The Ragged Edge over the past decade. They also had the misfortune of witnessing two fires in six years. The first time an adjacent apartment building caught fire. Some of the artwork being displayed in the coffee house sustained smoke damage. A few years later, arsonists set fire to a Civil War chapel that was built on a vacant lot next to the coffee house.

Maier and Stahl both admit the notion of filming a documentary about coffee house culture in America has been totally experimental.

"I'm super excited about the movie," Stahl said.




From left, image of Eric Stahl and Chris Lauer inside of a parking garage in Gettysburg, Pa.  The garage housed several art shows.
From left, image of Eric Stahl and Chris Lauer inside of a parking garage in Gettysburg, Pa. The garage housed several art shows. | Source
Image of another guitar painting by Kyle Maier using spray paint and stenciling techniques
Image of another guitar painting by Kyle Maier using spray paint and stenciling techniques | Source

Setting Up Garage Studios

Maier, 24, graduated from the University of New Mexico Film School last summer with a degree in Media Arts. On the other hand, Stahl, 23, originally from Taylor, Texas, had no formal schooling in the arts, but has been painting since he was 18 years.

"It was so hard to get into art galleries because I had no formal training," Stahl explained.

Stahl knew a man in Chambersburg, Pa., who owned a parking garage. So, he offered to clean out the garage in exchange for a place to host his art shows. Stahl said it was just a matter of getting his name out there as an artist. Before long, the idea took off.

"We would just go into a parking garage or warehouse, and just go clean crazy on it to fix it up nicely," Stahl explained.

He also inquired about another parking garage in close proximity to The Ragged Edge. Stahl and his friend Chris Lauer of Gettysburg, Pa., offered to paint a mural on the outside of the garage in exchange for the use of the building. Lauer is also an aritst/painter. After completing the mural, they hosted an art show in the parking garage, which meant no place for people to park!

"So, the cars in the 7-11 parking lot were full of parking tickets," Stahl said grinning.


Image of Garage located in close proximity to The Ragged Edge.  Mural created by, from left, artisans Eric Stahl and Chris Lauer.
Image of Garage located in close proximity to The Ragged Edge. Mural created by, from left, artisans Eric Stahl and Chris Lauer. | Source
Image of various art supplies such as spray paint and acrylics used to create coffee shop art
Image of various art supplies such as spray paint and acrylics used to create coffee shop art | Source

Helping Other Artists Along the Way

One of the artists main goals is to make an open forum for people of any age to partake in art. Stahl said there are people who want to do art, but don't have the means to do it, or the knowledge.

"I'm trying to produce artists," Stahl said. "I'm trying to take people who want to do art, and allow them to do it."

Stahl said they have even given art supplies away. He noted that paint and supplies aren't expensive. It is just a matter of finding someone who wants to just hang out and do art.


Image of Kyle Maier spray painting a longhorn skull on canvas created with stencils.  Note the vacant lot where the Civil War chapel once stood, and the fire-damaged apartment building to the rear.
Image of Kyle Maier spray painting a longhorn skull on canvas created with stencils. Note the vacant lot where the Civil War chapel once stood, and the fire-damaged apartment building to the rear. | Source
Image of various stencils used to create special effects
Image of various stencils used to create special effects | Source

Stenciling

Maier's technique involves the use of spray paint and stencils, which he cuts out himself.

Image of Eric Stahl working on a painting of the sun on the sidewalk in front of The Ragged Edge coffee house.
Image of Eric Stahl working on a painting of the sun on the sidewalk in front of The Ragged Edge coffee house. | Source
Image of free-hand painting by Eric Stahl, which was purchased by Wells Family Baking Company, located next to The Ragged Edge.
Image of free-hand painting by Eric Stahl, which was purchased by Wells Family Baking Company, located next to The Ragged Edge. | Source

Freehand

Stahl's style involves freehand. He starts with a blank canvas, and goes from there. Stahl also incorporates spray painting and paint pouring techniques together with acrylics. Lately, both Stahl and Maier have been combining their techniques.

Image of  paint pouring technique
Image of paint pouring technique | Source

Art for Sale

So, just what do their paintings sell for? At shows, they get anywhere from $200 to $700 per painting. But right now, they are offering them at a reduced cost for $50 to $100. The artists said the sale of their street art will act as a fundraiser for their cross-country trip.

"We've even given some of our paintings away for free," Stahl said, noting that they are non-profit.

Image of dragonfly painting using free-hand drawing and spray painting techniques.
Image of dragonfly painting using free-hand drawing and spray painting techniques. | Source
Painting created jointly by Kyle Maier and Eric Stahl, using a mixture of paint pouring, spray paints and stencils.
Painting created jointly by Kyle Maier and Eric Stahl, using a mixture of paint pouring, spray paints and stencils. | Source

No Bad Artists

Stahl said so many people are afraid to let others see their work because they think they are bad artists. He said they paint in private, and hide out in "the closet."

"But there is no bad art. There is just room for technical advancement," he added.


Image of paint pouring technique using various acrylics
Image of paint pouring technique using various acrylics | Source

Paint Pouring

Both Maier and Stahl do the paint pouring technique jointly. This technique involves mixing different amounts of water with acrylic paint. Some are thinner. Some are thicker. Then they are poured over top of the canvas.

"It has a mind of its own. You have to babysit it," Stahl explained.


Image of painting by Eric Stahl, combining free-hand drawing and paint pouring techniques
Image of painting by Eric Stahl, combining free-hand drawing and paint pouring techniques | Source

And They're Off!

At the time of this writing, the two artisans were packing up their belongings and getting ready to head out cross-country. Where they land, nobody knows. But one thing is for sure . . . This won't be the last we hear of these two ambitious individuals!

"It has been a scary, awesome, fun, ride!" said Maier of the journey.


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For more information, please visit Kamio Media's website by clicking HERE.

To purchase art or to contact Kyle Maier email: kmaier14@gmail.com

For more information on The Ragged Edge coffee house, call (717) 334-4464

For more interesting videos on People of RECH (Ragged Edge Coffee House), click HERE

The Ragged Edge coffee house, art gallery, and eatery

A
The Ragged Edge:
110 Chambersburg St., Gettysburg, PA 17325, USA

get directions

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