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| Every last Friday of the month at Bokeh Bar Gallery |
Poopie-mishaps, profound poems, missing doggies, promotional plug-ins, Bullgator anecdotes, and Nimrod’s ballad. These were some of the topics last Friday night at the Bare Your Soul evening at Bokeh Bar Gallery, owned and run by Tucker Joenz and Dorothy Guerrero, located at the main entrance to St. Augustine. Some stories were prepared, others were completely improvised. Some recited personal poems, family anecdotes, or sang touching songs from the depths of their souls. Others spontaneously put their name in the hat to share a funny situation or string together stand-up jokes. The bar was buzzing with interested listeners and adventurous speakers. Artists of all disciplines were gathered for a cozy, down-to-earth, we-are-all-human get-together in this literary-café-in-the-making.
Bokeh means ‘blur’ in Japanese and is used both as a term to indicate a mental state of a person and as a technical term in photography. In some photographs, the overall visual is more pleasing if certain areas are softened and out-of-focus. The idea of blurring objects and perspectives has been an evolution in visual art since the first half of the 19th century, originating in Parisian Salons, now called Literary Cafés. French artists would roam the new-and-improved streets of Paris and gather in cafés to talk about their art and visions. New philosophies developed and Eureka!-ideas were experienced. This new artistic style of Impressionism was very much concerned with the impression of the moment, expressed and executed with vagueness of the images, letting the eye understand the overall harmony of the visual. Mental connections between artists are important for art to evolve, and Literary Cafés accommodate this basic need for creatives to bare their souls.
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| Michael Lagasse sharing his song and story about Bullgator |
Bare Your Soul is a spoken word and open mic happening at Bokeh every last Friday of the month and invites anybody to go bare. Nobody has to be embarrassed or shy because we are all just people with our own experiences, sorrow, insecurities, and insights. But while being authentic takes courage and standing up can be daunting, the Bokeh atmosphere is genuinely inviting and, unlike regular bars, feels like coming home to friends and family in a safe environment. And that is just what the after-work Friday evening crowd wants: relax and enjoy good company! The evening is facilitated by Ward Hughey, music editor at Narrow magazine and founder of Bleeding Tree Entertainment. Ward brought this event to Bokeh a few months ago and happily jumps in with a story when needed while Tucker and Doe tend the bar.
Tucker Joenz generously shares his gallery with other artists to exhibit creations, accommodate performances, and provide a space for creative interaction. Art is regularly changed out for new work and openings are usually on the first Friday of the month, which makes Bokeh Bar Gallery an important stop on St. Augustine’s popular Art Walk. In the back of this modern space is Tucker’s own studio which he will also happily share for a fee. Live, original music, especially on the weekends, sets the mood and attracts locals and visitors alike. Next time you are in the neighborhood, walk in and settle down for one of the craft beers or a glass of vino. Ask Tucker about the bokeh technique or his next literary event. Go bare!
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