Through the Prism EXPERIENCE A DIVERSE MUSIC SCENE IN A LAID-BACK ATMOSPHERE by Kelty Garbee photo courtesy of Prism Coffeehouse What venue in Charlottesville can claim to have hosted such performers as Ani Difranco, Emmylou Harris, Dave Matthews, and Alison Krauss? Located on the corner of Gordon and Rugby Road in an inconspicuous white house, the Prism Coffeehouse is often mistaken for just another fraternity house. But with its no drinking and no smoking policy, the only similarity the venue has with a fraternity is its dedication to providing entertainment every weekend of the school year. Described in a 1967 advertisement as a place for "people with ideas, guitars, questions, kazoos, convictions, banjos, opinions, poems, zithers, prejudices, plays, and pocket money for coffee," the Prism Coffeehouse can trace its origins back to the university. However, upon mentioning the Prism Coffeehouse to most U.Va. students, the usual response is, "Yeah I've heard of that. Where is it?" In light of the fact that the Prism Coffeehouse was opened in 1966 by and for U.Va. students, it is rather surprising that many students do not even know where it is. The Prism Coffeehouse started in 1965 as the idea of Bob Moore, who, as minister of St. Mark's Lutheran church, hoped to create "possibilities for communication and encounter" with the students. In other words, Moore and a group of local clergymen were looking for ways to reach out to students who weren't coming to church on Sundays. Meanwhile, in the midst of controversy over the Vietnam War, many students were looking for a neutral territory away from the conservative influence of the university where they could openly discuss their not-so-conservative views. According to Tom Barden, one of the founding students, "an obvious leader of the God-Squad had approached us, and his idea was to start a coffeehouse." Westminster Presbyterian church turned a dilapidated old house over to the students for $1 a year, and it was left up to the students to construct a coffeehouse within its paint-peeling walls. Barden pointed out that over the next few years, the Prism Coffeehouse became a place that welcomed "peaceniks, warmongers, cannibals, vegetarians, and even professors." In order to do so, the Prism hosted a series of discussions aimed at students and professors. Discussion topics such as the legal and medical aspects of sex and the question of women at the university provided both relevant and controversial topics to many students. Aside from offering a forum for serious discussion, the Prism supported a number of less formal but equally interesting activities. In 1968, a third-year university student by the name of Alan Rosenberg opened a psychedelic store or "head shop" named Xanadu in the Prism. The store sold water pipes, incense, and banana-flavored cigarette papers along with other paraphernalia. Xanadu and the discussion series were ventures that served as outlets for anti-war and anti-establishment ideas in the 1960s. During the Prism's early years, music was often used as a vehicle for politics, but present-day director Fred Boyce points out that this has changed: "music is my politics. We want everyone to feel welcome and comfortable here." Over the years, the Prism moved away from political causes, but a mission statement found at its website states that the Prism continues to operate as a "volunteer and non-profit organization devoted to the furtherance of folk, acoustic, and traditional music from around the world." Because of its dedication to music, the Prism, considered one of the premier listening rooms on the East Coast, provides a 1960s version of a coffeehouse that does not exactly fit with the 1990s idea of a coffeehouse. Unlike other coffeehouses where coffee is primary and music is secondary, the Prism takes a different approach by offering coffee and tea on a self-serve basis during intermission. Whereas many musicians have experience playing in restaurants and bars amid crowds who come only to drink and socialize, the Prism can be a sanctuary for many musicians who value the respect and attention of the audience. People go to the Prism for music, and according to local performer Wendy Repass, the Prism is "one of the most intimate spaces to play at in Charlottesville because people feel connected." Director Fred Boyce describes the connecting of audience and musician night after night: "the music travels through the people." According to Zeke Healy, a third-year student and Charlottesville native, the Prism is like "a big, warm living room where you can meet amazingly entertaining, funny, and skilled people." In addition to frequenting the Prism as an audience member, Healy has also performed at the Singer/Songwriter stage, which takes place at 7 p.m. on the first and third Thursday of every month. The Singer/Songwriter stage has a unique format in which the first part of the show is an open stage for community members and students who want to play original music. The second half of the show begins at 8 p.m., when a featured artist performs and leads an informal post-show discussion on his or her experiences as a performer. The Singer/Songwriter stage is partially funded by a New York-based organization called Meet the Composer that offers support and funding to non-profit organizations such as the Prism that perform or present original works. Aside from monetary donations, some of the Prism's strongest support comes from within the Charlottesville community. In addition to many volunteers who attend all shows free in return for working one concert each month, the Prism also works directly with many local businesses. The Prism purchases all of its coffee from the Mudhouse and broadcasts live shows on WTJU. Although Bob Moore once called the Prism "a medium of communication and entertainment for the university community," it seems that more people in the greater Charlottesville community than students in the university community recognize what the Prism has to offer. Nevertheless, with its one-of-a-kind acts throughout the school year and periodic half-price student tickets, the Prism is a nationally prominent acoustic venue well worth checking out. So next time you're trekking down Rugby Road, stop in and take advantage of what the Prism has to offer. The Prism website: http://www.theprism.org

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