Alisan Road Mercantile is inviting Spring City residents to help document the borough through a new community-driven photography project aimed at capturing everyday summer life from a variety of viewpoints.
The shop’s Summer Photo Program will provide participants with disposable cameras to photograph moments around Spring City throughout the summer. After Labor Day, the cameras will be collected, the film developed, and selected photos displayed in a community exhibit at the store this fall.
Matt Doyen, owner of Alisan Road Mercantile, said the idea was inspired by participatory exhibits commonly seen at museums and community centers.
“The cool thing is we're going to see Spring City in the summer through various perspectives,” Doyen said. “Kids will have them, families will have them, businesses will have them. So we’ll get a good mesh of Spring City.”
A Community-Focused Project
Participants can purchase a camera package for $30, which covers both the disposable camera and film development. Cameras will be available for pickup beginning Memorial Day weekend. Sponsors can also purchase cameras that can be provided free of charge to community members, and Doyen said several businesses and residents have already stepped up to help support the project.
Businesses sponsoring five or more cameras can also have their name or logo attached directly to the cameras, giving them visibility “every time they take a picture,” Doyen said.
Once the summer concludes, participants will help curate the final exhibit by selecting their favorite images and writing short descriptions explaining why they chose them. Doyen said the exhibit’s final format is still being developed, but could include framed photos or a more informal display using hanging lines and clips throughout the shop.
The exhibit is tentatively planned for late September following the return and development of the cameras.
Building Connections in Spring City
Alisan Road Mercantile, located at 89 N. Main Street in Spring City, opened earlier this year and specializes in locally sourced and locally made goods from vendors throughout the region. The shop carries a mix of products ranging from coffee and packaged foods to artwork, books, and music created by local makers.
Doyen said the Summer Photo Program reflects a broader goal of helping foster community connections in Spring City through projects that encourage participation beyond traditional retail.
“I feel like Spring City gets a little overlooked,” Doyen said, noting that nearby communities often have more established organizations dedicated to downtown revitalization and community programming.
He said he hopes the project can help fill some of that gap by creating something collaborative and community-focused, though its success will ultimately depend on participation from residents and local businesses.
“We're putting it in their hands and just gonna see how it goes,” Doyen said.
