Mark your calendar. On Saturday, Sept. 14, NoDa will be welcoming the community to the TAOH Outdoor Gallery. Founded by local artists Osiris Rain, Sydney Duarte, and Treazy Treaz + in collaboration with the Piece for Peace Movement, the gallery serves as a platform for local artists.
“This has been years in the making,” said Osiris Rain. “There wasn’t a space [for artists] to get that opportunity to work large pieces and build up a portfolio to allow artists to grow. So when the Opportunity Fund grant popped up, I said, ‘well, this is the opportunity.’”
Rain and the team built the temporary gallery and art park, thanks to a contact with available land + donated materials.
“We had a community build day and so many people came out and the walls went up immediately,” said Duarte.
More than 20 canvases line 2200 N. Brevard St. The gallery adds a pop of color near the Light Rail and helps artists build community, combat loneliness, and improve their mental health.
“There are so many people that don’t feel like they have community or feel like the black sheep of their family,” added Duarte. “In the few weeks that we’ve had walls up, there have been beautiful, meaningful conversations between people coming out to paint and create.”
A grand opening celebration will fill the lot with food trucks, live music, painting demonstrations, and a movie.
“Art aside, this created a space for people to go where they can sit and be,” added Jordan Leicht with the Outdoor Gallery. “It feels creative, it feels like a place to post up and watch people create, read a book, or do work.”
Wait, we said “temporary.” The gallery will be cleared from the lot in early 2025. Rain and the team are looking for a permanent solution and are asking for help finding a permanent home.
