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photowalk

A Tribe Called TAOH

Located at 22 N. Brevard St in Charlotte, NC is TAOH (The Awakening Of Humanity) Outdoor Gallery. Founded by painter and muralist, Osiris Rain, in collaboration with Piece For Peace and Proffitt Dixon Partners, TAOH Outdoor Gallery is Charlotte’s first graffiti park. Put together by a few of Charlotte’s more well known muralists, this space is a 24/7 communal space designed to foster collaboration and create opportunities for less experienced artists to learn from and showcase their creativity.

This Saturday morning, before the Grand Opening, I took a moment to walk around and capture some images of the park before the big event. It’s a beautiful space, and something much needed in Charlotte. A new space that reflects the true nature of artists and creative work - a grassroots way of providing resources to make it easier for people to express themselves and grow their skills.

“TAOH Outdoor Gallery is more than just a space—it's a catalyst for transformation, enriching lives, and shaping the cultural identity of Charlotte for generations to come.” For more information on how to support TAOH Outdoor Gallery, please click here.

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Smelling The Roses

When I first picked up a camera, I did what I could without the assistance of others - I walked around and took pictures of anything that seemed interesting.

Living in East Orange, NJ, I would start in my neighborhood, go toward Newark or New York City, and photograph whatever caught my interest along the way. I would take pictures of cracks in the sidewalk, dilapidated walls, neglected buildings , foliage growing out of unexpected places, rusty mailboxes, and sometimes random people on the street. I photographed things that inspired me, like graffiti, odd phrases, or things that seemed to have a different meaning when I could isolate them from their surroundings.

As I worked to develop my skills photographing people, my photographs of inanimate objects got neglected, when really the strength of my people photography, is that I “objectify” my subjects, I photograph them as if they were beautiful, interesting objects.
I came to realize that really, what feeds my soul is focusing my photographic eye on textures and forms, and the neighborhood photowalks are really something that I miss.

More recently, I realized that, for me, photography is a way to slow life down. As the years go buy, looking back through my photographs helps me remember “where the time has gone.” It reminds me of moments and places I’ve seen but forgotten. It reminds me of people I’ve met. It reminds me of venues and communities that no longer exist. It reminds me of relationships I’ve enjoyed with people, good times I’ve had.

In a way that is similar to how smells can trigger memories, photographs - even the ones of simple things, help me recall experiences and places that I had forgotten. Having more memories makes life feel full again. It feels less like my life is speeding past me.

It is very satisfying to use my camera to “stop and smell the roses".

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The Hunt For Inspiration

Something I haven't been doing nearly enough lately... Photo Walks. A great way to just take in my environment, see things with fresh eyes, and capture images of things that fascinate me. I quickly pass by so many things that capture my interest, without 'stopping to smell these "roses"'. Today while in Atlanta, I did a bit of walking with my camera, and here's what I found. I'll spend this evening sketching ideas these images inspire, and hopefully, I'll see these things find their way into my creative process.