News Summary
Tallahassee will host an art exhibition entitled ‘Black Faces, in Black Spaces’ at the City Hall Art Gallery, emphasizing Black joy and creative expression. Founded by Teylor Parks under the Breathe in Color initiative, the exhibition showcases over 80 artworks, including pieces by resident artists and local students. With an emphasis on accessible wellness, the exhibit aims to spark discussions on creativity, mental health, and representation. Entry is free for the public, making it an inclusive cultural event for the community.
Tallahassee is set to showcase a unique art exhibition titled “Black Faces, in Black Spaces,” which will run through October 1, 2023, at the City Hall Art Gallery, located at 300 S. Adams Street, in the Main Gallery, 2nd-floor mezzanine. This exhibit marks a significant moment for Breathe in Color, an initiative that aims to promote creative wellness through art, music, and healing.
Founded in 2021 by Teylor Parks during her own journey with mental health, Breathe in Color has grown from a six-foot kiosk in Railroad Square into a vibrant community hub. The organization transitioned into a physical space by Martin Luther King Day 2023, providing a gallery, pole dance studio, event hub, and even a green 1967 Volkswagen Westfalia van that doubles as a mobile gallery and safe space.
Teylor Parks and Kosi Sumpter are the curators of the exhibition. Sumpter joined Breathe in Color in 2022, and together they aim to highlight the importance of Black joy and creative expression through the exhibit. Featuring over 80 pieces, the showcase includes photographs from past events, paintings by resident artists, acrylic works by Parks and her family, as well as ceramics created by elementary students from Parks’s art class.
The mission of Breathe in Color underlines the significance of accessible wellness, emphasizing that affordability is crucial so that no one is turned away due to financial constraints. The organization also integrates mental health resources into its activities, utilizing engaging formats to foster participation and community involvement.
Parks and Sumpter are both alumni of Florida A&M University. Despite their differing academic backgrounds—Parks having studied business and Sumpter focusing on industrial engineering—they have successfully combined their skills to create impactful wellness programs. In 2022, the duo began selling affirmation cards and immune support kits as they traveled around the southeast, further embedding themselves within the community.
Breathe in Color has hosted a variety of events in its expanding space, from all-ages music venues to kids’ birthday parties, sound baths, and roller skating classes. The workshops, like Decompress Express artmaking, often see participants donating items in lieu of paying a fee, fostering a culture of communal support and creativity. The founders have expressed a commitment to inclusion, ensuring that Black and Brown individuals find a welcoming environment for engagement with art and wellness.
With the recent move to a residential home designed for movement classes, workshops, and art-making, Breathe in Color continues to expand its accessibility to the community. Future plans include partnerships with museums, community centers, and hospitals to further promote its mission. The current exhibit at City Hall represents a vital opportunity to amplify Black voices and experiences in spaces that traditionally lack representation.
The “Black Faces, in Black Spaces” exhibit not only reflects the community’s artistic talent but also serves as a platform for discussions around creativity, mental health, and representation. The exhibit is free to the public, making it accessible to all. For further inquiries, interested individuals can contact the gallery directly.
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Additional Resources
- Tallahassee.com: Breathe in Color Brings Joy of Black Faces
- Google Search: Breathe in Color Tallahassee
- Tallahassee.com: Young Professionals Honored at Awards Gala
- Wikipedia: Art Exhibition
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Arts
- Google News: Black Faces in Black Spaces
Author: STAFF HERE TALLAHASSEE WRITER
The TALLAHASSEE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERETallahassee.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Tallahassee, Leon County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Springtime Tallahassee, Tallahassee Jazz & Blues Festival, and LeMoyne Chain of Parks Art Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce and United Way of the Big Bend, plus leading businesses in education, healthcare, and insurance that power the local economy such as Florida State University, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, and Capital Health Plan. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREJacksonville.com, HEREOrlando.com, HEREStPetersburg.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
