Beneath The Midst Of It All

For some time now, there’s been a perception lingering around Charlotte that creatives must venture elsewhere for access to certain opportunities. But what happens when creatives stop putting that energy into leaving and instead into building the community they want to see?

Across Charlotte, that answer is beginning to unfold. The independent creative scene is becoming harder to overlook as creatives are creating their own spaces, pooling their resources, and redefining their surroundings. One such example is Club Tut Studios, a collective of multi-disciplinary artists from across North Carolina dedicated to building space and developing their practice. Club Tut has spent the last year and a half meeting twice a month at Loyd Studios, connecting the dots on how to turn their ideas into reality. Out of those sessions came their first group exhibition, In The Midst Of It All, hosted right across the street at Goodyear Arts. Rajuma Bey—multidisciplinary artist, Club Tut founder, and curator of the exhibition—explained that he started the collective because of “the lack of infrastructure for emerging talent and artists in North Carolina.” He wanted to create “a space free of gatekeeping, politics, and all the other [stuff] that goes on in art spaces.” The exhibition’s opening night offered a glimpse into what that vision looks like in practice.

Walking into the gallery, the magnitude and variety of talent on display immediately commanded attention. Canvases stretched five feet tall, a sculpture hung from a beam above, portraits of Black faces in different styles and expressions decorated the space. But the most striking piece was the energy in the room—artists, some exhibiting for the first time, and supporters filled the space with so much love and awe. Even in the insane summer heat.

A stage placed center floor, topped by a lone stool, hinted that visual art would not be the only art form showcased that night. Guests stuck around as Kasanova, a new R&B band, closed the night with their debut performance. Their chemistry and stage presence didn’t feel like a first performance; it felt like a reflection of the talent and relationships this community has been cultivating.

If the night proved anything, it was that the desire for these spaces and opportunities already exists. Fostering this kind of infrastructure, for us by us, extends beyond events and gallery exhibitions—it’s about creating access, opportunity, and relationships. Charlotte is becoming a home where emerging creatives can be recognized for their talent through the opportunities they create amongst themselves. And still, it’s only the beginning. As Rajuma put it: “I don’t know what’s next for us, but I know we can’t stop here.”

In The Midst Of It All will remain on view at Goodyear Arts through August 9.

Chanel B is a creative from Charlotte, NC, with a passion for music, culture, and the community that connects them. She’s always finding new ways to capture the movement and stories around her.