Creative Crossroads: Studio True opens in NoDa

Posted on 16 Jul 2009 by James Willamor

photo: James Willamor; view this photo on Flickr

This is the seventh in a series titled “Creative Crossroads” — where we take a look at the current state of arts and creativity in the city.

After months of hard work, Studio True finally opens in NoDa. John True, and his wife Yvonne, spent the last five months fixing everything from misaligned roofs, to removing walls, to installing new beams and jacking up the floor. The bright red house, located at 34^th and North Davidson, is not only John’s studio, but also a gallery open to the public. John and his wife have lived in Charlotte for eight years, having previously resided in many different places from California to New York, “anywhere there is an art market,” says John.

“We’re glad we’re in NoDa,” says John, “it’s nice, there actually is a community here.” In the gallery, John displays mostly abstracts, with some set in stonework. He also has some representational pieces on display, and has pieces of varying size and price. Eventually he wants to expand behind the house, so he can move his studio there and have more room to display art in the gallery. This would also allow him to do stonework on site in addition to painting, and also have room to display some pieces by other local artists. John says his wife Yvonne would love to someday open a restaurant in the area as well.

Be sure to stop by and visit John at his gallery on Friday, July 17^th, during the NoDa gallery crawl. Interview and tour of the studio and gallery after the break:

video: James Willamor; view this video on Vimeo

photo: James Willamor; view this photo on Flickr