A SHORT HISTORY OF THE OUR TOWN PROJECT

Beginning in 2012 at a center for unhoused people in Nashville, Tennessee called Room at the Inn, we asked our neighbors to help us make a portrait of our city. The goal was to give every Nashvillian, no matter their lot in life or status in society,  a voice and an opportunity to share their inner selves with their neighbor through portraiture art. We called this initiative Our Town Nashville. It was an experiment in creating public art WITH as well as for the public.

Making portraits together became a bridge between all sorts of people. Old, young, rich or poor - everyone was excited to come together through making things together.

And in the end we confirmed our suspicion that we are all much more alike than we are different. People almost universally share a common desire to be useful and creative, be part of a community and have fun!

After several years of criss crossing the city - the enormously generous response from our city was spectacular and grew beyond our wildest dreams!  We knew that this project resonated far past our initial goals and thus Our Town Everywhere was born.  Its new aim is to give people EVERYWHERE a voice and sense of connection through making portraits and sharing.

We would love to come to your city and continue this journey with you.

Yours truly,

Bryce McCloud and the Our Town Everywhere Team