A barbershop in Irving is temporarily housing a small collection of art from local artists until early May.
1 Nice Cut in Irving has collaborated with the Leadership Arts Institute’s Collin/Denton Class of 2023 to display art at its premises as part of a pilot program aiming to put a spotlight on local artists, per North Texas Business Council for the Arts.
The initiative launched on April 16 with an event at 1 Nice Cut — located at 835 N Beltline Rd. — allowing community members to browse the exhibit and speak to the artists behind the pieces.
The class partnered with One CommunityUSA to put on this mini-museum. It is a nonprofit that works to help “underserved and underrepresented communities,” per the organization’s website.
The hope behind the program is that the art exhibit will “increase the barbershop’s community standing and be economically beneficial,” per NTBCA.
A big part of this is to reach those who would not ordinarily be exposed to art and give them part of “the social, developmental, and educational value of art.”
“I never got taken to a museum. I never got taken to a gallery or an art show, and it’s like well, I know there are more people like me,” Kat Warwick, who is part of the class and is one of the exhibited artists, told NBC 5.
The mini-museum project also represents a significant opportunity for the artists involved.
“Using artists that are in the area, they get to tell their stories,” Warwick remarked, per NBC 5.
Some of the artists exhibited at the barbershop include Trey Wilder, Lakeem Wilson, Warwick, who works with sculpture, and Jeremy Smith, who uses “Vibrational Colors Designed to Infuse Energy and Moods” in his art, according to his website.
The owner of 1 Nice Cut, Jimmy McGee Jr., spoke excitedly about the project in an interview with NBC 5.
“You could just talk forever about art!” McGee said, per NBC 5, noting that certain artistry is required in barbering as well.
The mini art exhibit has already been inspiring its viewers.
McGee told NBC 5 that his 9-year-old son Preston was moved to paint a work of his own entitled “Space Crown.”
“It’s very encouraging that he’s got his mind up in the stars,” McGee remarked, per NBC 5.
Only a few days are left to take in the exhibit at 1 Nice Cut, which is only up through the beginning of May.
One CommunityUSA joined forces with 1 Nice Cut earlier this year, per the barbershop’s social media page.
Two individuals from Shop Talk, a community outreach program created by the Irving Police Department, came to 1 Nice Cut and handed out books to children.