Jones: Fayetteville art space channels creativity, makes connections

Every person has creativity within them that lies dormant. At times, creativity is ignored for practicality.

Creativity comes in different forms, like art. Art is a multifaceted element that is part of everyone’s daily lives, whether it come in admiring a building or listening to music.

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A number of things may trigger creativity. However, the setting in which we create has the greatest impact on what we create.

Thomas Ferguson and the team at Black Canvas are creating a vibe in their space that brings out the creativity in every person that passes through their threshold.

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An artist himself, Ferguson understands the power of creativity. He once sold his work in auctions. However, he did not see the intended result.

By that time, he was a graduate of 71st High School. He went on to receive his business degree from UNC Greensboro. He returned home to work in the family business and bought a home.

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However, he still wanted to channel his creative energy and provide an opportunity for others to create freely. During the summer of 2022, Thomas researched commercial real estate and found a space located in Eutaw Shopping Center, an area most known for Round-A-Bout Skating Center and Carlie C’s IGA.

Ferguson saw the space as a blank canvas and created Black Canvas. The business was created with the goal of coordination and collaboration with a network of young Black artists and entrepreneurs, in order to highlight, cultivate and inspire them to keep creating.

There are various forms of art. However, each form complements the other with the proper placement.

Susan Stinchfield was properly placed when her sister and Thomas became neighbors. She relocated to Fayetteville from Wilton, Maine, right after the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The mother of three came to Fayetteville in search of a fresh start. She had spent 13 years in Jacksonville, North Carolina, when she was younger.

“Collective energy is beautiful”, Stinchfield says.

She feels meeting Thomas was divine. The pair forged a friendship that led to a partnership.

Ferguson enlisted the help of Stinchfield to oversee operations at Black Canvas while he was on vacation. She immediately felt at home and loved the flow of creative energy.

One day while outside painting, Bernard Mention, better known as DJ Wolf 914910, passed by and felt the attraction of the creative energy. Initially, the group offered him the opportunity to paint. Mention politelydeclined.

However, DJ Wolf wanted to be involved with Black Canvas. He was already a well-known DJ who had been on tour with Vibe Magazine and Henchmen Entertainment. He hails from New Rochelle, New York, and understands that music engenders the creativity within a person.

At Black Canvas, DJ Wolf likes to “blend music like painters blend paint.” Ferguson, Stinchfield and Mention all have an ear for music and Black Canvas is a space that is welcoming to all forms of art from all walks of life, amateur or professional.

But, the mission is bigger than just creating art. It’s about creating opportunities, education and giving back. Black Canvas operates like a community center. The group is looking to establish a nonprofit entity that allows them to add on to their efforts.

During the holiday season, through collaborative effort with other creatives, Black Canvas was fortunate enough to feed and cloth multiple families. With the help of DJ Wolf, they have been able to offer a DJ academy that endswith participants receiving a flash drive containing 500 songs.

Susan remembers how art helped her through a troubled time and is currently establishing the Mindfulness Art program for women to cope, converse and create. Stinchfield has been a member of Serving Homelessness of Cumberland County since 2021.

Collectively, the team at Black Canvas participated in the Made In The Ville Art Expo on Feb. 5 at the Eutaw location. The event showcased various forms of art from local artists and to artists from surrounding areas.

For more information on Black Canvas, visit them at 805 Elm St. or follow them on Instagram,@blackcanvas.paint.

Salute to Thomas, Susan, DJ Wolf, and every activist getting active. Peace.

Rakeem “Keem” Jones is a community advocate and father of three from the Shaw Road/Bonnie Doone area of Fayetteville. He can be reached at keemj45@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Jones: Fayetteville art space channels creativity, makes connections