Stories
After showing at The Carrack in 2014 I went on the have successes throughout the Triangle; showing at Suntrust Gallery, Room 100, CAM Raleigh, Artspace, Block Gallery and completing an Artist Residency at Artspace Raleigh. The first step in building the support for my art practice was applying for a show at The Carrack. The continued support of my art practice throughout the years after my show has convinced me that The Carrack, along with Laura Ritchie, is a true and solid resource for artists.
The Carrack has been absolutely amazing! The space has been a true blessing to the Durham community, for all types of people. The fact that an art gallery has opened its doors for local activists to host free monthly film screenings, not only reflects its versatility, but as well, its commitment to improving humanity. Art and community go hand and hand, and The Carrack has been a major part of that in Durham." ~Lamont Lilly, Durham-based Organizer, Activist and Writer
The Carrack is an amazing space for music making. Its acoustics are warm and reverberant, well suited to just about any kind of music. And I always find it inspiring to play among the eclectic exhibits. Performing there has been endlessly rewarding.
“I cannot imagine being a young artist in a city without an art space like the Carrack. I came out of undergrad with few exhibitions under my belt & with 10 times the number of ideas than spaces to put them in. The Carrack gave me an opportunity I had never dreamed of: carte Blanche in a huge, beautiful, downtown space. I was encouraged to make of it whatever I could. That exhibition, “just between us,” taught me how to be an artist, not an aspiring artist, and I can thank that experience for the majority of the opportunities I’ve had since.”
I ran across the Carrack randomly while walking downtown. There was an event going on so I went in to see what it was all about. Since July 2015, I have thrown a series of pop-up shop showcases downtown Durham and once I saw The Carrack, I knew it would be the perfect place to have my next one. I grabbed a business card and sent Laura a quick email pitching my concept and she immediately replied with a yes. The day of the pop-up shop show case she greeted me with a warm welcome and was very supportive. I love The Carrack and how it came about. More than anything, Laura's story with the Carrack really inspired me to strive and be great and not to doubt myself with this entrepreneur journey.
In addition to presenting COMPANY’s debut work at The Carrack, I also regularly host PROMPTS – a quarterly artist series – space. The artistic freedom, generosity of resources, and the continuous sense of community building are so unique to any arts space that I have ever worked with. These elements make The Carrack a hub for the arts, but it also feels like a home.
Have something you would like to say about the Carrack? We would love to hear from you and possibly put you on our wall. Just send us a picture and a paragraph or two about what you love about the Carrack.