Tapp’s Outpost, settled right in the middle of Five Points, is a place for artists to take a breath and get weird while pursuing their passion, Caitlin Bright, executive director at the Outpost, said. The Outpost provides a place for artists to expand their craft and community in Columbia.
Bright said at the Outpost they “ramp up this aspect of for artists by artists.” The Outpost’s main goal is to help artists realize the value of their work and then help them with the organizational skills necessary so they can advance their project, grow it however they want and foster their own autonomy, Bright said.
“That's our goal,” Bright said. “To help people get skills and get experience so that they have a better chance in braving the greater universe.”
The Outpost provides resources and peer feedback for artists to help cultivate a creative community, according to Bright. What makes Outpost different from its predecessor Tapp’s Art Center on Main Street is the “grassroots component” it has created, Bright said.
“It’s really about artists driving the content, the message and the voice of the art,” Bright said.
The Outpost is vital for Columbia’s art community, Lee Snelgrove, the executive director for One Columbia for Arts and Culture, said.
“Columbia needs a space like the Outpost to support the pipeline of professional artists,” Snelgrove said in an email interview. According to Snelgrove, the Outpost provides the opportunity for artists of all different modes and backgrounds to cross-train and practice collaborative problem-solving. It also provides artists with the opportunity of addressing community challenges and developing artistic partnerships.
“The Outpost provides a unique space where artists can work in close proximity, explore new ideas, and create artistic businesses that they can use to support themselves,” Snelgrove said.
SundayMorningLovesYou, the current artist showing at the Outpost, is a member of the Outpost community. Sunday Morning said they appreciate the freedom the team at Tapp's allows its featured artists.
“It’s awesome to be able to have a space in the community that is open and available and inviting ... to create conversations that are meaningful,” Sunday Morning said.
Sunday Morning’s showing at the Outpost envelopes everything about love and emotion, they said.
Sunday Morning describes their show as “thought-provoking visual stimulation that creates meaningful conversations, and sometimes using familiar symbols and references.”
The art showcased portrays the ups and downs, the pitfalls and highs of love along with a nostalgic appeal to adults through the use of youthful characters from beloved cartoons to Disney, according to Sunday Morning.
Sunday Morning said they hope to spark conversations with such feelings.
“I think creating those conversions is very important for everyone to feel heard, you know?” said Sunday.
Caitlin Bright said she believes that provoking conversation and challenging the viewers, is a sign of good art. The Outpost has allowed for these conversations to take place within a safe space, Bright said.
“When somebody gets moved to say 'I don’t like what I’m seeing' that gives you the opportunity to say 'why' and then a conversation starts, and then you both leave different people which I think is one of the best things about human existence,” Bright said.
Tapp's Outpost is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday Morning's exhibit will be showing until the end of March.