HISTORY&VISION
HISTORY&VISION
Woodard’s Garage was once a semi-truck fleet maintenance and repair shop. Serving its community for over half a century, Mayfield and Artris Woodard were recognized by the National Business Association and the National Alliance for Black Business, employing members of their community and acting as a local business incubator.
Mayfield (88) is still using this space to invent and fabricate, occasionally collaborating with his granddaughter Gabrielle on small batch home goods and custom grills for her supper club Revival Suppers.
Together they will reimagine this space as an artist studio and the brick and mortar for Revival Suppers. It will also serve as a teaching/ commissary kitchen, lodging space for artist residencies and occasionally a short term vacation rental.
Too often, historic buildings in Black communities fall into disrepair and eventually disappear. Negatively impacting the chance for the next generation to have an opportunity to build wealth on the success of their predecessors. We know that wealth is not amassed by the sale of our land, it is how we use what we have to create a flow of revenue.
The vision for Woodard’s Garage is to create a special third space that will engage, employ and inspire our community; while honoring the history of this place. This space will center the preservation of local culture, heritage foodways and oral history through workshops, town halls, exhibitions and other events. Woodard’s Garage is also part of a nonprofit that will host artist residencies, providing a unique forum for visiting Chefs, Writers, Musicians, and others to pilot their work and find respite.
Artist Statement
