TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - If you've driven through Frenchtown recently, maybe you've noticed an effort to revitalize the community.
"One of the things I wanted to do when I moved to Frenchtown was build the community and help make the community a part of it," said Annie Harris. "And to do those things that people who were born in Frenchtown said made a difference, from gatherings in back yards and businesses, different kinds of businesses."
So that's when Annie Harris decided to bring those things back herself.
"I remembered small businesses in like, little shotgun houses," said Harris.
Harris put ASH Gallery in one of those shotgun houses and a place for community members to hang out right in the back yard.
"You can't just talk about it, you've got to be a part of it," said Harris. "So I decided to buy a house and put my art gallery in it. To let people see it's okay, to in essence come home again."
Harris's efforts are shining throughout the community.
"To me, it makes it real when they come to the community and see it for themselves," said Harris. "They don't have to talk about it, they can see it being revitalized."
Others are using her passion and initiative as a catalyst to get involved as well. One example being Frenchtown Dana Arace.
"What she does for the community and Frenchtown and the different things that she's involved with all over Tallahassee, it definitely does make you want to get involved and really take a look at your own small town and look at how you really can get everybody together on the same page," Arace remarks.
One way Harris preaches unity is through the community backyard.
"I tell people all of the time, I'm a share croppers daughter," said Harris. "But the one thing I was taught is that you must live with all kinds of people and if people get a chance to know you, and you know them, it helps build a community."
Through unique pieces of art, original furniture items, and even a playground, people from across the city come out to have fun.
"Families like it when they come to something back here, sometimes the parent will sit and read while other things are going on," said Harris. "Kids are up there sliding while they're enjoying themselves, then kids will get the hula hoops. But it's just great."
Even a school field trip ended up stopping by to check out the fun.
"One of our local schools students were here to learn about the history," said Harris. "It was a diverse group of kids."
And when the kids are around, Harris is always reminding them that there is a beauty in anything.
"One of the things that I try to do is use some ordinary things that any kid or adult can use, because I say we are a throwaway society," said Harris. "We'll throw away bottles, lighters, windows. I see beauty in everything."
In fact, she even saw beauty in a car crash.
"All of this beautiful crushed glass was in the vehicle, and I thought, 'wow, that sure is pretty.' So I asked if I could have it," said Harris. "So they helped me scoop it up and everything and I got one of the windows that was not broken."
Harris' close friend Gladys Caswell says that Harris' passion reflects through her art.
"She is able to pull from experience from the heart and soul, and then put that on canvas where people can see what's she's made of and where she's come from," says Caswell.
That shotgun house in Frenchtown known as ASH Gallery, full of personal stories, and open for anyone to take a glimpse into Harris' life.
"I love the Rattlers, I love the band," said Harris. "I don't have many of these scarves left."
Original art that shows aspiring artists that they can express themselves as well.
"Annie Harris is definitely so creative and like i said, so empowering to women and all of her artwork, it just tells a story," says Arace, "It's amazing to watch how she thinks and how she creates different things."
Through things such as The Art Walk, Harris is creating a platform for artists, especially the young people just starting out.
"I decided there were people who couldn't afford those fees, like students and young people, to give them an opportunity, we started what we call art walk," said Harris. "You just pop up your tent on the sidewalk, both sides of the street are full and there's no fee."
Now the art community in Frenchtown and throughout Tallahassee is growing.
Harris says she has seen unity in her neighborhood strengthen. Plus Harris is staying busy through her retirement. All of this just by seeing the beauty in anything.
ASH Gallery is open every Saturday from 9 until 4.
Harris says she wants to continue to shine a light on other artists in the community. She says her next project is sponsoring concerts right in the community backyard.
