When you need an inspiring place to study, write, or work, where do you go? Your favorite coffeeshop with its cozy nooks? Your most comfy living room chair and ottoman, with a cat curled up on your feet?

If you’re anything like me and you dislike the environment where you’re working, you’re probably staring at the back of someone’s head, fervently studying the seconds hand on the wall clock.

You’re itching to be somewhere else, somewhere more comfortable, so you can be productive without feeling like you’re losing your mind.

But what if your workplace WAS that beautiful safe haven for you? What if the space felt more like your living room—with plants and vibrant wall art—and less like an impersonal space with too much overhead fluorescent lighting?

I’m passionate about making art accessible in the everyday. Beauty and inspiration shouldn’t be found only during after-hours and weekends.

So this summer I installed 56 pieces of my art in Nido, a rad Durham coworking space with an on-site Montessori preschool and a mission to support local artists.

Nido began in the living room of cofounder Tiffany Frye back in 2014, when seven families gathered with the intention of building community by working together with their children close by.

Now they’ve expanded in huge ways, but still maintain the cozy living room feel of their early days by partnering with artists to fill their walls. (Curious to learn more about Nido’s history? Here’s an in-depth New York Times article about this unconventional organization’s journey since its inception.)

For six weeks, this summer, my paintings will add color and joy for the entrepreneurs (and their kiddos!) who daily use the space.

I interviewed co-founder Tiffany Frye about how Nido supports local artists and which paintings of mine are the biggest hits among her members. Read the Q&A below for an inside look at how Nido’s members are enjoying my art this summer, and how you can too!

1. Tell me about your organization. What is your mission? Who do you serve? What gets you excited to go to work every day?

Nido is a not-for-profit coworking space with an on-site Montessori preschool. We primarily serve families who are looking for a new option for work/life integration. Our members are folks who are looking to have space to work, be close to their children, and make connections in a supportive community.

There is power in seeing someone else succeed at creating a meaningful and happy life – it inspires other folks to make the decisions necessary to create the same thing in their lives.

2. Supporting artists by giving them a space for making art accessible to a wider audience is an important part of your business model. Why is this so close to your heart? In what ways do you support local artists?

My motivation for having art here comes down to creating a beautiful and inspiring environment.

In our classrooms, our teachers create prepared environments that allow our children to engage in creative and productive work/play.

In our coworking space, we try to do the same thing. Whether that’s having fresh coffee brewing when our members arrive, or making sure our space is full of bright, beautiful, meaningful art, it all contributes to making sure they feel taken care of and ready to dive into their own creative and productive work/play.

I hope, too, that our space can be supportive for local artists.

Because we have members coming into our space day after day, they see and engage with the art in a different way than seeing it just once during a gallery visit.

They are given the opportunity to get attached to the art over the duration of the artist’s show. It is my hope that this translates into more sales for the artists, more money staying local, and more art in people’s homes.

3. For readers who haven’t stepped inside Nido, can you paint a picture of what the interior looks like? What are some of the rooms like, and how are they used by your members?

We are lucky to have a beautiful space to work in every day. Our landlord, Jon Parker, had intended to use the space as an art gallery – then he met us and decided to let us rent the space instead because he wanted to support the mission of Nido (thank you, Jon!).

The space is full of light – floor to ceiling windows throughout the coworking space means we often don’t have to use the lighting during the day.

We’ve tried to maintain a minimal aesthetic while still being cozy. Right now, I’m sitting on a couch in one of the rooms with the best light!

We also have a conference room that folks use on a regular basis. Our shelves in that room are full of plants and books – and now, your art!

4. How do my paintings enhance the overall feel of Nido?

Your art has caused me to envision some of the spaces in new ways. This is especially true in the conference room – I don’t think we’ve ever had so many blues and pinks in that room, and it looks great! We are currently planning a redesign of our interior, so it is lovely to get new inspiration from how your art interacts with the space.

Overall, the color and sensuality of your work has the effect of making the space feel warmer and cozier. I’ve heard so many comments from our members  about how much they love having your paintings here.

5. What have some of your members said about my paintings since my installation? Is there a favorite? Which painting is your favorite, Tiff?

Oooo I have heard lots of favorites – I don’t know if there’s consensus on this one! Our Children’s House teacher’s favorite is “Dreamscape No. 4”, currently hanging in the break room.

My husband’s favorites is “You Are Enough” – and I love the placement right above one of our standing desks, which happens to be my favorite place to work. I’ve heard lots of fans of the use of mica in the paintings! (Who doesn’t love glitter, right?!)

My favorite? I’d have to go with the Bloom series, hanging in the conference room. I really have a thing for flowers.

6. Anything else you’d like to add about Nido, my artwork, or your role in the Durham community?

Thank you for being you and for bringing so much beauty into our space. The thing I love most about your art is how the movement, emotion, and intention is imparted through your medium.  Your work has energy in it, and it’s palpable. As someone who experiences the world in a very kinetic way, I appreciate that.

I also want to affirm how important it is to be creating art and bringing beauty into the world.

Art fills us up in a vital way – a way that’s absolutely necessary if we are all to continue pushing forward and fighting for a better future. We can’t do that if our souls are empty, so thank you, Courtney, for filling our souls!

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Come kick back with me at my opening reception at Nido on July 20 for Third Friday Durham! I’ll have my paintings up until the end of August, including 22 new mini-paintings that are cute as a button! RSVP here!

Entrance is FREE, and I’ll have treats + wine for my guests.

I’ve got some fun activities in the works for this reception, including a fluid painting inspired cake by local baker extraordinaire Sonia Oakley!

THE DETAILS:

• Friday, July 20
• 6pm @ Nido Durham
• 902 Broad Street, Durham, NC 27705