The Arts Warehouse recently hosted the Out of the Alley Exhibition, which is a sneak peak of the new installations that were created by local artists that will soon call Osceola Park home.
This project is part of the annual Art in the Alley Project, which is a community initiative where local artists volunteer their time to create one-of-a-kind art pieces to beautify the outdoor space of Osceola Park, a residential neighborhood located in the Southeast District of Delray Beach.
For more than a decade, there has been a quiet group of artists and neighbors changing the face of Delray’s oldest platted neighborhood. “In 2024, more than 40 artists created new work that will soon adorn the Osceola Park alleyways. The Out of the Alley pop-up exhibition at Arts Warehouse is just a selection of the total number of works that will be installed outdoors in Osceola Park.” said Grace Gdaniec, Arts Warehouse program director.
The art, which was created on large 3’ x 5’ pieces of cement board, will be installed in the Osceola Park alleyways at a later date.
“This was an opportunity to showcase the paintings in a different setting before they are installed outside. It also brings awareness to the initiative in general, and perhaps will encourage locals and visitors to visit the Osceola park neighborhood,” Grace said.
This year marks the 10th year of the Art in the Alley initiative. There is a new theme each year, giving artists a continued opportunity to explore their creativity. This year’s theme was “Save the eARTh,” which is appropriate considering April includes Earth Day.
“There is a painting day each year when all participating Art in the Alley artists gather together to create their paintings. It becomes a celebration of community and art as the pieces come to life,” Grace said.
The Art in the Alley project was thought of and initiated in partnership between Osceola Park residents Lisa and James Quillan, and muralist and artist, Sharon Koskoff. The project was started to beautify the once overgrown and debris-filled alleyways, which make up a significant part of the landscape of the Osceola Park neighborhood. Neighbors in the area took pride in the newly art filled alleys, keeping them free of debris and maintained so that residents could use the alleys for walking, driving, and enjoying safely.
What a great way to not only celebrate our local artists and highlight their creativity, but to also beautify one of our neighborhoods for all residents to enjoy. We hope to see everyone viewing the art already installed and the new areas in Osceola Park!
