Tulsa Woman Brings Creativity To Communities Through Mobile Art Studio

Welcome to the Arca Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages Porch, a space that highlights the community in a new way every day.

Mery McNett invented Artsy Cartsy. She describes it as a mobile, open studio that can bring art and joy everywhere you can imagine; schools, nursing homes, parks, parties. You name it!

Almost a year ago to the day, ahha an epicenter of the Tulsa art community, shut its doors suddenly.

For McNett, a former employee of ahha, that day would change her life forever.

“When ahha closed, I was right in the middle of teaching a group of seniors the basics of acrylic painting and we had to cancel that class,” said McNett. “I knew that when ahha closed I had to do something like that because it was my dream job and now I have to create my own dream job.”

McNett knew she wanted to continue the vision of ahha and continue to be able to inspire art locally and beyond. That’s when she came up with the idea for an art cart.

“It kind of came from my years working with the arts institutions Living Arts, ahha and Gilcrease. So this is really a mobile version of what ahha was doing on the 3rd floor, which was an open studio where people would come and be creative and make art,” said McNett. "It's not just a wooden cart. It tells it's a piece of art itself. I love black light colors. I love bright colors. So this is definitely me and I hope that it kind of spreads joy like it gives me. It just makes you smile when you see it.”

Artsy Cartsy allows McNett to bring a portable art studio into schools, retirement homes and community events.

She is currently raising funds to make improvements to the art cart and for art supplies. CLICK HERE to learn more about Artsy Cartsy.