Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Syd Barrowman. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Syd, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

My gallery, 5Hundred21 Art Lounge all started with a small idea of a “friend gallery”‘ with my best friend. This little idea of friends sharing personal art with friends snowballed into the community based experimental art lounge that it is today. At the time, when I first started the gallery, I was living in an old store front. I decided to clear out my entire apartment, and host my first event there. The first few steps were ideation– what did I want from this gallery and how was I going to execute it. We came up with an Artist-for-Artist mission that jumpstarted the entire business model of 5Hundred21. We collected work from about 30 artists, curating it to the theme Identity. We included performance art, music, and fine art. As we hosted show after show, we seemed to gain a local following and have been known as the experimental art lounge where artist can come together with their community to connect and create. We have hosted 6 successful shows since then, renting out different venues around Savannah. I am currently a senior, and my last few quarters in school have been preparation for making this a successful business after I graduate.

Syd, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Syd Barrowman, and I am a senior at SCAD studying painting and business entrepreneurship. I am also a mixologist and the service industry plays a huge role in my life. My two passions, art and mixology helped me create the vision I have for my business. I refer to 5Hundred21 as an “experimental” art lounge because of our inclusion of so many crafts and mediums, also the additional of craft cocktails (with the venues we can find with liquor license). I always say that art is messy, thoughtful, emotional, and unconventional… why do we put art on perfect white walls in galleries? It just doesn’t seem fitting. I feel that art should be viewed the way it was created, surrounded by what it was influenced from. 5Hundred21 does just that, we create an experience through these gallery shows, all curated to a theme that embodies each work in a different way.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

My business was funded from my personal savings account. I lived paycheck to paycheck the first few months when starting my gallery, putting funds towards my dream rather than buying myself groceries or gas. It was a struggle but it was worth it, and I would do it a million times again. After the second show I started to make more money than I was spending, and was able to start a gallery account. I now have a little money behind me to create new shows.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

What makes 521 unique is its artist-for-artist mission statement. We do not charge commission fee or wall space, and truly are here to create a platform for artists to show their work, collaborate and build a sense of community. I think we have such a loyal fanbase because we are truly about the art, not the money. We are also known for creating unconventional events, where we have rented out unusual spaces and created an immersive event that people get excited to be a part of. With each show its something new.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @5hundred21

Image Credits
Jen Goebner Alex Hauer