While I have learned many neat facts about Taylor history in the past month, it wasn’t until this week that I was given some insight into the bustling culture and creative energy currently alive and well in the city. I met with a local artist who taught me about the many creatives and the venues that continuously highlight and uplift the various talented individuals across Taylor by giving them a place to share their authentic creative vision.
Not only did I learn about how Potters Alley came to be, but I also was clued into local venue Black Sparrow Music Parlor and how the business allowed area artists to come paint and create art in the outside area of the venue with a Charles Bukowski theme.
This made me think of a quote from Bukowski’s 1971 book “Post Office,” which I think further exemplifies the true nature of Taylor: “I wanted the whole world or nothing.”
Taylor is a city with a diverse community of people doing so many different things, and it feels as if no one here contributes in a singular way. Everyone seems to be always giving their all, whether artists, musicians, business owners, community leaders or church members. Long-held traditions and events are consistently adding new aspects to make each year better than the last, while newer happenings are helping to elevate, evolve and grow this community of multipotentialites — those with many interests and creative pursuits.
Taylor is even home to a famous record label, owned by Greg Ginn, a well-known musician, songwriter and the only continuous member of one of the first hardcore punk bands, Black Flag. He owns SST Records, which is headquartered in the city.
I know not everyone is a Black Flag, or even a hardcore punk, fan, but it means something that Ginn chose Taylor as the place to move the independent record label. For those who aren’t in the know, SST Records was incredibly instrumental in the genre of alternative rock, releasing albums from many well-known bands including Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr., Bad Brains, Soundgarden, the Meat Puppets and so many more.
Though the label doesn’t enjoy the same prominence it once did and some of those bands have since left, retaining the rights to their music, it does not go unnoticed that such an incredible company with an impressive history is just around the corner from the Taylor Press office.
All of this to say, Taylor keeps surprising me week after week, and I cannot wait to see what other kinds of magic and inspiration I will continue to find.
Kelley is the area editor for the Centrex Group, which includes the Elgin Courier and the Taylor Press.
