About Us

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Christopher Jarred began creating art to aid his quest for balance at a time when he was consumed by tragedy and chaos.  After the passing of his mother and father, he was in an emotional tailspin.  Art rescued him from the depths of despair and opened up a world of peace, beauty and happiness.

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Christopher Jarred’s mother and father were much more than parents. They were his cornerstone, his mentors, his best friends.  As an only child their departure left him lifeless and sent him searching for something, anything to fill the void. 

With self-destruction lurking in the shadows, a dear friend suggested that he try art to help cope with his loss and express himself in a more therapeutic way.  

 From his first brush stroke, he immediately knew that it would be far from his last.  He began to use color, textures, and patterns to speak the thoughts and feelings he could not otherwise convey.  Art allowed him to physically create the beauty he needed to combat the frantic emotional state.

Christopher Jarred’s art quickly gained notoriety and was featured at Gallery Guichard, Ugly Step Sister Art Gallery, The Phoenix Gallery, and Center on Halsted.  His art also appeared on the cover of The Space Between Us (Ellis and Norman, 2009) and on the home decorating show Urban Livin’ with Helen Bailey.

Christopher Jarred continues to find beauty and tranquility with every brush stroke.  

Muriel Baptiste has never dabbled with brushes and paint but her years of experience, spent initiating, expanding, and developing programs in the arts is enough for her to believe in its efficacy for healing and lending hope. Muriel’s art is evidenced through her networks, her leadership capabilities, and her ability to tease out the good she sees in others and cultivate it for a greater good. 

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An island native, from a tiny Caribbean island; she moves at her own authentic beat, and invests heavily in nurturing relationships and pursuing advocacy for women, girls and their families, which speaks volumes of her values and convictions. 

A visionary herself, Muriel dreams big and has a vision for how collective efforts in the arts can yield impactful results. Her holistic approach to living, allows her to value the role the art plays in healing both the artists and the audience. She therefore holds a vision to utilize various forms of art into a purposeful package, meant to take healing to whole communities of people; using either tangible pieces, exhibited art pieces, performances, food creations, or written forms of art to capture and hold the audience’s attention. 

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327 Collective is a platform and an outlet that allows Muriel to harness the symphony of ideas that play in her head; and provides her the close knit-trusted community to bring those dreams to life. 

Add a short bio for each team member. Make it brief and informative to keep visitors engaged.