“DC Creators Introduce Art, Retail and Gathering Experiment theTwelve”

Photo inside 1262 5th Street, NE by Obi Okolo

From a press release:

“On the heels of the challenging year 2020, twelve DC friends, creators and entrepreneurs come together to launch theTwelve, an experimental commerce and community experience designed to foster true connection, inspire hope and infuse fresh meaning into our lives.

Housed in a 3,600 sq ft raw commercial space in the Union Market District at 1262 5th Street NE, the year-long brick and mortar activation opens on Wednesday, January 27, 2021. theTwelve will offer our beloved community an interactive and curated experience that brings together three distinct areas of engagement, informed by our values of interconnectedness, beauty, sustainability and wellness, to build community, unify and heal.

The front room will offer 870sf of holistic retail, with vintage and new design-focused housewares, live plants, fragrance, and sustainable apparel and accessories–with each item being a touch point to our values. Beyond the shop, is the 1400sf gallery space that will engage community participation and encourage discovery. Just off the gallery is our 1400sf living room where we will offer community programming alongside a kindred crew of collaborators across disciplines.

“Pains from the pandemic and social upheaval really highlighted the importance of unity and brotherhood. There is no ‘us’ and ‘them,’ it’s all us. How do we model that in our day-to-day lives? How can we not go back to business as usual, but really hold onto this moment, and truly be the change we want to see? How can we reimagine the use of public space within the market to spread love and hope through interaction, creativity, and commerce?,” says Lori Parkerson, co-creator of theTwelve DC.

This collective is composed of 12 friends, dreamers, visionaries and doers who want to use what’s in our hands to engage the District in life-giving ways: Talyah Alpern, M.Gert Barkovic, Julian Barnes, Alison Beshai, Reggie Black, Ayana Zaire Cotton, Britnie Dates, Amira El-Gawly, Curry Hackett, Joi Jackson, Obi Okolo and Lori Parkerson. The collective invites other kindred spirits to join in the project to collaborate on events and workshops and expand our network of experience and purpose.

About theTwelve

theTwelve is a collective of 12 friends and creators, exploring the idea of what it means to truly be “all in this together.” Based in the Union Market District, theTwelve offers a year-long art, retail and gathering experiment centered around love, hope and unity through the lens of interconnectedness and sustainability. theTwelve will be open every Wednesday through Saturday, 11am to 7pm. To learn more about theTwelve, please visit www.thetwelvedc.com or follow @theTwelveDC on Instagram.”