Spawned from a collective desire for alternative art spaces and creative freedom, The Backyard Gallery in Takoma, DC opened its inaugural exhibition in August of 2022 with the work of six DC area artists. Through cumulative years of dialogue and engagement with each other’s practices, this inaugural exhibition marked the first time this band of artists collaborated directly with each other for a group show. This invitational show called for the artists to provide work that spoke to the unusual setting of the backyard. While some artists plumbed their archives, others created site specific installations. The result was a uniquely personal and inviting show of art relating to the activities of the yard, the sanctuary and craft of home, and the pains and pleasures that lie within.