Rooted in North Nashville and shaped by community, creativity, and culture, Joshua Taylor-Gooch — known creatively as J Tailor — is building more than events; he’s cultivating intentional spaces for connection. The Memphis native and Tennessee State University alum is the founder of BLOOM, a community-centered art crawl highlighting local artists, vendors, and creatives while celebrating the spirit of North Nashville. Through visual storytelling and community-driven experiences, J Tailor is helping create spaces where people feel seen, supported, and inspired to grow.
BLOOM, hosted this Saturday, May 23 at NKA Gallery out North, will bring together art, food, vendors, and the culture for a day filled with love and community.
Learn more about BLOOM below and be sure to tap in with the event!
For people discovering BLOOM for the first time, how would you describe the event and the vision behind it?
BLOOM is a community-driven art crawl built to celebrate creativity, connection and culture. I created it to give artists, DJs, vendors and visionaries a space to be seen, collaborate and grow together. More than an event, it’s an ecosystem, a place where people can discover new talent, feel inspired, and experience the creative heartbeat of the city in real time.
You wrote, “Bloom is what happens when pressure meets purpose.” What inspired that message, and how does it connect to your own journey?
The inspiration of that message came from my own life honestly. A lot of the growth I’ve experienced didn’t come from comfort whatsoever. It came from being challenged, overwhelmed, doubted yet still choosing to create anyway. By any means per se. BLOOM reflects that journey. It’s about understanding that pressure isn’t always meant to break you, sometimes it’s shaping you into who you’re supposed to become. Every artist involved in BLOOM carries a story like that in some way. So the message is bigger than the event, it’s a reminder that growth can still happen in hard places.
What originally inspired you to create BLOOM, and was there a specific moment where the idea really clicked for you?
BLOOM came from my desire to create a space where artists and creatives could truly be seen, collaborate, and grow together. The idea clicked when I realized how much creativity mirrors the art of flowers, something I’ve always loved. Flowers represent patience, transformation and growth through every season and that’s exactly what I wanted BLOOM to embody for the community.
Why was it important for you to create an event centered around local artists, vendors, and community in North Nashville?
Creating BLOOM in North Nashville was important to me because this community played a huge role in shaping who I am. I went to college here, found myself here creatively and personally, and now even have a home here. There’s so much talent, culture, and history in North Nashville and I wanted to create something that poured back into the people and spaces that poured into me. BLOOM is my way of celebrating the artists and community that make this area feel alive.
What gap did you feel existed in Nashville’s creative scene that BLOOM is helping fill?
I felt like there was a gap in intentional community-centered spaces where local creatives from different worlds could truly connect, collaborate and be celebrated together. Nashville has so much talent, but a lot of artists, business owners, and DJs don’t always have spaces that feel accessible, genuine or rooted in the culture of the city itself. BLOOM helps fill that gap by creating an environment where creativity, community, and opportunity can all exist in the same room.
What can attendees expect from the experience this year — from the art and vendors to the overall atmosphere?
This year, BLOOM will feel immersive and intentional, by bringing together live art, curated vendors, music and community all in one space. Whether you come to discover new talent, connect with people or simply enjoy the atmosphere, the energy will feel welcoming and soulful rooted in creativity.
How do you go about selecting the artists, creatives, and businesses that participate in BLOOM?
I’m always looking for artists, creatives and businesses that not only have talent, but also bring authenticity, passion and a genuine love for community. Every person involved adds to the energy of the experience, so it’s important that the people participating align with the spirit of growth, collaboration, and creativity that BLOOM stands for.
Community is clearly at the center of this event. What does building community through creativity mean to you personally?
To me, building community through creativity means creating spaces where people feel seen, supported, and connected through what they love to do. It’s about using art, music, and expression as a bridge between people who might not otherwise meet, and allowing those moments to turn into something lasting. For me personally, it’s about giving back to the same kind of community that shaped me and making sure others feel that same sense of belonging and possibility.
What has surprised you most about the response to BLOOM so far?
I feel like the best is still ahead. What’s been most meaningful so far is the organic way people are interacting with BLOOM, the genuine conversations, connections and energy it’s already starting to spark. I’m really excited to see how it continues to grow and evolve. No pun intended, but I truly can’t wait to see BLOOM keep blooming.
Looking ahead, what do you hope BLOOM grows into long-term for both North Nashville and the city’s creative community?
Looking ahead, I hope BLOOM becomes something that truly stays with people not just as an event they attended, but as a feeling that reminded them of who they are and what’s possible. I want it to keep pouring back into North Nashville in a real way, creating opportunities that shift lives, open doors and make space for people who often don’t get seen. More than anything, I hope it builds a lasting home for artists of all mediums across the creative spectrum, a place where people feel safe to grow, to try, to be bold and to be supported while they’re becoming. If BLOOM can do that, even in small ways, then it’s doing exactly what it was meant to do.
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