Closing a Chapter — Thank You, Green Spaces

Brianna Carey
Mar 21
3 min read

Green Spaces was more than a collection of desks and four walls; it was a marketplace of ideas, a hub where people gathered to work, create, and connect. For Obscura Ink, it was the ecosystem where everything began.

It was a place defined by the hum of energy—the tight-knit community of vendors, the constant rotation of events, and the shared morning ritual of coffee from Migas. It was an environment that forced you to grow, though you often do not realize how much you have grown until you are packing those years into cardboard boxes.

On March 1st, Green Spaces closed its doors.

The last pieces were moved out, and what was left behind was a silence that felt heavy. The walls that once displayed art and mirrors were patched and sanded smooth. The mural Kelsea spray-painted in her first year of business—a permanent fixture of her start—was hidden under a shroud of fresh paint. A space that once thrived on conversation and collective creativity was reduced to a blank slate.

Three Years of Momentum

Obscura Ink did not just occupy a corner of Green Spaces; it grew roots there.

Year One: The "figure it out" phase. Building a studio from nothing and carving out a signature style in a shared world.

Year Two: Expansion. Literally doubling the studio footprint, bringing on apprentices, and leaning into the energy of the marketplace.

Year Three: momentum—followed by the sudden news of the building’s closure.

Two anniversaries were celebrated within those walls. Countless black and grey realism tattoos were etched into skin. A business became a reality because of the foundation Green Spaces provided.

The Transition to Backyard on Blake

When the news broke, there was no time for a slow exit. The books were full, clients were scheduled, and the work had to continue. So, Kelsea kept moving. The goal was to find a new vessel that could hold the same level of intention, privacy, and quality that defined the Obscura reputation. That search led to Backyard on Blake.

The New Space: Backyard on Blake

Obscura Ink now lives in a solo studio that marks a new era. It is a different atmosphere—quieter, more focused, and entirely intentional. It reflects where Kelsea is now, rather than where she started. There is a certain power in building from scratch a second time; you know exactly what to bring with you and what is better left in the past. This space is not a sequel to Green Spaces. It is an evolution.

An Invitation

New studios need a bit of history to feel right. They need the sound of the machine and the presence of people to truly settle.

If you have supported Obscura Ink or have been waiting for the right moment to get back in the chair, this is your invitation. Come see the new space. Come help us fill the quiet and make this studio feel like home.

Thank You

To Green Spaces — thank you for being the marketplace where we first learned to trade in art., To the Community and Apprentices — thank you for the shared coffee, the long hours, and the support. To every Client who walked through those old doors — thank you for being part of the history.

Some chapters end quietly. This one mattered.