By Carrie Byrne Putelo
Giving back often starts with a simple idea. Create access. Access to creativity, to opportunity, to spaces that invite people in and make them feel part of something bigger. That belief sits at the heart of Flavored Layers Art Inc, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit using art, design, and cultural innovation to strengthen communities and reimagine how art functions in everyday life.
FlavoredLayers Art Inc was co-founded by Tara J. Agen, Board President, and David Gutierrez, Co-Founder and Executive Director. Together, they bring complementary backgrounds in art, strategy, sustainability, and community building, shaping a nonprofit rooted in both creative vision and practical impact.
The People Behind the Vision
Tara J. Agen is an artist, President of FlavoredLayers LLC, and a retired HP Inc executive with more than 30 years of experience in marketing, global agency strategy, category creation, and business transformation. A lifelong learner, innovator, and patent holder, Agen brings creative curiosity and strategic clarity to every stage of the organization’s work.
She is currently pursuing a lifelong dream studying fine art at Pratt Institute, where she explores the intersection of art, design, and technology and how those disciplines can help build more inclusive and imaginative communities.
David Gutierrez serves as Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of FlavoredLayers LLC, where he leads innovative projects at the intersection of agriculture, art, and community. A serial collaborator and long-time community volunteer, Gutierrez has sponsored and produced numerous fundraising events, gallery exhibitions, and live creative experiences across the country that support emerging artists and expand access to the arts.
Gutierrez operates at the intersection of art, agriculture, and placemaking. A longtime community collaborator, he has produced art exhibitions, created live art happenings, and supported emerging artists across the country. He is also the founder of FlavoredLayers Farms, a certified organic hydroponic farm in Valley Center, CA, and is now working to introduce container-based urban farming in Utica — connecting sustainability, food access, and education to the arts ecosystem.
In Utica, his ongoing focus also includes the official launch of an urban blight-busting lawn maintenance crew that supports distressed properties and public spaces throughout the arts district while contributing to neighborhood pride and care.
ARTBLOK: A Shared Vision for Utica
At the center of Flavored Layers Art Inc’s mission is ARTBLOK Utica, an ambitious initiative designed to integrate art and agriculture directly into the fabric of a neighborhood.
ARTBLOK is envisioned as a walkable arts ecosystem that transforms underutilized spaces into places where creativity, community, and opportunity intersect. The initiative brings together artist residences, exhibition and performance spaces, community gathering areas, educational programming, creative storefronts, and urban farming. The goal is to make art accessible, visible, and lived rather than confined to traditional gallery walls.
Through artist-in-residence programs, public art installations, hands-on learning experiences, and community-centered events, ARTBLOK is designed to support artists while inviting residents to actively participate in the cultural life of their neighborhood. The long-term intention is to strengthen Utica’s cultural and economic vitality by creating a place where art supports people, place, and possibility.
Art That Gives Back
Flavored Layers Art Inc believes art can be both expressive and practical. Their work prioritizes inclusion, sustainability, and collaboration, partnering with artists, institutions, and community organizations to ensure creative spaces serve real community needs.
By combining public art, education, performance, and urban agriculture into a cohesive vision, the organization approaches giving back as something built into the structure of a place, not added on after the fact.
Why It Matters
In a region defined by resilience and reinvention, creativity remains one of the Mohawk Valley’s strongest assets. FlavoredLayers Art Inc is investing in that strength by creating spaces where imagination has room to grow and where community members can see themselves reflected in the cultural landscape.
Creativity represents another chapter in that evolution. Flavored Layers Art Inc is investing in that strength by creating ArtBlok — where imagination has room to grow, creativity impacts the economy, and where the community’s cultural diversity can see themselves reflected in this new arts corridor neighborhood. Flavored Layers Art Inc is betting that when art is accessible and visible, it becomes a catalyst: attracting talent, supporting local economic growth, and fostering a sense of belonging.
Giving back, in this case, means creating something lasting, inclusive, and rooted in the belief that art belongs to everyone.
Learn more at www.flavoredlayers.com
or donate at https://donorbox.org/support-flavored-layers-art-inc
