For nearly two decades, Charles "Chuck" Washington has carried Jackson with him, frame by frame.

Known professionally as "Chuckway" and "Full of Flava," the Jackson native and longtime photographer has built a career capturing the city's nightlife, homecomings, neighborhood gatherings, including quiet portraits of people simply being themselves. Now, Washington is turning his archive into a permanent experience with the opening of his first photo gallery in the historic Farish Street district.

A New Gallery Opens on Jackson's Historic Farish Street

The gallery located at 752 N. Farish Street Suite B will open June 1, known locally as 601 Day. Operating hours are from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, with some Saturday availability depending on Washington's schedule.

For the city's photographer, the date feels right.

"Who better to do a 601 Day opening than the sight of the city?" he said.

The gallery is more than a new business. It is a love letter to Jackson; a city Washington says deserves to be seen in its fullness.

"If somebody didn't tell the story that's really here, you would think it's a sad story," he said. "I actually show you what's going on and the joy that we have together as a community."

From Family Snapshots to a Photography Career

Washington's love for photography began at home. His father and grandfather were both avid picture-takers, always keeping cameras nearby and preserving family moments. After graduating from Jackson State University, Washington leaned fully into photography while blogging about music, sports, cigars and culture. What started as a way to capture original images for his blog soon became a business.

His style, he said, is "personal, colorful, raw" and deeply tied to storytelling. Through his lens, Washington has worked to show an expansive image of Jackson, one that pushes beyond headlines and stereotypes.

The Meaning Behind the Farish Street Address

The Farish Street location carries personal and cultural meaning. Once known as Jackson's Black business and entertainment district, Farish Street has long symbolized Black enterprise, creativity and resilience. Washington said his family also has ties to the area, including a great-grandmother who taught English at Smith Robertson.

What to Expect Inside the Gallery

Inside the gallery, visitors can expect Jackson landscapes, portraits, animals, cars, sunsets and images from Washington's own life and travels through the city. The work will be available for purchase, with options ranging from framed pieces to postcards. He also plans to feature guest artists monthly.

"I feel like this will bring back the art to the streets, a place you can actually walk to and see while you're enjoying the day on Farish Street," he said.

The gallery will include pieces for purchase at different price points because the photographer wants art to be accessible to all. "I got something for everybody," he said. "Don't think this is out of your league."

Music will also be part of the experience. Washington plans to keep a record player in the gallery, creating a rotating soundtrack that reflects the mood of the hour. "It might be jazz one day. It might be A Tribe Called Quest. It might be Jeezy," he said.

Betting on Himself — and on Jackson

For Washington, ownership is personal. He comes from a family of entrepreneurs and said opening the gallery represents a new chapter in his creative life. "I'm going to bet on myself this time," he said.

Years from now, Washington hopes people remember that he used photography to honor ordinary moments and everyday people with care. "A lot of my stuff is genuinely the walks of my life," he said. "It's the stuff I've seen, and these are the things that I thought were worth capturing."

For young photographers hoping to turn creativity into business, Washington's advice is simple: keep your camera close and stay true to your own eye. "Whatever you think is cool might really be what's good," he said. "You don't have to copy another photographer."

And when people walk in, Washington wants them to leave with more than a photograph. He wants them to leave with a wider view of Jackson, a layered, alive and beautifully complicated city with glowing people "full of flava."

Rachel James Terry/Special to Visitjackson.com