Have you ever been to New York City? I have, but only a handful of times and usually on trips which were too short to accomplish anything substantial. I often feel that even though I haven't had quite as much one on one time with the Big Apple as some, it all seems very familiar to me.

My guess is that it's the same for almost anyone, seeing as countless movies, television shows, and books take place there. A consumer of even just one of these media outlets would be hard pressed not to feel somewhat of an intimacy with good old NYC.

One feature of The City, along with others like it, is its arts scene. We all have images of Broadway, the thespian artery teaming with performers and performances alike. Or what about Greenwich Village, the Lower West Side's haven for the bohemian elite?

Towson, being in many ways just as diverse and culturally rich, needs something like this. Luckily for us, some organizations are trying to give us just that.

You may never have noticed it, but there's a red door right next to The Greene Turtle on York Road. Behind that door lies the home of the Towson Arts Collective. According to their website, the Collective's aim is "to provide a venue for artists while being an art education center" and to "promote the growth of greater Towson's art community by combining the knowledge and energy of its residents and students with working professionals."

The current exhibit, "The Text & Its Discontexts," showcases pieces in which written text and a visual counterpart are blended into one representation. It will run until October 22.

The word "exciting" doesn't quite do the Towson Arts Collective justice. The thought of tapping our small city's artistic potential does me, personally, a tremendous amount of good, as I'm sure it does for Towson's many artists who are hungry for a voice.

Visit the Towson Arts Collective at www.towsonartscollective.org.