Artist Talk: Nakeya B.

Who?
Nakeya Brown

Where are your from?
Small town in Pennsylvania

What do you call yourself (writer, rapper, photographer, etc)?
Photographer

How do you create (your inspiration)?
I am big off of creating from feelings. I have moments where I am just searching for inspiration. I find traveling really inspires me, seeing other people's work and experimenting with new equipment keeps me producing new work.

Why do you do it?
After awhile you do something so much and it becomes a part of your life. It's hard to imagine myself giving up photography. It's a part of me.

Are you currently working on anything?
Currently I am working on a project focusing on plantation fields on River Road in New Orleans. There will be on display in December. As always I am working on capturing portraits of wonderful people. You can see those images at www.sheshootshere.com.

Advice you would give a young Artist?
Always invest time in getting to know your craft. Get to know who the greats where in your field that were doing it before you, they weren't great for no reason. And as usual, be sure to make your craft for yourself first, and everyone else later.

Artist Talk: Vandana Jain

Who?
My name's Vandana Jain.

Where are you from?
I'm a city girl. I was born in Jamaica, Queens and now I live in Bushwick, Brooklyn.

What do you call yourself (writer, rapper, photographer, etc)?
I'm an artist : )

How do you create (your inspiration)?
I usually start with an idea and then I start sketching, sometimes by hand but mostly on the computer. I'm inspired by all sorts of things, like broken glass, and chain link fences and barbed wire. Also, I work with corporate logos a lot, in direct violation of trademark law. But it's all in fair use.

Why do you do it?
Art is a framework that allows you to look at the world in a different way. It is also a place where you don't need to work according to other's definitions, or to their expectations. When I make art, I don't need to have a meaning or a reason or an answer, I can just do something for it's own sake. Art helps me stay sane.

Are you currently working on anything?
I'm making gold paintings on cardboard for a project called "Protest." All the paintings are of haloes, mandalas, and other spiritually radiant imagery, and each one is mounted on a stick, like a protest sign. I like the idea of people getting together to protest the lack of awe-inspiring beauty in their life.

Advice you would give a young Artist?
Work hard, and don't be too hard on yourself. Stay out of debt. Art isn't gonna make you rich and if you don't have loans, you get to spend more time doing what you love. Be open to new experiences. It's like what they say, "It's all about the journey." Enjoy yourself, and stay curious.

I plan on traveling outside of NYC twice this year. Where would you recommend I travel to in the US?
I highly recommend visiting the Spiral Jetty, an earthwork by Robert Smithson. It's about an hour or so north of Salt Lake City.

To view Vandana's work click HERE.

Artist Talk: Why do I do it anyway?

I started doing these monthly interviews in December 2010. I had wanted to interview artists for a while, but I was too chicken to try. Then I was interviewed for the first time and my desire started to out way my chicken heart. The questions I ask are things I always wonder when I meet artists.

I always wonder what do you call yourself? As I'm always struggling to define myself before someone else does and gets it all wrong. How do you create(inspiration)? Because aren't we always looking for new forms of inspiration? Why do you do it? Personally I think the hardest thing to call yourself is an artist. There isn't always a clear career path(or so you may be led to believe). Your art isn't always valued the way you want it to be.

I've switched my "title" from aspiring photographer, to aspiring Art Therapist, and now to aspiring Art Educator/Director. Every time I find opposition from someone along the way. I've taken more then one "break" where I'd given up and didn't think I wanted to be an artist. Just to have art creep back in to my life and save my sanity! This is way I do it and I've always wondered if art is a need for others like it is for me.

So the questions I ask are just questions I've wanted to ask my artist friends(and there friends, and there friends friends). So I would like to take the time to say thank you to everyone that's interviewed with me so far. And a thank you to the people that I will interview!

A la prochaine!

Artist Talk: Courtney James

Photo via the The Black Girl Project.

Who?
My name is Courtney James, but many know me as Bonnie. I am a senior at the City College of New York and I will be graduating in May with a Baccalaureates degree in English and Journalism, and a Certificate in Publishing.

Where are you from?
I am a New Yorker, born and raised in Crown Heights, Brooklyn but my ethnic background is that of the West Indies. My mother and father are natives of Jamaica, W.I.

What do you call yourself (writer, rapper, photographer, etc)?
I am proud to label myself as an aspiring writer who has somewhat realistic dreams of becoming an Editor for trade paperback books

How do you create (your inspiration)?
I create through ranting. Anything that is on my mind is what I would consider important. Some may call it a ramble but I feel as though the process of thinking is, in itself, a gift that everyone should delve into.

Why do you do it?
I began write to clear my mind. I started out by constantly writing lists, that of which I still do to this day. However, I began to practice my love for creative writing while I was in high school. At this time, I was more into finding a world I could call my own. I had no problems with identity while a student in high school but writing took me to a place that could only be dictated through me. This is still the reason why I write. Because though people may judge my work, there is still the underlying factor of why I wrote it in the first place.

Are you currently working on anything?
I am currently working on my own personal narrative. I am contemplating ways of doing this but I feel like I'll most likely interpret it through a number of vignettes. I will post it when I am done and it is revised my my Fiction Workshop instructor.

Advice you would give a young Artist?
Don't worry about what other people will say because while one person will give you a thumbs up, ten more will give you a thumbs up. Also, always try to seek an inspiration for what you do or else, when asked to explain your masterpiece, you may find yourself stumbling for words and this may lead you to question yourself. Something you do NOT want.

What does the name of your blog, Soliloquy to be Broken, mean?
Soliloquy, in the dictionary, is basically the act of one talking to himself/herself. If you have heard of "Colloquy" or colloquialism, Soliloquy is the opposite of Colloquy.  It is, in many ways, one being oblivious to the listeners around him. I knew when I began this blog, that I would be a "loner". I was not hype about gaining followers (and I still am not). However, a writer always has that dream of breaking the wall of silence and fusing it with listeners. I hope to create "Colloquy" through my blog so in essence I am trying to break Soliloquy...Hence the name

I plan on traveling outside of NYC twice this year. Where would you recommend I travel to in the US?
Please visit Philly. Their culture of music and food will make you fall in love all over again!

To view some of Courtney's work click here.

Artist Talk: Mike Estabrook

Who?

Mike Estabrook

Where are you from?
A little town on the Mississippi River in Illinois called Quincy.

What do you call yourself (writer, rapper, photographer, etc)?
I am a visual artist who makes drawings, animations, paintings and installations.

How do you create (your inspiration)?
A really, really wide range of things inspire me: politics, mythology, books I've read, movies I've seen, music, public and personal events- the list could go on forever. So many different things catch my attention and fire up my passions, my biggest challenge is how to focus all this inspiration into something that makes a little bit of sense.

As to how I do it... Sometimes I just sit down and draw whatever comes to mind. This is the most fun, but it doesn't satisfy when I get a bug about something more specific; whether it's some historical figure I want to explore, a movie clip that has a meaningful resonance, or a couple of ongoing, frustrating wars that just won't end. In these cases, I'll usually have some kind of brain-flare, one in which the subject at hand fits perfectly with some parallel idea that informs both of them in a weird way. I then think about how best to embody this idea: as a video, drawing, painting, or installation. The way it gains form should enhance the original concept, but not be so tied to it that the spontaneity is taken away.

Why do you do it?
I have always been somebody who draws. I think I was drawing pictures before I even learned how to talk. My way of interpreting and dialoguing with the world has always been a visual thing. Art is a voice I use to praise, critique, or simply yell at the world.

Are you currently working on anything?
Yes, I am working on several projects right now: a bestiary of extinct animals (that I'm doing with a collective called Artcodex), a painting of Karl Marx fused with Mark Twain (wandering, on a tour like Dante's, through several circles of hell, and a video installation I'll be finishing in February about Ostriches sticking their heads in the sand while Dodos do not.

Advice you would give a young Artist?
Know that being an artist is a hard road, and be prepared for some bad days. Most of the time, though, have a blast! Don't be afraid to do the boring marketing part of art, it sucks but you need to do it. Definitely have fun, travel, always look, always think, always be amazed, and never, ever take yourself too seriously!

I plan on traveling outside of NYC twice this year. Where would you recommend I travel to in the US?
Portland, Seattle, and the Olympic Rain forest.
New Orleans.
All around the south-west.
San Francisco.

To view Mike's work click here.

Artist Talk: Chad Cartwright/ CHD:WCK!

Photo © Armando Bellmas, 2010

Who?
chad cartwright/CHD:WCK!

Where are you from?
i come from clarence and brenda cartwright. i was planted and cultivated in east orange, nj. harvested in charlotte, nc.

What do you call yourself (writer, rapper, photographer, etc)?
i am a visual artist. i tend to focus on photography and mixed media, though i love music.i don’t make music, but when i talk about art(ists), i usually end up talking about music(ians).

How do you create (your inspiration)?
my art is all about my perspective. so inspiration comes from everywhere.i’m still not sure how i create, but i think the answer just lies in doing it more.

Why do you do it?
it’s very satisfying to create something you enjoy looking at.

i’m not passionate about much else. most of the other things i care about, i don’t have enough control to be effective at it. i would love for art to pave the way for me to teach, reach out to youth, and travel and experience other cultures.

art is a great way to connect with people. when people respond to something i create, we get past a bunch of meaningless introductions, small talk, and chatter, and things that we don’t have it common. we get to the heart of what we do have in common and can possibly build from there.

Are you currently working on anything?
i realize that my best art comes from life lessons and the beauty i see experiencing life. so currently, i’m working on living life more fully - making better decisions, having more experiences, being open to learn more, and making sure to make time to create. i want to take different art classes to add some more tools to my toolbox. but overall, by spring 2011, i hope to have a small body of work to share.

Any advice you would give someone in your position?
1. the best advice i’ve ever received is “stop thinking and do it” - shoot more. paint more. create more. (and if i had the resources, i’d hire someone just to remind me daily)

2. there are no formulas. do you. in my eyes, the most successful artists are people who “make the art they want to see/hear”. when you stay in your own lane, the road never gets crowded.

3. keep learning. keep growing. honor your craft. i believe any future successes will continue to be a reflection of how much work i put into growing as a person, learning about art and expression, and sharing my perspective, life lessons, and view of beauty with others. i don’t know if this is good advice, but it’s how i try to go about things.

I plan on traveling out side of NYC twice this year. Would you recommend Charlotte, NC as a place I should visit?
sure, but only if you have a knowledgeable tour guide.

Click here for everything CHD:WCK!

Artist Talk: Timothy Selzin Nafziger

Who?
Birth name: Timothy Selzin Nafziger Artist Name :Selzin (pronounced sel-zon-just because) aka timothy tha ol'skoola aka calzone

Where are you from?
Surprisingly Earth. Born in England, raised in Jos, Nigeria til the age of 13, then moved to Columbus, Ohio (C-bus) migrated south to Florida for a few years, then back to Ohio. And of course now Brooklyn!

What do you call yourself (writer, rapper, photographer, etc)?
Ambiguous. An artist. Poet. Emcee. Dreamer.

How do you create (your inspiration)?
People around me inspire me. My surroundings engulf me. Mediocrity annoys me. War grips me. Race does not define me. Rivers flow and carry elements with them. I am one of them. People are music-pulsing, walking, dancing, stuttering, panting, screaming, yelling, screeching, whispering. Shhh, can you hear it? My art defines me. Music aligns me

Why do you do it?
For the love. To prove a point. To strike a chord. To start a revolution in 3 and a half minutes. To expose the truth. To let go. To let in. To engage.

Are you currently working on anything?
Always. Working on a hip hop project that is gonna consist of a lot of alliteration. I have also been writing a decent amount of introspective poetry recently. Starting a new band. I will be hosting a monthly showcase @ Therapy wine bar, next show is Dec 14th, 7pm sharp-10pm.

Advice you would give a young Artist?
Don't let substance, women, or negative feedback get in the way of your goal. Learn from the criticism you collect. Write with no limitations. NEVER throw away your art. Years later you will be able to pick and choose from these pieces. Be yourself. Adapt but do not conform.

Artist Talk: Aiesha Turman

Who?
Aiesha Turman

Where are you from?
Born in Albany, NY. Raised in Rochester, NY. Been a Brooklynite for over a decade

What do you call yourself (writer, rapper, photographer, etc)?
Filmmaker-Writer-Artist-Educator

How do you create (your inspiration)?
My inspiration is Black people in general, but Black women specifically, both contemporary and historic -- wherever they are in the world.

Why do you do it?
Because I have to. I am supposed to. It is my calling.

Are you currently working on anything?
I'm always working on something. I'm expanding my film, The Black Girl Project, to include a book and several shorter films. I am working on a multi-dimensional web-based project about Black women, and working on a book project, as well as teaching.

Advice you would give a young Artist?
Create. Spend your time creating. There are a lot of distractions, but what's important is that you stay focused and produce whatever it is you do.


For more info on The Black Girl Project click here.

Photo by me: Brooklyn, NY - Oct/2009

Artist Talk

A monthly series where I will be interviewing artists. Or people I consider artists. I have always found myself inspired more by people I know. These are the people that inspire and keep me motivated in alot of ways. There just regular people that have created or said something that has made me want to keep going with my art. I think everyone has some art in them, so I won't just be interviewing people that paint or sculpt, but people that write or create films also.

I've wanted to do this for a very long time, and I hope you guys enjoy it! If you know any artists that you think I'll be interested in please shoot me an email at netchem2002@gmail.com

A la prochaine!