Brainstorm!

Today we continue our journey listening to and uplifting Black Creative Voices. This is an ongoing series where we interview black artists about their work, challenges and dreams. This episode features incredible Seattle-based author, artist, and entrepreneur, barry johnson. Join us as we talk about:   -barry's IMMACULATE exhibition depicting black and brown faces that have been distorted, covered up and partially erased to represent what has happened to black culture and heritage to fit another party's narrative, and his nomination for the Neddy Award -barry's work for TEDx exploring identity and the creation of different personas as a way to navigate the world by freely evolving to explore multiple areas of yourself and your life -"Black Lives Matter" as an apolitical statement that refers to human rights and the non-radicalism of inclusion and togetherness -the call to enforce law emotionally rather than physically which requires removing military-grade gear within police, and addressing the profitability of holding citizens back through mass-incarceration and slave labor -the origins of the black peoples' mistrust in American systems due to racist law enforcement, mass sterilization of black people at the hands of racist American health-care systems, and mass killing of black people at the hands of racist American systems, along with black peoples' unwillingness to share for fear of their vulnerability being used against them again as it has in history -black peoples' agency to believe freely and go against norms, systematic erasure of their accomplishment in history, the potential for their lives to change at the hands of police, their generational trauma and the willful ignorance of racism within society -the way divisiveness is used against society for profit, causing humanity to forget their likeness to one another, and how our inherent shared values can be appealed to by radical ideals exacerbated by the echo-chamber of social media -the importance of artists' roles in society and their duty to document the aesthetic and emotional history of humanity, and art's potential as a healing force You can find barry's work at: barryjohnson.co Instagram: @barryjohnson.co Twitter: @barryjohnsonco Patreon: patreon.com/barryjohnson

Today we continue our journey listening to and uplifting Black Creative Voices. This is an ongoing series where we interview black artists about their work, challenges and dreams. This episode features incredible Seattle-based author, artist, and entrepreneur, barry johnson. Join us as we talk about:   -barry's IMMACULATE exhibition depicting black and brown faces that have been distorted, covered up and partially erased to represent what has happened to black culture and heritage to fit another party's narrative, and his nomination for the Neddy Award -barry's work for TEDx exploring identity and the creation of different personas as a way to navigate the world by freely evolving to explore multiple areas of yourself and your life -"Black Lives Matter" as an apolitical statement that refers to human rights and the non-radicalism of inclusion and togetherness -the call to enforce law emotionally rather than physically which requires removing military-grade gear within police, and addressing the profitability of holding citizens back through mass-incarceration and slave labor -the origins of the black peoples' mistrust in American systems due to racist law enforcement, mass sterilization of black people at the hands of racist American health-care systems, and mass killing of black people at the hands of racist American systems, along with black peoples' unwillingness to share for fear of their vulnerability being used against them again as it has in history -black peoples' agency to believe freely and go against norms, systematic erasure of their accomplishment in history, the potential for their lives to change at the hands of police, their generational trauma and the willful ignorance of racism within society -the way divisiveness is used against society for profit, causing humanity to forget their likeness to one another, and how our inherent shared values can be appealed to by radical ideals exacerbated by the echo-chamber of social media -the importance of artists' roles in society and their duty to document the aesthetic and emotional history of humanity, and art's potential as a healing force You can find barry's work at: barryjohnson.co Instagram: @barryjohnson.co Twitter: @barryjohnsonco Patreon: patreon.com/barryjohnson

SERIOUSLY. It's a shitty word. Today we explore better words, and better ways to think about art when you’re disappointed in your work. 

Today we’re talking about critique vs. criticism. So put on your big gender-of-your-choice pants, stop crying, and use adult words good!

Today we continue our journey listening to and uplifting Black Creative Voices. This is an ongoing series where we interview black artists about their work, challenges and dreams. This episode features incredible Philadelphia-based actor, makeup artist, producer, businesswoman, and dear friend, Jael Brown. Join us as we talk about: • generational trauma, PTSD and mental health within POC communities and the film she produced as a love letter to her dad, "Small and Mighty" • how to navigate including black stories within your work • playing a conservative black woman in the lead role of a play produced by an all-white team which featured the first predominately black cast at the theater where Grace Kelly got her start • clout-chasing and false wokeness vs inclusive storytelling -how to be a good ally through your transparency, understanding, and actions • her family meeting and spending time with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. • the whitewashing of black excellence • the positive changes that have already occurred and what to strive for in 2021 and beyond • & more! Whew!   You can find her and her work on: Instagram: @jaebella13 Twitter: @jaebella13 Youtube: JaeBella   You can find information about her film and production company on Instagram: @savage.queen.noire   Organizations / movements: Colorofchange.org Pull up or shut up (#PullUporShutUp) / Pull up for change (@pullupforchange on Instagram) Breonnataylor.org standwithbre.com

Today we continue our journey listening to and uplifting Black Creative Voices. This is an ongoing series where we interview black artists about their work, challenges and dreams. This episode features incredible Philadelphia-based actor, makeup artist, producer, businesswoman, and dear friend, Jael Brown. Join us as we talk about: • generational trauma, PTSD and mental health within POC communities and the film she produced as a love letter to her dad, "Small and Mighty" • how to navigate including black stories within your work • playing a conservative black woman in the lead role of a play produced by an all-white team which featured the first predominately black cast at the theater where Grace Kelly got her start • clout-chasing and false wokeness vs inclusive storytelling -how to be a good ally through your transparency, understanding, and actions • her family meeting and spending time with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. • the whitewashing of black excellence • the positive changes that have already occurred and what to strive for in 2021 and beyond • & more! Whew!   You can find her and her work on: Instagram: @jaebella13 Twitter: @jaebella13 Youtube: JaeBella   You can find information about her film and production company on Instagram: @savage.queen.noire   Organizations / movements: Colorofchange.org Pull up or shut up (#PullUporShutUp) / Pull up for change (@pullupforchange on Instagram) Breonnataylor.org standwithbre.com

Being in the arts is tough. Art is regularly defunded, ridiculed, or considered unimportant. Yet without it, our lives would suck. Today we talk about how to stay afloat when the rest of the world is trying to sink you. 

You know when you stare at a blank canvas and the white void stares back and erodes your sense of reality till you can’t draw at all? Sure! This episode we talk about how to start when you just feel overwhelmed by the Niezchian, vast nothingness of your Photoshop doc.

In a world that pressures us to produce 24/7, taking a break feels… wrong. In this episode we talk about how self-care and self-love are MANDATORY, not a reward.

In a world...that pressures us to produce 24/7, taking a break feels…WRONG. In this episode we talk about how self-care and self-love are MANDATORY, not a reward.