an old interview

This is an old interview from 2003 from Like Butta Magazine.

Where are you originally from?
New York - I was born in Manhattan, raised in Queens. I am Haitian.

How long have you been painting/drawing/sculpting?
Ever since I can remember. I used to do little drawings in my notebooks when I was bored in class. I still am driven to draw whenever there is a pen or pencil in my hand. It’s like an addiction. I didn’t start getting formal training until I was a senior in junior in high school, but I had been doing drawings, making books and things for years before that.

What prompted you to start?
Nothing really prompted me to start, it’s just something I have always done – creating comes very naturally to me, it’s like breathing.

Are there any influences?
The interesting thing is that I was creating stuff for so long without really paying attention to any other artist’s work. I didn’t think it was necessary and just wanted to be in my own bubble. Sometime after college, after I had spent years taking studio art classes, I realized that it might be a good idea to really study other artist’s work. So I don’t know if I’ve been influenced yet, but for example I have been told that some of my work resembles that of Faith Ringgold, who ironically, I didn’t know existed at the time I created the work. Jean Michel Basquiat is my ultimate love, and I think he is probably my biggest influence if anything. Other artists I love: Faith Ringgold, John Biggers, Jacob Lawrence, Patrick Wah. The list is way too long. . .

What do you want people to take from your work?
I want people to take away questions. Questions that they have to chew on and may not be able to answer, but maybe those questions will prompt them to have a conversation with someone about something they would not have normally even thought about. That dialogue is very important – it’s that beginning of action and change, and that’s what it is mostly about for me – positive social change. I think the beauty of it is important, but for me, it has to be able to do more for the viewer, whether it’s educate or maybe even move the person to action. Not all my pieces have that, but the majority do.

Where do you want to take your art?
I think I want to be able to create work that will shock people. The shock value is important to me. We are so saturated visually these days that if you don’t grab the attention, your message won’t get out. I also think its too easy for people to tune out. I love looking at pieces of art that I can’t tear myself away from. The next level will be to create stuff that will be true to the messages I want to get across, no matter how shocking they may be. I also want to do more murals, something which I have just started getting into.

What are some different venues that you have showcased in?
Boston Center for the Arts, Boston Public Library, Salmagundi Art Club, Long Island African-American Museum, The Gallery for Social and Political Art, The New York City Urban Experience Museum, The Flatbush Haitian Center, Tanbou Magazine, Visual Voice Magazine, The Public Theatre, New York University, The Cutting Room, Ramapo College, Staller Center for the Arts, SUNY Stony Brook Union Art Gallery, Beth Israel Hospital.

Do you do anything other than your art?
Yes! I am an actress as well. Theatre is my other love. Other things I do: tap dance, write and perform poetry, make films, sing.

How did you come up with your current work?
I get ideas from my environment – current events, history, etc. Also I do work about personal experience, like love, etc. (yes, I am sucker for anything having to do with romance). I am really focused on doing things about the Haitian Revolution now since the bicentennial of its independence is coming up in 2004. It’s a really important and exciting time for me.

What are some of your future projects?
I am currently working on an anthology of poetry and visual art about the Haitian Revolution to be published in January 2004. I will also be working on the 3rd Remember Amadou Exhibit which is an exhibit we do to commemorate the life of Amadou Diallo. Next year will make 5 years since his death and we will be looking to put out a poetry/visual art anthology about that as well.

I have so many plans for the future! On my journey, I have been realizing that I have to take it easy and focus on a couple of things at a time. Developing my art and acting skills are high priority because those are the things that are screaming at me. No matter what I do, there will always be this creative element involved.

Any thing you want your new fans to know about you?
I am always on the move, but I love hearing from people, so feel free to contact me. I am always willing to give talks, or exhibit work, or perform. It’s ironic that I am really terribly shy, but put me on a stage or in front of a canvas and I become a completely different person!

How can people contact you or purchase some art?
My website is www.blackowmyn.com. Check it out!! I will soon be posting a page that will contain regular updates of what I am up to, so visit often. Peace.