1 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:11,640 Speaker 1: Congratulations, you've been accepted into the inaugural class of Therapy 2 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:15,000 Speaker 1: for Black Girls University. Whether you're packing for a new 3 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:18,720 Speaker 1: year on campus, thinking through your gap year, enrolling in 4 00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:23,400 Speaker 1: a community college, or grabbing your souls for graduation, tpgu 5 00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:25,880 Speaker 1: is here to help you thrive at this stage of 6 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:27,600 Speaker 1: your life and beyond. 7 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:30,760 Speaker 2: More from our conversation after the break. 8 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:40,879 Speaker 1: If you're an art major, the question of what are 9 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:43,440 Speaker 1: you going to do with your degree is likely all 10 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:47,680 Speaker 1: too familiar. You also may have experienced feelings of uncertainty 11 00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:50,560 Speaker 1: and doubt, wondering if you can truly make a living 12 00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:53,559 Speaker 1: in the art space. Though none of us can predict 13 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:56,640 Speaker 1: the future, it can be empowering to see images of 14 00:00:56,680 --> 00:01:00,240 Speaker 1: Black women who are already succeeding in the arts. An 15 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:05,120 Speaker 1: example of that is today's guests Casey Meriwether Hawkins. Casey 16 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:08,560 Speaker 1: is a Dallas based visual storyteller and founder of Black 17 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:12,319 Speaker 1: Girls and Art Spaces. Black Girls and Art Spaces was 18 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 1: launched in July of twenty twenty two with the mission 19 00:01:15,440 --> 00:01:18,319 Speaker 1: of holding a digital and in real life space for 20 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:22,040 Speaker 1: Black women to nurture their creativity as well as champion 21 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:26,360 Speaker 1: black artistry and black stories. She's been blessed to work 22 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:31,600 Speaker 1: alongside brands like Beats by Dre, Adobe, Nike, Apple, and more. 23 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:36,000 Speaker 1: In our conversation today, we explore the obstacles faced by 24 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:39,200 Speaker 1: black women in the art industry, the importance of having 25 00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:43,360 Speaker 1: a strong network, and how simply being yourself can be 26 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 1: the first step in securing your dream art job. Here's 27 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:53,200 Speaker 1: our conversation. So, Casey, please tell us what school did 28 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:56,000 Speaker 1: you attend and why did you select this school? 29 00:01:56,720 --> 00:02:00,520 Speaker 3: I attended to Speaking University, and I I chose to 30 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:04,520 Speaker 3: See University because originally I wanted to be a veterinarian 31 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:07,880 Speaker 3: and to see he is the only HBCU with the 32 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:08,520 Speaker 3: VET school. 33 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:11,919 Speaker 4: We produced eighty percent of black vets in the world, 34 00:02:12,040 --> 00:02:13,920 Speaker 4: and so I wanted to be a part of that. 35 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:15,280 Speaker 2: I love that. 36 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:19,359 Speaker 1: So what is your earliest memory that affirmed you as 37 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:21,840 Speaker 1: an artist and how does that relate to the work 38 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:22,760 Speaker 1: that you do today. 39 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 3: Well, I would say that art was always a part 40 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:32,679 Speaker 3: of my tapestry. I was in a lot of arts 41 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:33,680 Speaker 3: programs growing up. 42 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:34,600 Speaker 4: My parents had. 43 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:39,320 Speaker 3: Me in dance, in theater, we did pottery weekends, I painted, 44 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:42,440 Speaker 3: I even sang, even though I cannot sing at all. 45 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:45,519 Speaker 4: And so I would say, like my earliest memories. 46 00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:47,959 Speaker 3: Just taking me back to my childhood as a whole, 47 00:02:48,120 --> 00:02:51,519 Speaker 3: and we're just remembering that super creative little girl that 48 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:54,320 Speaker 3: I was, even when it came down to school projects, 49 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:56,200 Speaker 3: like if I was able to make a poster in 50 00:02:56,280 --> 00:02:58,679 Speaker 3: science class, I was so excited to be able to 51 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:01,760 Speaker 3: go through that creative process, and so I was always 52 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 3: an artsy little girl. 53 00:03:03,560 --> 00:03:04,040 Speaker 4: Gotcha. 54 00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:09,119 Speaker 1: So take me back to Tuski University. Did you graduate 55 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 1: with a degree in veterinary medicine? Did you do art 56 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 1: in college? I'm curious to hear more about that journey. 57 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:19,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, and I always love that question. I have 58 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:23,080 Speaker 3: an animal science degree. I did finish the program, and 59 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:25,400 Speaker 3: I always like to let people know like I have 60 00:03:25,600 --> 00:03:26,440 Speaker 3: zero regrets. 61 00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:29,320 Speaker 4: I loved my program, I loved my university. 62 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:31,560 Speaker 3: And I was able to take a lot away from 63 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:34,120 Speaker 3: that program. I learned how to be in spaces with 64 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:37,200 Speaker 3: people who thought differently than me, who came from different backgrounds, 65 00:03:37,240 --> 00:03:40,440 Speaker 3: different cultures. I got to learn a lot about the 66 00:03:40,560 --> 00:03:43,360 Speaker 3: land and our connection as black people to our land 67 00:03:43,480 --> 00:03:48,640 Speaker 3: and rekindling that connection. And yeah, I did internships in 68 00:03:48,680 --> 00:03:54,880 Speaker 3: animal research. But along that path, I sort of started 69 00:03:54,920 --> 00:03:58,560 Speaker 3: to feel like an emptiness and I wasn't feeling super 70 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:00,480 Speaker 3: connected to the work in the same way that I 71 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:03,520 Speaker 3: was when I had first entered to Skeegee, and. 72 00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:06,400 Speaker 4: So God really just called me to my camera. 73 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 3: I had always had cameras growing up, but one day 74 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:11,200 Speaker 3: I was like, I just want to pick up my 75 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:13,600 Speaker 3: camera and I want to just document the day with 76 00:04:13,680 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 3: my friends, and so I remember we went to this 77 00:04:16,320 --> 00:04:19,120 Speaker 3: super cute arts festival that was happening in the city, 78 00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:22,680 Speaker 3: and I just documented that whole experience and really fell 79 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:27,000 Speaker 3: in love with championing black people through my lens. And 80 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:31,080 Speaker 3: from there, I really just started to take my camera everywhere. 81 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 3: I started doing photo shoots, and I started my photography business. 82 00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:39,120 Speaker 3: And so yeah, I'm super grateful for my experience at 83 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:42,440 Speaker 3: to Skeigee and just being surrounded by so many beautiful 84 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:47,200 Speaker 3: black people who come from different backgrounds, who look different, 85 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:49,919 Speaker 3: who dress differently, who think differently, and being able to 86 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:51,920 Speaker 3: just champion that through my lens. 87 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:55,719 Speaker 1: Yes, it's so important to see that in college, especially 88 00:04:55,760 --> 00:04:58,279 Speaker 1: like in the formative years of who you are, and 89 00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:01,280 Speaker 1: to see that representation and know that you can be 90 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:04,520 Speaker 1: this person and it's okay because we're all different. So 91 00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 1: I love that I'm curious to know if you felt 92 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:11,600 Speaker 1: supported by that community, you're family, and your friends while 93 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:13,279 Speaker 1: you were exploring your art career. 94 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:18,279 Speaker 3: Oh my goodness, I was beyond supported. Like I always 95 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:21,839 Speaker 3: tell people, if it wasn't for my Tuskegee community, I 96 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:24,200 Speaker 3: would not be where I am today. As soon as 97 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:26,240 Speaker 3: I started putting out the flyers, as soon as I 98 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:29,520 Speaker 3: started sharing my work, the love just it was an 99 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:32,159 Speaker 3: overflow of love and support. People were sharing my work 100 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:34,920 Speaker 3: here and there, people were booking me, And yeah, I 101 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:38,080 Speaker 3: felt extremely supported by Tuskegee as a whole. But then 102 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:41,240 Speaker 3: also my friends, they were just they were there. They 103 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:43,159 Speaker 3: were there to listen to me, they were there to 104 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:46,800 Speaker 3: pray for me, they were there to you know, sit 105 00:05:46,839 --> 00:05:48,120 Speaker 3: in the car with me when I needed is to 106 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:50,520 Speaker 3: cry because I didn't know exactly what path I was 107 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:53,240 Speaker 3: going to take with this. And yeah, my family also 108 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:56,600 Speaker 3: was extremely supportive. It definitely took some time. I had 109 00:05:56,640 --> 00:05:58,800 Speaker 3: been holding on to that dream of being a VET 110 00:05:58,880 --> 00:06:01,359 Speaker 3: for so long, and I had spoken it for so 111 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:03,640 Speaker 3: long that when I came out of the woodworks, hey y'all, 112 00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:05,839 Speaker 3: I don't think I want Tom fievet anymore. I actually 113 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:09,080 Speaker 3: kind of want to explore photography. People were like, girl, 114 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:12,880 Speaker 3: what like and do what with that? But after a 115 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:15,520 Speaker 3: while my parents really started to see that there was 116 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:19,839 Speaker 3: a genuine gift there and a genuine passion, And yeah, 117 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:21,599 Speaker 3: I felt supported ever since. 118 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:22,919 Speaker 2: I love that. 119 00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:25,839 Speaker 1: What did some of the first shoots look? 120 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:26,120 Speaker 3: Like? 121 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:27,920 Speaker 1: What camera were you using? 122 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:29,120 Speaker 4: What kind of tools? 123 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:33,279 Speaker 3: Oh? My gosh, you're such great question. So yeah, I 124 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:37,840 Speaker 3: will never forget. My first official paide shoot was actually 125 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:41,840 Speaker 3: for one of my childhood friends who went to my university. 126 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:45,679 Speaker 3: She was graduating. Her photographer ended up having some issues 127 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:48,400 Speaker 3: and had to leave her shoe early, and she was like, Casey, 128 00:06:48,560 --> 00:06:50,960 Speaker 3: I know you just started photography, but like, would you 129 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:52,640 Speaker 3: be willing to be like the second half of my shoe? 130 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:54,880 Speaker 3: And I definitely freaked out. I had to sit there 131 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:56,880 Speaker 3: for like fifteen minutes, and I was just like, God. 132 00:06:56,760 --> 00:06:59,440 Speaker 4: Should I Should I take this risk? This is my girl. 133 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 3: I don't want to her big day, you know. But 134 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:05,719 Speaker 3: I went for it and it actually turned out pretty nice, 135 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:09,160 Speaker 3: and so I think it was so beautiful having her 136 00:07:09,279 --> 00:07:11,360 Speaker 3: be the person who pulled me into that experience, because 137 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:13,520 Speaker 3: it felt very full circle. She had been such a 138 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:15,760 Speaker 3: supporter of a lot of the things I had done 139 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 3: in my life, and so for that to be sort 140 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:21,240 Speaker 3: of like the inception of my photography business, I think 141 00:07:21,360 --> 00:07:24,800 Speaker 3: was super special. But yeah, it really started out as 142 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 3: graduation shoots. So you know, I started putting out flyers 143 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:31,600 Speaker 3: and saying like, hey, y'all like book me. You know 144 00:07:31,640 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 3: how that goes? And from there it just became a thing. 145 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:38,840 Speaker 3: And in that process, I really learned that I wanted 146 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:42,880 Speaker 3: to explore more of the art side of photography, and 147 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:44,840 Speaker 3: so there was a point where I started to pivot 148 00:07:44,880 --> 00:07:47,160 Speaker 3: and take a break from that, and I really got 149 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:50,720 Speaker 3: to explore that. During COVID and during the shutdown, I 150 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:53,560 Speaker 3: was able to kind of just go outside and be 151 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:56,400 Speaker 3: with my friends and have very intimate moments to just 152 00:07:56,480 --> 00:08:00,680 Speaker 3: capture them in different creative ways. But yeah, it really 153 00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:04,600 Speaker 3: all started with to speeky graduation photo shoots. 154 00:08:04,840 --> 00:08:07,760 Speaker 1: And usually that's how it starts. The best of the 155 00:08:07,760 --> 00:08:10,920 Speaker 1: best are in your classrooms. One of my close friends 156 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:14,600 Speaker 1: did my gradue and he was learning how to do 157 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:20,200 Speaker 1: photography and he's talented, and so it's literally right on 158 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:23,640 Speaker 1: our campus, right in our friend groups. So glad to 159 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:26,640 Speaker 1: hear that. Do you have a routine for creating? Do 160 00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:28,440 Speaker 1: you have a favorite time of the day that you 161 00:08:28,520 --> 00:08:31,440 Speaker 1: like to take pictures, like walk me through that. 162 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:36,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, so I actually do have a routine, but the 163 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:39,280 Speaker 3: routine also has like its as and blow so it 164 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:44,079 Speaker 3: can change. But I would say like, primarily my foundation 165 00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:48,400 Speaker 3: looks like starting with music. I don't know what it 166 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:51,360 Speaker 3: is about music that just feels me, but music is 167 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:55,120 Speaker 3: something that just really gets me sort of like ready 168 00:08:55,280 --> 00:08:58,160 Speaker 3: to get out and create something. So I start with music, 169 00:08:58,679 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 3: and then I also go into prayer a lot, because 170 00:09:01,520 --> 00:09:03,040 Speaker 3: whatever I create, I just wanted. 171 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:04,880 Speaker 4: To be something meaningful, something fruitful. 172 00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:08,040 Speaker 3: I always want to make it my best for that moment, 173 00:09:08,240 --> 00:09:11,160 Speaker 3: and so I start there. And then I do research 174 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:13,600 Speaker 3: sometimes and that doesn't just look like going online and 175 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:17,760 Speaker 3: looking at past photographs from other amazing photographers, but sometimes 176 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:20,560 Speaker 3: it can be just going outside, going to the museum, 177 00:09:20,679 --> 00:09:23,800 Speaker 3: going to a gallery space, and just being around art 178 00:09:24,040 --> 00:09:25,160 Speaker 3: from different mediums. 179 00:09:25,480 --> 00:09:28,560 Speaker 4: And then I also like to create concept boards, like 180 00:09:28,559 --> 00:09:29,560 Speaker 4: I love a vision board. 181 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:31,920 Speaker 3: I love something that can kind of guide me through 182 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:34,760 Speaker 3: the process on the day of the shoot. And then 183 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:37,000 Speaker 3: of course, like I start reaching out to people, and 184 00:09:37,040 --> 00:09:39,200 Speaker 3: my favorite people to shoot with are my friends. I'm 185 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:42,559 Speaker 3: quick to be like, hey, girl, I had this idea. 186 00:09:42,880 --> 00:09:44,079 Speaker 3: I know you don't really get in front of the 187 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:46,080 Speaker 3: camera like that, but you were just the person that 188 00:09:46,120 --> 00:09:48,640 Speaker 3: was on my heart for it, and so yeah, that's 189 00:09:48,640 --> 00:09:50,559 Speaker 3: pretty much how my process looks. 190 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:55,560 Speaker 1: Okay, I love that. So you started the community Black 191 00:09:55,559 --> 00:09:59,360 Speaker 1: Girls and Art Spaces in twenty twenty two. What inspired 192 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:01,880 Speaker 1: you to create this space for black women and why 193 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:03,200 Speaker 1: was it important. 194 00:10:02,720 --> 00:10:04,480 Speaker 4: To you In twenty twenty two. 195 00:10:04,679 --> 00:10:08,800 Speaker 3: April twenty twenty two, I made my big girl move 196 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:12,400 Speaker 3: to Dallas, Texas. I'm originally from Columbia, South Carolina, and 197 00:10:13,160 --> 00:10:16,800 Speaker 3: when I got here, I was so excited that first week, 198 00:10:16,920 --> 00:10:20,240 Speaker 3: and then the second week it got really lonely and quiet, 199 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:23,199 Speaker 3: and I was like, whoa wait a minute, now. 200 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:24,600 Speaker 4: I did in mine up for this, you know. 201 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:26,600 Speaker 3: And I was used to having community, like I had 202 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:28,680 Speaker 3: a lot of great community growing up, and then going 203 00:10:28,679 --> 00:10:31,680 Speaker 3: to an HBCU, I felt so surrounded by love and 204 00:10:31,760 --> 00:10:35,120 Speaker 3: so connected to love twenty four to seven, and so 205 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:38,880 Speaker 3: this was different for me. But I just remember going 206 00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:42,679 Speaker 3: into these museums and galleries in Dallas for the first. 207 00:10:42,440 --> 00:10:46,440 Speaker 4: Time and being so anxious because I didn't know how 208 00:10:46,480 --> 00:10:47,679 Speaker 4: people would respond to me. 209 00:10:48,200 --> 00:10:51,120 Speaker 3: You know. I had gotten used to going to art galleries, 210 00:10:51,240 --> 00:10:53,440 Speaker 3: art museums in my hometown, and so I'm like, Okay, 211 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:57,360 Speaker 3: I'm used to this, I'm cool, but a new city, I. 212 00:10:57,320 --> 00:10:59,240 Speaker 4: Don't know what it's going to give. And I'm in Texas, 213 00:10:59,280 --> 00:11:01,000 Speaker 4: you know, so I don't know what it's going to give. 214 00:11:01,559 --> 00:11:05,040 Speaker 3: I'm so grateful because that second week here, I was 215 00:11:05,320 --> 00:11:08,680 Speaker 3: able to attend a Crown Mag event, and that crowd 216 00:11:08,679 --> 00:11:13,800 Speaker 3: Mag event truly connected me to some amazing people in Dallas. 217 00:11:13,960 --> 00:11:16,520 Speaker 3: I met so many black women who were also passionate 218 00:11:16,559 --> 00:11:18,920 Speaker 3: about the arts, who were ready to hold my hand, 219 00:11:18,960 --> 00:11:21,679 Speaker 3: were ready to open doors for me, And so I'm 220 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:23,520 Speaker 3: super grateful to say that. Like when I got here, 221 00:11:23,559 --> 00:11:27,120 Speaker 3: I was really able to find my community quickly, and 222 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:30,120 Speaker 3: I'm still continuing that journey, of course. 223 00:11:29,880 --> 00:11:32,200 Speaker 4: Because life moves, people get busy. 224 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:35,679 Speaker 3: But yeah, I wanted to start Black girls in art 225 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:38,560 Speaker 3: spaces because I'm like, if I felt this way, I 226 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:40,440 Speaker 3: know other people feel this way. I know there's other 227 00:11:40,520 --> 00:11:44,000 Speaker 3: women out there who are nervous about entering the arts 228 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:47,160 Speaker 3: because it's so white, male dominated, because it's so pretentious, 229 00:11:47,480 --> 00:11:51,640 Speaker 3: and so yeah, I wanted to create this community because 230 00:11:52,080 --> 00:11:55,000 Speaker 3: I knew we needed a space to embrace each other 231 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:57,280 Speaker 3: to connect with each other, but also the space to 232 00:11:58,360 --> 00:12:02,360 Speaker 3: champion and highlight black art artistry as a whole, because honestly, 233 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:05,320 Speaker 3: until twenty twenty, I didn't know that museums were showcasing 234 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:09,080 Speaker 3: black work. I didn't realize that until my visit to 235 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:13,640 Speaker 3: my hometown museum. They were showcasing Kwame Blackwait's Black Is 236 00:12:13,679 --> 00:12:16,400 Speaker 3: Beautiful exhibition, and that started something for me, you know, 237 00:12:16,520 --> 00:12:18,800 Speaker 3: And so I just wanted to do something to make 238 00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:21,640 Speaker 3: sure that other black people out here knew that this exists. 239 00:12:21,679 --> 00:12:23,000 Speaker 4: There is space for us in. 240 00:12:22,920 --> 00:12:25,760 Speaker 3: These institutions, and there's still so much work to be done, 241 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 3: but when it is being showcased, when it is there, 242 00:12:28,840 --> 00:12:30,760 Speaker 3: when the artists are there, let's show up for them, 243 00:12:30,800 --> 00:12:33,480 Speaker 3: Let's support them, Let's let them know that we see 244 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:36,000 Speaker 3: them and that we're here for them. And so yeah, 245 00:12:36,200 --> 00:12:39,760 Speaker 3: I've been super grateful, super blessed for this community and 246 00:12:40,240 --> 00:12:41,680 Speaker 3: it grows every single day. 247 00:12:42,600 --> 00:12:44,439 Speaker 4: But that's really why I started. 248 00:12:44,840 --> 00:12:48,920 Speaker 1: Gotcha. So you're talking a lot about visibility and making 249 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:52,160 Speaker 1: space as a black artist. What was one challenge that 250 00:12:52,240 --> 00:12:55,000 Speaker 1: you had to overcome being an artist and how did 251 00:12:55,000 --> 00:12:55,760 Speaker 1: you overcome it? 252 00:12:56,360 --> 00:12:59,880 Speaker 4: One? 253 00:13:00,520 --> 00:13:05,560 Speaker 3: I would say, for me, a very consistent challenge, and 254 00:13:05,559 --> 00:13:09,880 Speaker 3: a challenge that I still face was just feeling very othered. 255 00:13:10,320 --> 00:13:13,400 Speaker 3: I never necessarily wanted to just be looked at as 256 00:13:13,400 --> 00:13:15,640 Speaker 3: a black artist, Like I want people to look at 257 00:13:15,640 --> 00:13:17,800 Speaker 3: me and just see an artist. 258 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:18,280 Speaker 4: You know. 259 00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:22,320 Speaker 3: I do create work that highlights the black experience, and 260 00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:23,560 Speaker 3: I'm super proud of that. 261 00:13:24,160 --> 00:13:26,760 Speaker 4: But I feel like, especially coming. 262 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:30,160 Speaker 3: From an HBCU, people focus more on our intersections than 263 00:13:30,640 --> 00:13:33,280 Speaker 3: who we are as a whole. And so I feel 264 00:13:33,320 --> 00:13:36,000 Speaker 3: like when I created this community Black girls and arts spaces, 265 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:37,719 Speaker 3: it was like the first time we could really come 266 00:13:37,760 --> 00:13:41,079 Speaker 3: together in these spaces and be like, oh, yeah, I'm 267 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:43,400 Speaker 3: an artist, Oh yeah, I do this, I do that, 268 00:13:43,480 --> 00:13:46,400 Speaker 3: and it's just like that's it. And so I would say, yeah, 269 00:13:46,679 --> 00:13:50,520 Speaker 3: just being looked at as just that black artist that 270 00:13:50,559 --> 00:13:53,720 Speaker 3: went to an HBCU was really a challenge for me, 271 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:56,080 Speaker 3: and so I wanted to get away from that, and 272 00:13:56,120 --> 00:13:57,720 Speaker 3: I knew the only way to do that was to 273 00:13:57,800 --> 00:14:00,800 Speaker 3: get in community with other black women creators. 274 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:04,120 Speaker 1: How do you navigate the professional art industry as a 275 00:14:04,160 --> 00:14:04,720 Speaker 1: black woman? 276 00:14:05,320 --> 00:14:09,240 Speaker 3: Oh goodness, I would say that a lot of it 277 00:14:09,280 --> 00:14:12,400 Speaker 3: is setting your boundaries and making your boundaries very clear, 278 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:16,959 Speaker 3: and as we all know, that is not easy, especially 279 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:21,520 Speaker 3: me being someone who comes from not having an art background. 280 00:14:21,640 --> 00:14:24,920 Speaker 3: I'm like entering this space where I wouldn't say I'm 281 00:14:24,960 --> 00:14:27,240 Speaker 3: self taught because I'm learning from so many different people. 282 00:14:27,280 --> 00:14:30,200 Speaker 3: I'm doing the research, but I've had to be very 283 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:33,640 Speaker 3: clear about what it is that I want for myself 284 00:14:33,680 --> 00:14:35,280 Speaker 3: and what it is that I want for this community, 285 00:14:35,680 --> 00:14:38,560 Speaker 3: and if things don't aligne I have to have the 286 00:14:38,600 --> 00:14:40,600 Speaker 3: courage to get up and walk away and trust that 287 00:14:40,640 --> 00:14:43,440 Speaker 3: God has better for me. And that has definitely happened before. 288 00:14:43,520 --> 00:14:45,640 Speaker 3: There have been times where I given feedback and people 289 00:14:45,720 --> 00:14:48,320 Speaker 3: have been like, Okay, you know, like maybe next time. 290 00:14:48,480 --> 00:14:50,640 Speaker 3: That has to be enough because I stood up for myself, 291 00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:53,520 Speaker 3: I stood up for my community, and I wouldn't change 292 00:14:53,520 --> 00:14:57,040 Speaker 3: that for anything, because I only want to offer the 293 00:14:57,080 --> 00:15:01,000 Speaker 3: best experiences to myself and to this community garden that 294 00:15:01,080 --> 00:15:04,840 Speaker 3: I've created. And so yeah, it's really all about setting 295 00:15:04,880 --> 00:15:09,560 Speaker 3: clear boundaries and then also having community, having people that 296 00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:12,880 Speaker 3: you can go to to be like, hey, is this right? 297 00:15:13,120 --> 00:15:15,160 Speaker 3: Something about this doesn't feel right? Is this how things 298 00:15:15,200 --> 00:15:16,200 Speaker 3: are supposed to go? 299 00:15:16,520 --> 00:15:16,800 Speaker 4: You know? 300 00:15:16,920 --> 00:15:19,440 Speaker 3: And not even just black women, honestly, like having a 301 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:21,520 Speaker 3: community of people who can let you know if people 302 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:24,200 Speaker 3: are trying to play in your face, you know, like 303 00:15:24,720 --> 00:15:28,680 Speaker 3: simply put. And so yeah, I would say it's really 304 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:30,640 Speaker 3: just all about setting those clear boundaries and then having 305 00:15:30,680 --> 00:15:31,280 Speaker 3: your people that. 306 00:15:31,280 --> 00:15:34,320 Speaker 4: You can go to when you are in those points 307 00:15:34,320 --> 00:15:35,000 Speaker 4: of confusion. 308 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:39,960 Speaker 2: More from our conversation after the break. 309 00:15:47,360 --> 00:15:50,080 Speaker 1: What are some of those boundaries that you were talking 310 00:15:50,120 --> 00:15:53,160 Speaker 1: about that you don't let folks cross in the art space. 311 00:15:55,280 --> 00:15:58,480 Speaker 3: It's a good question, so I would say for me, 312 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:01,000 Speaker 3: and even just on a level, I guess I'll start 313 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:03,040 Speaker 3: with me as an artist. There have been times where 314 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:07,840 Speaker 3: I have worked with different brands and I've sent my 315 00:16:07,880 --> 00:16:10,600 Speaker 3: deliverables over, I've gotten the job done, and then they 316 00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:14,160 Speaker 3: send me back like final edits, and it doesn't align 317 00:16:14,200 --> 00:16:16,960 Speaker 3: with who I am. It doesn't feel like Casey, it 318 00:16:16,960 --> 00:16:19,680 Speaker 3: doesn't sound like Casey. And I have to be like, Okay, look, 319 00:16:20,520 --> 00:16:23,000 Speaker 3: you reached out to me because you wanted me to 320 00:16:23,040 --> 00:16:25,320 Speaker 3: present who I was to your community, and I'm excited 321 00:16:25,360 --> 00:16:27,960 Speaker 3: to do that, but we're gonna have to make these 322 00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:30,320 Speaker 3: changes if we're going to execute that. And so I 323 00:16:30,320 --> 00:16:32,080 Speaker 3: feel like it's the same way with black girls in 324 00:16:32,160 --> 00:16:35,040 Speaker 3: art spaces. It's like, if there is something that you're 325 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:38,040 Speaker 3: recommending for my group or for my community, that doesn't 326 00:16:38,080 --> 00:16:40,320 Speaker 3: align with who we are, that isn't aligned with the mission, 327 00:16:40,360 --> 00:16:44,840 Speaker 3: that doesn't feel safe or in alignment. I have to, 328 00:16:45,920 --> 00:16:48,640 Speaker 3: like I said, be courageous enough to be like, hey, 329 00:16:49,160 --> 00:16:51,760 Speaker 3: thank you, but no thank you, you know, and like 330 00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:55,320 Speaker 3: maybe next time. So that's really what it looks like, 331 00:16:55,320 --> 00:17:01,520 Speaker 3: like just setting boundaries wherever needed, truly, So I'm interested 332 00:17:01,560 --> 00:17:05,360 Speaker 3: to hear what kind of programming and activity does Black 333 00:17:05,359 --> 00:17:07,280 Speaker 3: Girls and Art Spaces create for their members? 334 00:17:07,920 --> 00:17:08,719 Speaker 4: Love that question? 335 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:12,240 Speaker 3: So, like I mentioned a little bit earlier, a huge 336 00:17:12,240 --> 00:17:14,800 Speaker 3: part of our mission is to champion black artistry and 337 00:17:14,840 --> 00:17:17,560 Speaker 3: black stories. So a lot of the programming that we 338 00:17:17,680 --> 00:17:21,840 Speaker 3: do is in collaboration with different institutions, different art spaces. 339 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:25,600 Speaker 3: And there is a show that is centering a black 340 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:28,639 Speaker 3: artist in their work, we want to be there, we 341 00:17:28,680 --> 00:17:30,560 Speaker 3: want to have conversation around it, we want to meet 342 00:17:30,600 --> 00:17:32,600 Speaker 3: the artists, we want to meet the curator. So we 343 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:36,000 Speaker 3: have a lot of guided tours and we've honestly been 344 00:17:36,040 --> 00:17:39,280 Speaker 3: super blessed by the different institutions that we've worked with. 345 00:17:39,320 --> 00:17:42,600 Speaker 4: They've offered us some really great experiences. 346 00:17:41,800 --> 00:17:46,399 Speaker 3: Like curator talks, bringing different artists in who've surprised the 347 00:17:46,440 --> 00:17:51,159 Speaker 3: groups giving us different resources, like exhibition catalogs, which are 348 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:53,720 Speaker 3: the coffee table books of all of the works tope 349 00:17:53,720 --> 00:17:55,560 Speaker 3: bags just like they really treat. 350 00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:56,760 Speaker 4: Us pretty nicely, I must say. 351 00:17:57,160 --> 00:18:00,480 Speaker 3: But then also we do a lot of workshops because 352 00:18:00,920 --> 00:18:04,320 Speaker 3: it's also important for us to not only tap into 353 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:07,280 Speaker 3: other people's creativity but into our own. And so we've 354 00:18:07,320 --> 00:18:12,760 Speaker 3: done like bookmaking and collaging workshops. And yeah, like we're 355 00:18:12,760 --> 00:18:16,200 Speaker 3: still growing what our programming would look like, but right 356 00:18:16,240 --> 00:18:18,639 Speaker 3: now it's a lot of getting together going to different 357 00:18:18,720 --> 00:18:21,119 Speaker 3: art events, and not just in museums and galleries, but 358 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:25,040 Speaker 3: even performing arts centers. We champion dance, we champion theater. 359 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:28,359 Speaker 3: We want to be involved in every bit and piece 360 00:18:28,359 --> 00:18:30,280 Speaker 3: of the arts. And so yeah, that's what it looks 361 00:18:30,320 --> 00:18:30,880 Speaker 3: like right now. 362 00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:34,639 Speaker 1: I love that sounds like so much fun. I would 363 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:38,119 Speaker 1: love to see it. That's so needed. It makes a 364 00:18:38,160 --> 00:18:40,080 Speaker 1: world of a difference when you have other people around 365 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:43,000 Speaker 1: you to see the same thing and to experience the 366 00:18:43,000 --> 00:18:43,480 Speaker 1: same thing. 367 00:18:43,600 --> 00:18:44,360 Speaker 4: So I love that. 368 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:48,679 Speaker 1: I'm curious to know what kind of comments and feedback 369 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:51,280 Speaker 1: do you hear from people once you've told them that 370 00:18:51,320 --> 00:18:52,760 Speaker 1: you work in art. 371 00:18:52,960 --> 00:18:54,119 Speaker 4: I'm not gonna lie. 372 00:18:54,400 --> 00:18:58,600 Speaker 3: I haven't dealt with a ton of pushback on this 373 00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:01,720 Speaker 3: choice to be in the arts space. So I feel 374 00:19:01,760 --> 00:19:04,639 Speaker 3: like it's been mostly support and I'm super grateful to 375 00:19:04,680 --> 00:19:06,840 Speaker 3: say that. But I feel like even just in this 376 00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:09,240 Speaker 3: season alone, I've had a lot of black women pouring 377 00:19:09,320 --> 00:19:11,960 Speaker 3: into me and who see what I'm doing, who will 378 00:19:12,040 --> 00:19:15,000 Speaker 3: just reach out and be like, Hey, I. 379 00:19:14,960 --> 00:19:16,000 Speaker 4: Really love what you're doing. 380 00:19:16,400 --> 00:19:18,520 Speaker 3: I don't have a background in the arts, but I 381 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:20,280 Speaker 3: would love to learn more and I would love to 382 00:19:20,280 --> 00:19:21,800 Speaker 3: be a part of this thing. And it just feels 383 00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:23,399 Speaker 3: really good to be able to say I don't have 384 00:19:23,400 --> 00:19:25,520 Speaker 3: a background in art either, but you can still do this. 385 00:19:25,960 --> 00:19:28,119 Speaker 3: So I would say like most of the feedback is 386 00:19:29,080 --> 00:19:33,920 Speaker 3: pretty positive, and it's allowing me to have those conversations 387 00:19:33,960 --> 00:19:37,800 Speaker 3: that can jump start someone else's career and faith in 388 00:19:37,840 --> 00:19:39,200 Speaker 3: creating a career in the arts. 389 00:19:39,600 --> 00:19:43,640 Speaker 1: So glad to hear that you've experienced so much positivity 390 00:19:43,680 --> 00:19:46,480 Speaker 1: around your work, because the narrative around black folks who 391 00:19:46,480 --> 00:19:51,720 Speaker 1: want to pursue arts and arts education in college is 392 00:19:51,800 --> 00:19:56,919 Speaker 1: often riddled with just negativity or like a taboo almost, 393 00:19:57,560 --> 00:20:01,240 Speaker 1: And it's just beautiful to see it a living embodiment 394 00:20:01,359 --> 00:20:04,600 Speaker 1: of who you are and that it's okay to be 395 00:20:04,640 --> 00:20:07,840 Speaker 1: in the art world and do what you do. Did 396 00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:10,840 Speaker 1: you ever feel doubtful about making a living off of art? 397 00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:13,840 Speaker 1: How did you navigate these moments and push through? 398 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:19,200 Speaker 3: Oh my gosh, Yes, absolutely, I would say I'm still navigating. 399 00:20:19,280 --> 00:20:20,639 Speaker 3: I'm not going to sit here and say I have 400 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:24,760 Speaker 3: it all figured out. I am currently in a very 401 00:20:25,760 --> 00:20:30,159 Speaker 3: stretching sort of season, so I'm definitely figuring out a 402 00:20:30,160 --> 00:20:33,280 Speaker 3: lot right now. But I would say, like going back 403 00:20:33,320 --> 00:20:37,119 Speaker 3: to just the importance of community, it's just been important 404 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:39,720 Speaker 3: for me to not try to navigate this alone, to 405 00:20:39,840 --> 00:20:41,560 Speaker 3: let people know what I need help, to let people 406 00:20:41,560 --> 00:20:44,520 Speaker 3: know when I have questions, to let people know when 407 00:20:45,560 --> 00:20:48,640 Speaker 3: I'm confused about where I'm at and I'm confused about 408 00:20:48,640 --> 00:20:49,280 Speaker 3: where I'm going. 409 00:20:49,400 --> 00:20:52,439 Speaker 4: And then of course also for me, it's important to 410 00:20:52,480 --> 00:20:53,440 Speaker 4: just pray about it. 411 00:20:53,560 --> 00:20:56,920 Speaker 3: I pray, I write, I take document of what I'm 412 00:20:56,960 --> 00:20:58,960 Speaker 3: going through because I love to look back and be like, 413 00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:01,800 Speaker 3: God brought me through this, my community brought me through this, 414 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:03,920 Speaker 3: and in the future it's just going to be nice 415 00:21:03,960 --> 00:21:05,879 Speaker 3: to be like, and I can get through this whatever 416 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:07,680 Speaker 3: that next thing will be like, I can get through 417 00:21:07,680 --> 00:21:08,679 Speaker 3: this thing again, you know. 418 00:21:08,840 --> 00:21:11,000 Speaker 4: So I definitely have my moments of. 419 00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:17,359 Speaker 3: Doubt, but I'm feeling more in alignment with this vision 420 00:21:17,600 --> 00:21:18,480 Speaker 3: every single day. 421 00:21:19,040 --> 00:21:22,960 Speaker 1: I love that, Casey, what are some occupations in the 422 00:21:23,040 --> 00:21:25,800 Speaker 1: art space that you didn't learn about until you fully 423 00:21:25,920 --> 00:21:27,560 Speaker 1: immerse yourself into the field. 424 00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:32,200 Speaker 3: Okay, so I kind of want to call out one 425 00:21:32,240 --> 00:21:34,479 Speaker 3: of my favorite. 426 00:21:34,040 --> 00:21:36,720 Speaker 4: Careers that I learned about through a black woman. 427 00:21:36,840 --> 00:21:41,280 Speaker 3: Actually, there is a black woman interpretator at the High 428 00:21:41,359 --> 00:21:44,840 Speaker 3: Museum Art in Atlanta, and I don't know why it 429 00:21:44,920 --> 00:21:46,920 Speaker 3: never dawned on me that, oh, when you go into 430 00:21:46,960 --> 00:21:49,560 Speaker 3: a museum space, there's someone who actually writes out those 431 00:21:49,560 --> 00:21:55,480 Speaker 3: descriptions of the artwork. But meeting her and just engaging 432 00:21:55,520 --> 00:21:58,600 Speaker 3: with someone who was so passionate about language around works 433 00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:03,119 Speaker 3: was so special for me because I feel like a 434 00:22:03,119 --> 00:22:05,720 Speaker 3: lot of people who go into art spaces, whether you're 435 00:22:06,040 --> 00:22:08,679 Speaker 3: super familiar with the arts or not, that can be 436 00:22:08,720 --> 00:22:11,000 Speaker 3: the thing that makes or breaks a piece for some people, 437 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:13,320 Speaker 3: you know, who don't know how to dig deeper or 438 00:22:13,720 --> 00:22:15,800 Speaker 3: who are afraid to dig deeper with how they feel 439 00:22:15,800 --> 00:22:19,160 Speaker 3: about a piece. And so I would say meeting her 440 00:22:19,320 --> 00:22:22,520 Speaker 3: learning about the interpreter job was super special for me, 441 00:22:22,720 --> 00:22:26,120 Speaker 3: And that's probably been my favorite career that I've recently 442 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:27,760 Speaker 3: sort of been able to learn about. 443 00:22:28,200 --> 00:22:31,120 Speaker 1: I didn't think of that position at all. I love 444 00:22:31,200 --> 00:22:33,200 Speaker 1: that you brought that up, because it can if I'm 445 00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:37,240 Speaker 1: reading a passage and it's connecting with me and my experience, 446 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:40,720 Speaker 1: it's connecting. But if it doesn't, I would have never 447 00:22:40,760 --> 00:22:43,159 Speaker 1: thought that that was a job. So thank you for 448 00:22:43,200 --> 00:22:46,880 Speaker 1: bringing that up. How has social media supported your artistry 449 00:22:46,920 --> 00:22:48,800 Speaker 1: and helped you expand your business? 450 00:22:49,160 --> 00:22:52,600 Speaker 3: Oh my gosh, that such a love hate relationship with 451 00:22:52,640 --> 00:22:55,520 Speaker 3: social media because honestly. 452 00:22:55,280 --> 00:22:55,600 Speaker 4: Like. 453 00:22:57,200 --> 00:22:59,320 Speaker 3: We all know, social media can be so journey, but 454 00:22:59,359 --> 00:23:02,879 Speaker 3: there's also a lot of love on social media, and 455 00:23:02,960 --> 00:23:05,800 Speaker 3: I think since starting Black Girls in Art Spaces, I've 456 00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:09,520 Speaker 3: realized that more than ever. But even when I was 457 00:23:10,320 --> 00:23:14,960 Speaker 3: just doing visual storytelling, my photography, my filmmaking, the black 458 00:23:14,960 --> 00:23:19,720 Speaker 3: community does not play about the creators like they show up, 459 00:23:19,760 --> 00:23:22,800 Speaker 3: they show out like. There have been so many times 460 00:23:22,880 --> 00:23:27,040 Speaker 3: where oh my gosh, people have shared my work and 461 00:23:27,880 --> 00:23:30,400 Speaker 3: it's gotten me to an opportunity that I never thought 462 00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:32,440 Speaker 3: I could have. And so I would say like social 463 00:23:32,520 --> 00:23:36,399 Speaker 3: media has been extremely helpful in my process. I can't 464 00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:39,359 Speaker 3: imagine where a lot of us black creators would be 465 00:23:39,400 --> 00:23:42,320 Speaker 3: without it, without having a space to be like, Hey, 466 00:23:42,320 --> 00:23:44,040 Speaker 3: this is what I'm working on. I would really love 467 00:23:44,040 --> 00:23:47,960 Speaker 3: your support. If you like it, consider you know, investing, 468 00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:50,320 Speaker 3: if not, just share, you know, Like, I can't imagine 469 00:23:50,359 --> 00:23:52,520 Speaker 3: what this journey would be like without social media. So 470 00:23:52,600 --> 00:23:56,560 Speaker 3: I definitely I'm grateful for social media. Even in college, 471 00:23:56,600 --> 00:23:58,399 Speaker 3: Like when I had first started sharing my work, that 472 00:23:58,560 --> 00:24:00,000 Speaker 3: was how a lot of people on campus even learn 473 00:24:00,119 --> 00:24:02,440 Speaker 3: about what I was doing, you know, because unless people 474 00:24:02,480 --> 00:24:04,439 Speaker 3: see you doing it, they don't know that you're doing it, 475 00:24:04,560 --> 00:24:07,320 Speaker 3: and so social media sort of just sheds light on 476 00:24:07,760 --> 00:24:10,320 Speaker 3: these amazing different projects that are going on all around 477 00:24:10,359 --> 00:24:11,320 Speaker 3: us in the community. 478 00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:13,920 Speaker 4: And so yeah, I've been super grateful for the community 479 00:24:13,920 --> 00:24:14,320 Speaker 4: that I've. 480 00:24:14,160 --> 00:24:17,000 Speaker 3: Gained through social media and the support that I gained 481 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:17,840 Speaker 3: through social media. 482 00:24:18,320 --> 00:24:18,800 Speaker 2: I love that. 483 00:24:19,480 --> 00:24:22,440 Speaker 1: What are some misconceptions about entering your medium? 484 00:24:23,119 --> 00:24:25,840 Speaker 4: Ooh, this is such a good question. 485 00:24:26,560 --> 00:24:31,719 Speaker 3: I would say the number one misconception about entering the 486 00:24:31,760 --> 00:24:36,120 Speaker 3: medium of photography would be that there are a lot 487 00:24:36,119 --> 00:24:38,879 Speaker 3: of people who feel that photography is not really creating 488 00:24:39,240 --> 00:24:44,640 Speaker 3: because you're capturing something and you're not actually physically drawing 489 00:24:44,720 --> 00:24:46,440 Speaker 3: it out or painting it. 490 00:24:47,119 --> 00:24:49,840 Speaker 4: But there is a lot of. 491 00:24:49,960 --> 00:24:54,280 Speaker 3: Thought and research that goes into photography and so I 492 00:24:54,280 --> 00:24:56,879 Speaker 3: feel like some people don't think photography is creative enough. 493 00:24:57,480 --> 00:25:03,760 Speaker 3: But photography can be a very heavy experience, you know, 494 00:25:03,880 --> 00:25:06,040 Speaker 3: depending on how much you're willing to put into it. 495 00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:10,720 Speaker 3: That's probably the number one misconception. But then of course, 496 00:25:10,760 --> 00:25:13,680 Speaker 3: also that you're gonna be broke, and that you know 497 00:25:13,880 --> 00:25:16,920 Speaker 3: that you're you're gonna be struggling, and you're not gonna 498 00:25:16,920 --> 00:25:18,240 Speaker 3: have it on your table, You're not gonna have a 499 00:25:18,280 --> 00:25:20,760 Speaker 3: roof over your head. Those are misconceptions as well, just 500 00:25:20,840 --> 00:25:25,760 Speaker 3: about artists in general. But photography, you know, everybody needs photos. 501 00:25:25,800 --> 00:25:32,080 Speaker 3: Everybody wants their event captured, Everybody wants their anniversary captured, 502 00:25:32,080 --> 00:25:35,080 Speaker 3: Everybody wants this captured, that captured. Like look at social media, 503 00:25:35,119 --> 00:25:38,440 Speaker 3: we see photos all day. So photography is super important 504 00:25:38,440 --> 00:25:42,320 Speaker 3: and I think that it's definitely possible to make a 505 00:25:42,359 --> 00:25:43,760 Speaker 3: living off of it, right. 506 00:25:44,840 --> 00:25:49,600 Speaker 1: I think the first thought in entertainment has a big 507 00:25:49,720 --> 00:25:53,040 Speaker 1: play in this. But my first thought is just the 508 00:25:53,119 --> 00:25:56,520 Speaker 1: black artists coming back to like family Reunion, it's you 509 00:25:56,560 --> 00:25:59,760 Speaker 1: and your your fake job or you and your struggling life, 510 00:25:59,840 --> 00:26:04,240 Speaker 1: and like Hollywood just depicts artists as struggling all the time, 511 00:26:04,320 --> 00:26:07,160 Speaker 1: and so when you're seeing it you automatically think, well, 512 00:26:07,240 --> 00:26:09,119 Speaker 1: let me not do that career because they're always the 513 00:26:09,640 --> 00:26:12,040 Speaker 1: broke cousin or the broke family member. But it's like 514 00:26:13,040 --> 00:26:17,240 Speaker 1: changing that narrative is very important. Is there a glamorization 515 00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:19,880 Speaker 1: of the starving artist lifestyle in your opinion. 516 00:26:20,040 --> 00:26:20,679 Speaker 4: In the media. 517 00:26:20,760 --> 00:26:23,240 Speaker 3: Absolutely. I mean we see it in movies and TV 518 00:26:23,400 --> 00:26:26,080 Speaker 3: shows all the time. It's just it's not that cute. 519 00:26:26,280 --> 00:26:28,840 Speaker 3: It's not that cute. Nobody wants to be out here 520 00:26:29,480 --> 00:26:31,680 Speaker 3: taking pictures without food on their table. 521 00:26:31,440 --> 00:26:34,159 Speaker 4: You know what I mean. So, yeah, there's definitely a 522 00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:36,840 Speaker 4: glamorization of the struggling artist for sure. 523 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:39,760 Speaker 2: More from our conversation after the break. 524 00:26:46,560 --> 00:26:50,119 Speaker 1: So studies show that work by black American women comprises 525 00:26:50,160 --> 00:26:53,760 Speaker 1: one point five percent of acquisition at thirty one US 526 00:26:53,880 --> 00:26:56,960 Speaker 1: art museums. And your opinion, what is the best way 527 00:26:57,040 --> 00:26:58,879 Speaker 1: to support black female artists today? 528 00:26:59,320 --> 00:27:00,119 Speaker 4: Number one, I. 529 00:27:00,080 --> 00:27:05,320 Speaker 3: Would say, when you see their work being showcased in 530 00:27:05,359 --> 00:27:08,040 Speaker 3: a museum, in a gallery, in an event space, and 531 00:27:08,080 --> 00:27:11,440 Speaker 3: a coffee shop, wherever, in a church, wherever you see 532 00:27:11,520 --> 00:27:14,760 Speaker 3: black women's work being showcased, show up and let them 533 00:27:14,760 --> 00:27:19,240 Speaker 3: know that you see them. Also, invest in art, support artists, 534 00:27:19,280 --> 00:27:22,400 Speaker 3: go to art markets, little shameless plug here, but Black 535 00:27:22,400 --> 00:27:24,880 Speaker 3: Girls and Arts Spaces has their first maker's market coming 536 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:28,080 Speaker 3: up and so have events around that. If you know 537 00:27:28,119 --> 00:27:30,320 Speaker 3: you feel in your community there's a lot of artists 538 00:27:30,320 --> 00:27:32,720 Speaker 3: who aren't being supported, do something about it, creating event 539 00:27:32,800 --> 00:27:36,359 Speaker 3: around it, support them on social media, love on them 540 00:27:36,400 --> 00:27:39,880 Speaker 3: in the dms, respectfully, let them know that you see them, 541 00:27:40,160 --> 00:27:43,159 Speaker 3: and yeah, just continue to show up and support in 542 00:27:43,200 --> 00:27:45,800 Speaker 3: any way that you can. If you see that a 543 00:27:45,840 --> 00:27:48,919 Speaker 3: black woman has creative piece on social media and you 544 00:27:48,920 --> 00:27:50,879 Speaker 3: can do a quick share and do it, you just 545 00:27:50,960 --> 00:27:53,560 Speaker 3: never know whose page it might land on and what 546 00:27:53,680 --> 00:27:55,520 Speaker 3: opportunity that could create for that person. 547 00:27:56,320 --> 00:27:59,320 Speaker 1: How do you manage work life balance as an artist 548 00:27:59,440 --> 00:28:01,600 Speaker 1: and what are some of the difficulties that you have 549 00:28:01,720 --> 00:28:02,680 Speaker 1: had to work through. 550 00:28:03,359 --> 00:28:07,920 Speaker 3: So at the beginning of the year, I started therapy 551 00:28:08,480 --> 00:28:12,840 Speaker 3: and one thing that my therapist told me was that 552 00:28:12,960 --> 00:28:14,159 Speaker 3: I was not made for balance. 553 00:28:14,200 --> 00:28:15,920 Speaker 4: I was made for harmony. 554 00:28:16,040 --> 00:28:20,959 Speaker 3: So I have recently been operating out of the place 555 00:28:21,440 --> 00:28:24,359 Speaker 3: of seeking harmony over balance because I am not a 556 00:28:24,400 --> 00:28:29,119 Speaker 3: balanced girl. I cannot give fifty here fifty there for me. 557 00:28:29,320 --> 00:28:31,359 Speaker 3: It's like, Okay, I know I said I was going 558 00:28:31,400 --> 00:28:33,640 Speaker 3: to do this today, but if I need to give 559 00:28:33,640 --> 00:28:35,520 Speaker 3: this other thing a little bit more time to feel 560 00:28:35,600 --> 00:28:37,920 Speaker 3: at peace with myself, to feel like I actually accomplished 561 00:28:37,920 --> 00:28:38,400 Speaker 3: something today. 562 00:28:38,520 --> 00:28:39,400 Speaker 4: I need to do that. 563 00:28:39,920 --> 00:28:43,160 Speaker 3: So I feel like when I focus more on that harmony, 564 00:28:43,280 --> 00:28:46,600 Speaker 3: I'm able to navigate through this life experience a lot 565 00:28:46,720 --> 00:28:49,160 Speaker 3: smoother and a lot more gracefully. 566 00:28:49,400 --> 00:28:50,200 Speaker 4: Like I feel like when. 567 00:28:50,040 --> 00:28:52,280 Speaker 3: I was focused on the balance of things, I would 568 00:28:52,320 --> 00:28:54,880 Speaker 3: get so upset with myself. I would get so down 569 00:28:54,920 --> 00:28:56,680 Speaker 3: on myself because I'm like, Casey, you said you're gonna 570 00:28:56,680 --> 00:28:58,640 Speaker 3: do this, but you you did this instead. But it's 571 00:28:58,680 --> 00:29:01,360 Speaker 3: like I needed to do that thing set and that's okay, 572 00:29:01,800 --> 00:29:05,040 Speaker 3: So yeah, I would say, right now, it's just allowing 573 00:29:05,040 --> 00:29:05,800 Speaker 3: myself to flow. 574 00:29:05,840 --> 00:29:06,880 Speaker 4: Of course, still having. 575 00:29:06,680 --> 00:29:09,120 Speaker 3: Some sort of structure, like especially in the morning and 576 00:29:09,200 --> 00:29:12,600 Speaker 3: night that has been extremely vital for me to get 577 00:29:12,640 --> 00:29:16,080 Speaker 3: through my weeks, like having a strong morning routine, having 578 00:29:16,080 --> 00:29:20,640 Speaker 3: a strong night routine. But throughout the day, I have 579 00:29:20,760 --> 00:29:22,840 Speaker 3: my top three things that I need to get done, 580 00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:25,680 Speaker 3: and everything else, I just let it flow. 581 00:29:26,360 --> 00:29:29,080 Speaker 1: I love the harmony. Shout out to your therapist for that. 582 00:29:29,080 --> 00:29:33,760 Speaker 1: That is amazing. Pro tip for sure. We talked earlier 583 00:29:34,400 --> 00:29:38,200 Speaker 1: about social media. How do you set boundaries? Around the 584 00:29:38,320 --> 00:29:39,400 Speaker 1: social media space. 585 00:29:40,120 --> 00:29:43,640 Speaker 3: This is such a great question for me because I 586 00:29:43,680 --> 00:29:46,400 Speaker 3: have had to ask myself this so many times since 587 00:29:46,440 --> 00:29:49,240 Speaker 3: starting Black Girls in Art Spaces. I am the founder, 588 00:29:49,280 --> 00:29:52,640 Speaker 3: but I'm also the director, So I am over all 589 00:29:52,680 --> 00:29:56,320 Speaker 3: things social media right now, and honestly, there are some 590 00:29:56,400 --> 00:29:58,600 Speaker 3: days when I do not want it to happen. There 591 00:29:58,640 --> 00:30:00,080 Speaker 3: are some days when I do not want to on 592 00:30:00,160 --> 00:30:01,760 Speaker 3: a DM. There are days when I don't want to 593 00:30:01,800 --> 00:30:07,080 Speaker 3: respond to emails, comments, and I don't. Simply put, I 594 00:30:07,160 --> 00:30:11,160 Speaker 3: give myself the space to rest when I need to rest, 595 00:30:11,880 --> 00:30:14,160 Speaker 3: and I think that that's also allowed me to show 596 00:30:14,240 --> 00:30:16,920 Speaker 3: up so much better on social media for my community. 597 00:30:17,400 --> 00:30:20,800 Speaker 3: As far as like my personal social media, I put 598 00:30:20,840 --> 00:30:22,680 Speaker 3: no pressure on that at all because that's just me. 599 00:30:23,200 --> 00:30:27,719 Speaker 3: But when it comes to cultivating and nurturing a community, 600 00:30:28,040 --> 00:30:31,400 Speaker 3: you do have to set some parameters for yourself, and 601 00:30:31,480 --> 00:30:34,560 Speaker 3: so sometimes I'll give myself like a goal like reply 602 00:30:34,640 --> 00:30:38,560 Speaker 3: to like ten comments today, reply to five vms today, 603 00:30:38,760 --> 00:30:42,000 Speaker 3: reply to this amount of emails today, and. 604 00:30:41,960 --> 00:30:43,240 Speaker 4: Then save the rest of it tomorrow. 605 00:30:43,440 --> 00:30:47,320 Speaker 3: And it's allowed me to, like I said before, have 606 00:30:47,600 --> 00:30:49,960 Speaker 3: a bit more peace of mind because I deserve a 607 00:30:49,960 --> 00:30:54,040 Speaker 3: peace of mind. I deserve to be comfortable and confident 608 00:30:54,320 --> 00:30:57,120 Speaker 3: in how I move throughout the week, and when I 609 00:30:57,200 --> 00:31:00,000 Speaker 3: have too many tabs open in my head, I can't 610 00:31:00,120 --> 00:31:02,000 Speaker 3: regard things how they deserve to be regarded. 611 00:31:02,440 --> 00:31:05,240 Speaker 4: So yeah, I would say this year, I've definitely had. 612 00:31:05,160 --> 00:31:08,760 Speaker 3: To learn how to be like Okay, this comment has 613 00:31:08,800 --> 00:31:11,440 Speaker 3: only been saying here for two hours. 614 00:31:11,720 --> 00:31:13,920 Speaker 4: They can't wait till tomorrow for you to reply. 615 00:31:13,800 --> 00:31:18,040 Speaker 1: To it, right. I love that. So tell me who 616 00:31:18,080 --> 00:31:22,120 Speaker 1: are some contemporary Black female artists that you'd like to highlight? 617 00:31:23,000 --> 00:31:25,240 Speaker 4: Oh my gosh, that's such a great question. 618 00:31:25,920 --> 00:31:33,080 Speaker 3: So Number one my favorite black women's photographer, my favorite 619 00:31:33,080 --> 00:31:35,120 Speaker 3: photographer in general, Fina Lawson. 620 00:31:35,480 --> 00:31:37,000 Speaker 4: She is absolutely incredible. 621 00:31:37,600 --> 00:31:43,480 Speaker 3: She captures the black experience in such a beautiful. 622 00:31:44,080 --> 00:31:44,880 Speaker 4: Vibrant way. 623 00:31:45,480 --> 00:31:49,200 Speaker 3: The pieces can be very heavy, but what I love 624 00:31:49,280 --> 00:31:52,840 Speaker 3: so much about her work is that she actually doesn't 625 00:31:53,240 --> 00:31:57,360 Speaker 3: use descriptions when she's showcasing in galleries and museums. She 626 00:31:57,440 --> 00:31:59,360 Speaker 3: unlets you look at the piece and sort of like 627 00:32:00,600 --> 00:32:04,080 Speaker 3: and interpret it for yourself, which I think is so different, 628 00:32:04,280 --> 00:32:06,160 Speaker 3: you know, especially coming from a black woman, and I 629 00:32:06,200 --> 00:32:08,080 Speaker 3: feel like for us sometimes we feel the need to 630 00:32:08,160 --> 00:32:10,240 Speaker 3: like explain what this thing is, but her to be 631 00:32:10,320 --> 00:32:13,480 Speaker 3: like I know what it meant, I know how it 632 00:32:13,520 --> 00:32:14,920 Speaker 3: made me feel, and I'm just put it up here 633 00:32:14,920 --> 00:32:17,080 Speaker 3: and let y'all figure it out for yourselves. Like, I 634 00:32:17,080 --> 00:32:22,080 Speaker 3: think that's so interesting to me and also inspiring. Another 635 00:32:22,160 --> 00:32:28,400 Speaker 3: one Solange knows. I love Solange, I love Slane. I 636 00:32:28,520 --> 00:32:32,600 Speaker 3: genuinely am just so inspired by her crap as a whole. 637 00:32:32,760 --> 00:32:38,560 Speaker 3: I love how she's not afraid to dig into different mediums. 638 00:32:38,640 --> 00:32:41,040 Speaker 3: I feel like, for a while in my journey, I 639 00:32:41,200 --> 00:32:43,480 Speaker 3: was so quick to box myself in. And I've been 640 00:32:43,520 --> 00:32:46,959 Speaker 3: telling people like this season is like my and season 641 00:32:47,080 --> 00:32:49,080 Speaker 3: like I'm figuring out all my ants and I'm walking 642 00:32:49,240 --> 00:32:52,080 Speaker 3: proudly and boldly in those ants. I'm not just a photographer, 643 00:32:52,120 --> 00:32:54,240 Speaker 3: I'm not just a concentreator. I'm not just a founder. 644 00:32:54,280 --> 00:32:58,160 Speaker 3: There's more to me, And so just watching her journey 645 00:32:58,320 --> 00:33:03,400 Speaker 3: through the arts and through creative expression has been beyond inspirational. 646 00:33:03,440 --> 00:33:04,440 Speaker 4: I also love her. 647 00:33:04,400 --> 00:33:07,880 Speaker 3: Music, of course, but yeah, I really want to shout 648 00:33:07,880 --> 00:33:10,440 Speaker 3: out being a Loston and Solange, because those are two 649 00:33:10,560 --> 00:33:14,040 Speaker 3: artists that I feel have really encouraged me just from 650 00:33:14,080 --> 00:33:14,760 Speaker 3: watching them. 651 00:33:15,720 --> 00:33:20,920 Speaker 1: Yes, once Solange solo, you know her like that, once 652 00:33:20,960 --> 00:33:23,400 Speaker 1: she made her glass slare, I said take my money, 653 00:33:23,480 --> 00:33:26,840 Speaker 1: take it, all of it. Anything. I have my net 654 00:33:26,880 --> 00:33:30,080 Speaker 1: worth habit. I love both of those artists. I love 655 00:33:30,120 --> 00:33:34,200 Speaker 1: how you talked about their effect on your life, So 656 00:33:34,280 --> 00:33:37,800 Speaker 1: I love that. Do you have a personal network of artists? 657 00:33:38,120 --> 00:33:40,480 Speaker 1: How do they support you and show up for you? 658 00:33:41,400 --> 00:33:42,200 Speaker 4: Oh my gosh. 659 00:33:42,400 --> 00:33:45,040 Speaker 3: Yes, Black Girls and Arts Spaces is filled with artists 660 00:33:45,080 --> 00:33:45,880 Speaker 3: and I love it. 661 00:33:46,040 --> 00:33:47,240 Speaker 4: I love it, I love it. I love it. 662 00:33:47,840 --> 00:33:51,200 Speaker 3: I'm on meetings all day, every day throughout the week, 663 00:33:51,280 --> 00:33:53,960 Speaker 3: talking to artists all over the world, black women, artists 664 00:33:53,960 --> 00:33:56,320 Speaker 3: all over the world, who want us to come out 665 00:33:56,320 --> 00:33:58,120 Speaker 3: to their shows, who want to share their works with 666 00:33:58,200 --> 00:34:03,760 Speaker 3: us on social media. Literally, like that, that's my field 667 00:34:03,840 --> 00:34:05,680 Speaker 3: right now, is where I'm at. And it's just been 668 00:34:05,760 --> 00:34:09,600 Speaker 3: super beautiful and again, like I know, I keep saying inspiring, 669 00:34:09,640 --> 00:34:12,480 Speaker 3: but truly, I'm just so inspired by my community, just 670 00:34:12,560 --> 00:34:15,640 Speaker 3: being in connection with all of these amazing women who 671 00:34:16,000 --> 00:34:20,080 Speaker 3: are making the decision to step out of what's normal, 672 00:34:20,200 --> 00:34:22,960 Speaker 3: was conventional and say I want to be an artist, 673 00:34:23,040 --> 00:34:25,399 Speaker 3: this is who I am, and like really going after it, 674 00:34:25,480 --> 00:34:28,799 Speaker 3: and so yeah, I feel extremely supported by them, and 675 00:34:29,120 --> 00:34:32,360 Speaker 3: of course I'm always just as excited to support them 676 00:34:32,880 --> 00:34:33,840 Speaker 3: in returns. 677 00:34:34,200 --> 00:34:38,680 Speaker 1: Yes, yes, what advice would you give to young artists 678 00:34:38,840 --> 00:34:40,880 Speaker 1: exploring the art industry. 679 00:34:41,000 --> 00:34:46,360 Speaker 3: Oh, my gosh, find your community. Find your community. Don't 680 00:34:46,360 --> 00:34:50,520 Speaker 3: be afraid to not know the answers to things. Don't 681 00:34:50,560 --> 00:34:54,879 Speaker 3: feel the need to compromise who you are, don't feel 682 00:34:54,880 --> 00:34:59,440 Speaker 3: the need to assimilate. Be yourself. The art world needs 683 00:34:59,480 --> 00:35:03,280 Speaker 3: who you are are. There's so many copy and paste, 684 00:35:03,840 --> 00:35:07,920 Speaker 3: I would say, in the arts, and it's always so 685 00:35:08,080 --> 00:35:12,319 Speaker 3: refreshing to come into contact with people who are just 686 00:35:12,480 --> 00:35:15,239 Speaker 3: so proudly and boldly themselves. 687 00:35:15,480 --> 00:35:16,840 Speaker 4: Yeah, that's my piece of advice. 688 00:35:17,000 --> 00:35:21,320 Speaker 3: Be who you are, because the arts world needs people 689 00:35:21,360 --> 00:35:23,320 Speaker 3: who are not afraid to be themselves. 690 00:35:23,760 --> 00:35:24,280 Speaker 4: Exactly. 691 00:35:25,160 --> 00:35:27,880 Speaker 1: Can you describe the best way to obtain a mentor 692 00:35:27,960 --> 00:35:28,560 Speaker 1: in the space? 693 00:35:29,040 --> 00:35:34,560 Speaker 3: Ooh, so, I would say mentorship for me, being someone 694 00:35:34,560 --> 00:35:38,680 Speaker 3: who's more institution adjacent, as one of my mentors actually said, 695 00:35:39,120 --> 00:35:43,759 Speaker 3: you know, it's really been from going to different art events, 696 00:35:43,800 --> 00:35:49,040 Speaker 3: going to artists talks, going to curry your talks, showing 697 00:35:49,160 --> 00:35:52,600 Speaker 3: up on opening night, closing night, and meeting people, chatting 698 00:35:52,600 --> 00:35:55,440 Speaker 3: with people, and just you know, being transparent about who 699 00:35:55,520 --> 00:35:58,759 Speaker 3: you are, what you're working towards, and you know, really 700 00:35:58,800 --> 00:36:01,400 Speaker 3: just from those connections and letting it be something very organic. 701 00:36:01,600 --> 00:36:04,880 Speaker 3: For me personally, I'm just all about like organic relationships 702 00:36:05,080 --> 00:36:07,440 Speaker 3: because whoever my mentor is, like, I want them to 703 00:36:07,480 --> 00:36:10,520 Speaker 3: be someone who I feel comfortable with in my vulnerability. 704 00:36:11,000 --> 00:36:12,279 Speaker 4: And so I. 705 00:36:12,239 --> 00:36:18,320 Speaker 3: Would definitely just say again, be who you are, because 706 00:36:18,320 --> 00:36:20,600 Speaker 3: you can only find someone who aligns with you when 707 00:36:20,640 --> 00:36:24,080 Speaker 3: you were your truest self. And also, just don't be 708 00:36:24,120 --> 00:36:27,080 Speaker 3: afraid to reach out. Don't be afraid to reach out. 709 00:36:27,080 --> 00:36:30,160 Speaker 3: Don't be afraid to tell someone that there's something that 710 00:36:30,239 --> 00:36:33,480 Speaker 3: they're doing that excites you, that inspired you that you 711 00:36:33,600 --> 00:36:36,080 Speaker 3: would love to learn more about, because people need to 712 00:36:36,120 --> 00:36:39,640 Speaker 3: hear it. People need to know sometimes that there are 713 00:36:39,640 --> 00:36:45,719 Speaker 3: people who are inspired by what they're doing. And so yeah, 714 00:36:45,719 --> 00:36:48,520 Speaker 3: I would say, like, show up as your full self. 715 00:36:49,280 --> 00:36:52,680 Speaker 3: But also don't be afraid to reach out, and when 716 00:36:52,680 --> 00:36:54,879 Speaker 3: you do, let it be organic. Don't be so quick 717 00:36:54,920 --> 00:36:56,480 Speaker 3: to be like, hey, I want you to be my mentor. No, 718 00:36:56,560 --> 00:36:58,279 Speaker 3: let it grow into that. 719 00:36:59,000 --> 00:37:03,040 Speaker 1: Definitely some gen being dropped for sure. I'm curious to 720 00:37:03,040 --> 00:37:05,879 Speaker 1: know how can someone start a Black Girls an Art 721 00:37:05,920 --> 00:37:07,440 Speaker 1: Spaces chapter in their area. 722 00:37:08,320 --> 00:37:11,560 Speaker 3: Oh my gosh, all you have to do is reach 723 00:37:11,600 --> 00:37:14,680 Speaker 3: out to our email address, Black Girls in Our Spaces 724 00:37:14,760 --> 00:37:18,000 Speaker 3: at gmail dot com and from there I would get 725 00:37:18,040 --> 00:37:20,880 Speaker 3: on a call with them and give them some time 726 00:37:20,960 --> 00:37:23,959 Speaker 3: to ask me any questions that they have, Please reach out, 727 00:37:24,560 --> 00:37:27,239 Speaker 3: Please reach out. But yeah, like I would get on 728 00:37:27,360 --> 00:37:29,279 Speaker 3: a meeting with them and we would just talk through 729 00:37:29,320 --> 00:37:31,680 Speaker 3: the process and you know, if things align, if they 730 00:37:31,680 --> 00:37:34,040 Speaker 3: feel ready, then we just go from there. 731 00:37:34,880 --> 00:37:37,880 Speaker 1: Okay, Well, I hope that everyone reaches out to you, 732 00:37:37,960 --> 00:37:41,759 Speaker 1: that everyone around the world starts a chapter. Do you 733 00:37:41,840 --> 00:37:45,000 Speaker 1: have any recommended podcasts or social media pages that we 734 00:37:45,040 --> 00:37:48,160 Speaker 1: should look into to deepen our knowledge on this topic? 735 00:37:49,160 --> 00:37:57,319 Speaker 3: Ooh absolutely, So these are my top artsy black podcasts 736 00:37:57,320 --> 00:37:59,960 Speaker 3: that I think everyone should happen into. The Institute of 737 00:38:00,080 --> 00:38:06,879 Speaker 3: Black Imagination, Shade Home Impressions, and Studio Noise Black Art podcasts. 738 00:38:07,080 --> 00:38:10,000 Speaker 3: Those are my recommendations. And then as far as pages, 739 00:38:10,800 --> 00:38:11,960 Speaker 3: my gosh, there's so many. 740 00:38:13,480 --> 00:38:14,160 Speaker 4: There's so many. 741 00:38:14,200 --> 00:38:16,360 Speaker 3: There's so many great pages that you can follow. But 742 00:38:16,520 --> 00:38:19,560 Speaker 3: I will say, if you do follow black Girls in 743 00:38:19,680 --> 00:38:25,239 Speaker 3: Art Spaces, we post share so many dope individuals every day, 744 00:38:25,360 --> 00:38:28,959 Speaker 3: so it's truly a great place to start with getting 745 00:38:28,960 --> 00:38:30,120 Speaker 3: connected to the arts. 746 00:38:30,480 --> 00:38:32,839 Speaker 1: So basically, follow black Girls in our Spaces. 747 00:38:32,880 --> 00:38:34,799 Speaker 4: Black girls and art spaces and We'll put you on. 748 00:38:35,239 --> 00:38:38,000 Speaker 1: Right okay, soksee where can we keep up with you? 749 00:38:38,120 --> 00:38:40,759 Speaker 1: What are your social media handles and website? 750 00:38:41,239 --> 00:38:46,560 Speaker 3: So my personal Instagram and TikTok are at KC Meriweather Hawkins. 751 00:38:46,600 --> 00:38:51,640 Speaker 3: That's kac I M E R R I w E 752 00:38:51,719 --> 00:38:55,239 Speaker 3: t h E r h A w U k I 753 00:38:55,400 --> 00:38:58,840 Speaker 3: n S. And the Black Girls in Art Spaces TikTok 754 00:38:58,880 --> 00:39:01,960 Speaker 3: and Instagram are at black Girls and art Spaces, and 755 00:39:02,000 --> 00:39:05,200 Speaker 3: then our website is black Girls and Ourspaces dot info. 756 00:39:05,880 --> 00:39:09,440 Speaker 1: Lovely well, thank you so much, Casey for taking the 757 00:39:09,480 --> 00:39:12,160 Speaker 1: time to talk with me. I enjoyed learning so much 758 00:39:12,200 --> 00:39:15,480 Speaker 1: from you and just so excited to see the progression 759 00:39:15,520 --> 00:39:17,839 Speaker 1: of Black girls in our spaces and your personal work 760 00:39:17,920 --> 00:39:18,400 Speaker 1: as well. 761 00:39:19,160 --> 00:39:19,960 Speaker 4: Thank you so much. 762 00:39:20,000 --> 00:39:22,479 Speaker 3: This has truly been in honor of a super huge 763 00:39:22,480 --> 00:39:25,160 Speaker 3: fan of therapy for Black Girls, and you have been incredible. 764 00:39:25,239 --> 00:39:27,840 Speaker 3: So thank you Jana so much for speaking with me 765 00:39:27,920 --> 00:39:30,120 Speaker 3: today and making me feel comfortable to share my journey. 766 00:39:30,480 --> 00:39:38,040 Speaker 1: Oh thanks. I want to thank Casey once again for 767 00:39:38,120 --> 00:39:41,080 Speaker 1: joining us for this episode. Class is over for now, 768 00:39:41,320 --> 00:39:44,080 Speaker 1: but before we dismiss, take the following notes from my 769 00:39:44,160 --> 00:39:47,840 Speaker 1: conversation with Casey. Home with you. My dream career is 770 00:39:47,960 --> 00:39:50,400 Speaker 1: right in front of me, and no one can stop 771 00:39:50,440 --> 00:39:53,480 Speaker 1: me from securing it. I will be able to make 772 00:39:53,520 --> 00:39:56,879 Speaker 1: a living off of the things I am passionate about. 773 00:39:57,120 --> 00:39:59,880 Speaker 1: My art will be seen by more eyes than I 774 00:39:59,880 --> 00:40:03,919 Speaker 1: can can possibly conceptualize. To learn more about the work 775 00:40:03,960 --> 00:40:07,360 Speaker 1: Casey is doing, or to do more research on this topic, 776 00:40:07,840 --> 00:40:11,960 Speaker 1: be sure to visit Therapy for Blackgirls dot com slash tbgu. 777 00:40:12,840 --> 00:40:17,000 Speaker 1: This episode was produced by Frida Lucas, Elise Ellis, and 778 00:40:17,120 --> 00:40:20,279 Speaker 1: Zaria Taylor. Editing is by Dennison L. 779 00:40:20,440 --> 00:40:20,960 Speaker 2: Brawford.