1 00:00:01,600 --> 00:00:04,840 Speaker 1: On this week's episode of Cultivating her Space. 2 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:06,960 Speaker 2: You're black because you're not white. It was just like, 3 00:00:07,040 --> 00:00:08,880 Speaker 2: I don't really know how to say it in a 4 00:00:09,039 --> 00:00:13,480 Speaker 2: very political way, but it's more like we should be 5 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:17,320 Speaker 2: in this together and not being like, Oh I'm black, 6 00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:21,160 Speaker 2: Oh I'm Dominican, Oh I'm Coastareakan, Oh I'm Jamaican. It's 7 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:23,640 Speaker 2: just like, please enough stop. 8 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:29,000 Speaker 1: Today's episode is sure to provide you with motivation, inspiration, 9 00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:33,199 Speaker 1: or a fresh perspective. If you have any AHA moments 10 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:37,120 Speaker 1: or appreciate anything from this episode, please leave us a 11 00:00:37,159 --> 00:00:40,080 Speaker 1: review to let us know we're on the right track. Also, 12 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:44,520 Speaker 1: we release episodes every Friday, so be sure to subscribe 13 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:49,319 Speaker 1: on iTunes and visit cultivatinghurspace dot com to access our 14 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:53,880 Speaker 1: exclusive after show and other bonus content from the Patreon tab. 15 00:00:55,720 --> 00:00:59,960 Speaker 2: Welcome to Cultivating her Space, a podcast dedicated to uplifting 16 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:04,760 Speaker 2: women like you. We're your hosts doctor Dominique Broussard, a 17 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:07,319 Speaker 2: college professor and psychologist. 18 00:01:06,959 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 1: And Terry Lomax, a techie and motivational speaker. In a 19 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:16,040 Speaker 1: world where black women are often misrepresented and misunderstood, please 20 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:20,880 Speaker 1: join us as we initiate authentic conversations on everything from 21 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:24,000 Speaker 1: five roids to fake friends, and create a safe space 22 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:26,440 Speaker 1: where black women can just be. 23 00:01:30,319 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 2: Hey, lady, is doctor dom here from the Cultivating her 24 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:37,199 Speaker 2: Space podcast? Are you currently a resident of the state 25 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:42,680 Speaker 2: of California in contemplating starting your therapy journey? Well, if so, 26 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:47,720 Speaker 2: please reach out to me at doctor Dominique Brussard dot com. 27 00:01:48,160 --> 00:01:53,000 Speaker 2: That's d r D O M I n I q 28 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:57,680 Speaker 2: U E b r o U S s ar d 29 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:03,400 Speaker 2: dot com to scull a free fifteen minute consultation. I 30 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 2: look forward to hearing from you. 31 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:08,320 Speaker 1: Thank you, lady. Today we have a very special guest 32 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:12,160 Speaker 1: in Cultivating her Space. Melissa Sutherland Moss is a Brooklyn 33 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:18,320 Speaker 1: based interdisciplinary artist working across collage, assemblage, and social engagement. 34 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:22,840 Speaker 1: Her art explores the intersection of her identity and world experiences. 35 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:27,200 Speaker 1: As a Black woman of Coasta Wreekan descent, Melissa's motivation 36 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:30,880 Speaker 1: often stems from the exploration of where she fits in 37 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:35,079 Speaker 1: within these cultures. Her work has been exhibited and critically 38 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 1: acclaimed all over New York, including her solo exhibition You're 39 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:44,560 Speaker 1: Black Because You're Not White. In twenty eighteen, Melissa co 40 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:48,480 Speaker 1: founded sk art Space, a safe space for artists to 41 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:53,320 Speaker 1: express themselves, expand their network, and connect with like minded 42 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:57,480 Speaker 1: individuals within the community. Melissa has been featured in Forbes 43 00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:01,360 Speaker 1: Essence Refinary twenty nine and there's so much more that 44 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:04,440 Speaker 1: we can say about her, but we want to introduce 45 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:06,720 Speaker 1: you to this amazing soul so that you can catch 46 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 1: this vibe in real time. So, Melissa Ska, welcome to 47 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 1: cultivating her space. 48 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:18,919 Speaker 2: Thank you, thank you for having me. I'm super excited 49 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:22,919 Speaker 2: to be here. Yes, we're so excited to have you. Yes, 50 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:25,840 Speaker 2: yes we are. And so we are going to get 51 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 2: started with the quote of the day. And Melissa, this 52 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:33,920 Speaker 2: quote will sound really familiar to you because you know, 53 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:39,200 Speaker 2: we do our research and we get in all your 54 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 2: interviews and your social media and this quote comes from 55 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:48,760 Speaker 2: your Black Enterprise interview. Whichever route the future holds for me, 56 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:56,000 Speaker 2: the mission will remain the same to collect, create, preserve, 57 00:03:56,840 --> 00:04:04,440 Speaker 2: and celebrate the histories of Black and African people across diaspora. 58 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:12,000 Speaker 2: I love that you said that, Yes, you said that. 59 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:17,680 Speaker 2: I like that. So when you when you hear your 60 00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:24,400 Speaker 2: words being reflected back to you about what your mission is, 61 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:29,280 Speaker 2: what comes up for you? I feel like I don't 62 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:31,279 Speaker 2: know hearing that for the first time, like, as you 63 00:04:31,360 --> 00:04:34,679 Speaker 2: read that out loud, I was just like, Wow, that's 64 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:38,200 Speaker 2: really true. That's really true, because I feel like on 65 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:42,040 Speaker 2: this journey a lot of things happen. Life be life 66 00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:48,599 Speaker 2: in first of all, yes, life. And to hear that 67 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:53,120 Speaker 2: and to hear me say that no matter what the 68 00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:58,040 Speaker 2: journey is or whatever happens in this lifetime, that the 69 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:01,520 Speaker 2: mission will always remain the same, I'm like, Yeah, that's 70 00:05:01,720 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 2: very true. I feel like, no matter where I land 71 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:08,400 Speaker 2: on this earth, I'm always going after the same thing. 72 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:12,240 Speaker 2: So it's really refreshing to hear. 73 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:15,799 Speaker 1: That's so beautiful. I feel like we had a mantra 74 00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 1: on one of our seasons that kind of spoke to that, 75 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 1: So that's so beautiful. Definitely resonates, and we would love 76 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:24,160 Speaker 1: to know, Mimalista, what is your origin story? Like when 77 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:26,960 Speaker 1: did your love for art begin? Take us back to 78 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:27,479 Speaker 1: the beginning. 79 00:05:28,279 --> 00:05:32,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, I feel like that is a question that I 80 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:36,680 Speaker 2: get asked often, and I feel like I want to 81 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:40,039 Speaker 2: be corny and say I was just born here to 82 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:42,720 Speaker 2: do this right, But if I could think all the 83 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:47,159 Speaker 2: way back, I feel like my first memories of creativity 84 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:52,960 Speaker 2: stems around my cousin who was an illustrator at FIT 85 00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:56,240 Speaker 2: and he asked me one day to poll so that 86 00:05:56,320 --> 00:06:00,640 Speaker 2: he can sketch me. And ever since then, I've been 87 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:03,120 Speaker 2: on an art crazy and I just feel like I 88 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:05,960 Speaker 2: feel like it was already in me, but it just 89 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:09,680 Speaker 2: took somebody to just show it to me. And then 90 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:12,520 Speaker 2: it was like when I saw the sketch when he 91 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:15,880 Speaker 2: was done, I was just like, oh, I want to 92 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:19,000 Speaker 2: be an artist. I want to do this, and I 93 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:24,160 Speaker 2: started sketching like designs and apparel and like runway things. 94 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:26,480 Speaker 2: So I did a lot of those sketches and then 95 00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:30,120 Speaker 2: it just sort of like snowballs into just. 96 00:06:30,200 --> 00:06:32,800 Speaker 1: Love How old were you at that time? 97 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:37,960 Speaker 2: I was in middle school, so that's like six to 98 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:44,960 Speaker 2: eighth eighth grade, so like eleven, twelve thirteen around then. 99 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:52,839 Speaker 2: And here we are today with your solo exhibition, which, 100 00:06:53,080 --> 00:06:55,200 Speaker 2: by the way, I just have to say this title, 101 00:06:55,320 --> 00:07:01,560 Speaker 2: like I love it and I'm curious you're because you're 102 00:07:01,640 --> 00:07:10,360 Speaker 2: not white, right, Like that is like powerful, Like I 103 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:17,040 Speaker 2: have so many like thoughts and questions and I want 104 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:20,400 Speaker 2: to hear from you about what the journey has been 105 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 2: like putting together this exhibition and what has been and 106 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:29,200 Speaker 2: through this journey what has been the most fulfilling part 107 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:33,000 Speaker 2: of it. I feel like the journey is always like 108 00:07:33,880 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 2: a tumultuous one. It's always like, you know, up and down, 109 00:07:38,880 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 2: left and right. And I feel like that title was 110 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:50,040 Speaker 2: inspired by the back and forth conversations about race and 111 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:52,960 Speaker 2: about colorism, and it was just like a lot of 112 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:57,080 Speaker 2: debate happening around that time, just about like who we 113 00:07:57,120 --> 00:08:00,960 Speaker 2: are as an individual, like our skin color. And I 114 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:08,040 Speaker 2: felt like it was just very white against people of color. 115 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:13,040 Speaker 2: But then the people of color were like against each 116 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:18,720 Speaker 2: other in a very strange way. And while we're fighting 117 00:08:18,760 --> 00:08:22,840 Speaker 2: against this other group of people, we're like literally fighting 118 00:08:22,880 --> 00:08:26,880 Speaker 2: within ourselves. So it's like two fights at once. And 119 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:31,400 Speaker 2: I feel like that comment was just like you're black 120 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:33,320 Speaker 2: because you're not white. It was just like, I don't 121 00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:35,360 Speaker 2: really know how to say it in a very like 122 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:39,719 Speaker 2: political way, but it's more like we should be in 123 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 2: this together and not being like, oh I'm black, Oh 124 00:08:43,559 --> 00:08:47,240 Speaker 2: I'm Dominican, Oh I'm Costamakan, Oh I'm Jamaican. It's just 125 00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:50,719 Speaker 2: like please enough stop. So that's kind of where the 126 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:55,840 Speaker 2: title was, more like this this comeback statement more so 127 00:08:56,200 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 2: just like a title that describes a whole story. It 128 00:08:59,760 --> 00:09:03,760 Speaker 2: was more or like a comeback statement. But then the 129 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:07,640 Speaker 2: depth behind it. There's so many different stories behind it too, 130 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:11,680 Speaker 2: because the body of work is created on brown paper bags, 131 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:18,000 Speaker 2: and then the brown paper bags has so much significance 132 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:20,240 Speaker 2: to it, just in terms of like in the fifties 133 00:09:20,280 --> 00:09:22,600 Speaker 2: where they use the brown paper bag to put it 134 00:09:22,640 --> 00:09:25,040 Speaker 2: against your skin to be like yeah, nay, you can 135 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:27,640 Speaker 2: come in, you can't come in, you know, if you 136 00:09:27,800 --> 00:09:30,800 Speaker 2: pass the skin test. They use the brown paper bag 137 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:34,280 Speaker 2: for that testing purpose. And so I use that to 138 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:38,280 Speaker 2: sort of like an opportunity to talk about history, to 139 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:41,400 Speaker 2: talk about like where we were before, where we are now. 140 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:44,720 Speaker 2: We're still in the same space, and just using art 141 00:09:44,920 --> 00:09:48,880 Speaker 2: to sort of tell that story and bring up that 142 00:09:48,960 --> 00:09:51,680 Speaker 2: part of history that I feel like is super critical 143 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:55,960 Speaker 2: to how we are communicating with each other now. But yeah, 144 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:59,600 Speaker 2: so that's the sort of like tie in between your 145 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:02,160 Speaker 2: black because you're not white in the brown paper bag 146 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:04,840 Speaker 2: and like this sere the body of work when you 147 00:10:04,880 --> 00:10:09,160 Speaker 2: look at it. I think the most fulfilling part is 148 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:14,959 Speaker 2: people looking at the body of work for more than 149 00:10:15,080 --> 00:10:18,560 Speaker 2: like a minute. You're like go to a gallery or 150 00:10:18,559 --> 00:10:20,840 Speaker 2: an exhibit and you come across you're looking at the 151 00:10:20,920 --> 00:10:22,719 Speaker 2: artwork and it's like cool stuff. But you know, you 152 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:25,640 Speaker 2: give each piece of work maybe about fifteen to twenty 153 00:10:25,679 --> 00:10:28,440 Speaker 2: seconds max. And you're like, oh, this is nice, and 154 00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:31,400 Speaker 2: you move on and you're like wow, this is dope. 155 00:10:31,480 --> 00:10:33,880 Speaker 2: Spend another thirty seconds and then you move on. Right. 156 00:10:33,920 --> 00:10:39,839 Speaker 2: It's kind of I felt like people were like standing 157 00:10:39,960 --> 00:10:45,080 Speaker 2: for like five minutes trying to like wow or the 158 00:10:45,200 --> 00:10:48,760 Speaker 2: work and like just really interacting with it. I had 159 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:52,160 Speaker 2: like little small quotes that like traveled in between the frames, 160 00:10:52,200 --> 00:10:55,760 Speaker 2: and so you saw people's eyes traveling and like really 161 00:10:55,800 --> 00:10:58,880 Speaker 2: looking at this body of work like wow, like this 162 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:03,440 Speaker 2: is ballsy, Like did you really do this? Do you 163 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:06,560 Speaker 2: really want to talk about this? It's just it's so 164 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:09,679 Speaker 2: in your face. And I felt like people were like 165 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:12,560 Speaker 2: spending time with the work, which I felt like that 166 00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:16,160 Speaker 2: for me was fulfilling because I spend so much time 167 00:11:17,320 --> 00:11:20,400 Speaker 2: creating it. So when people only spend ten minutes looking 168 00:11:20,600 --> 00:11:23,760 Speaker 2: like ten seconds looking at it, it's like, dang, it 169 00:11:23,920 --> 00:11:27,000 Speaker 2: wasn't hit and high, it wasn't hit, but like this 170 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:30,120 Speaker 2: body of work, like really, I felt like people really 171 00:11:31,360 --> 00:11:33,720 Speaker 2: got a chance to dive in and spend time with it, 172 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:36,320 Speaker 2: and that was like the most fulfilling part for me. 173 00:11:37,640 --> 00:11:39,960 Speaker 1: That is so beautiful and so layered. I love how 174 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:43,000 Speaker 1: you kind of gave us the different the different perspectives 175 00:11:43,080 --> 00:11:44,960 Speaker 1: on what inspired you to create in the way that 176 00:11:45,040 --> 00:11:48,600 Speaker 1: you did. The lady. You know this is a grown 177 00:11:48,640 --> 00:11:51,520 Speaker 1: woman podcast, okay, And chances are if you're an avid listener, 178 00:11:51,559 --> 00:11:53,640 Speaker 1: you know we get a little blatchet over here. We 179 00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:57,520 Speaker 1: get bougie, classy, and we get ratchet. So today's sponsors 180 00:11:57,520 --> 00:12:01,640 Speaker 1: should not come as a surprise. 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I will say, I am 200 00:13:10,040 --> 00:13:12,640 Speaker 1: not a talented artist like you, Melissa, but I am 201 00:13:12,679 --> 00:13:15,360 Speaker 1: a creative and I feel like I've heard this narrative that, 202 00:13:15,440 --> 00:13:19,040 Speaker 1: like many creative struggle with depression and anxiety. And I 203 00:13:19,080 --> 00:13:21,840 Speaker 1: saw in an interview you and one of your colleagues 204 00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:25,760 Speaker 1: were talking about the artist's journey with depression and anxiety, 205 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:27,760 Speaker 1: and you know, we talk about mental health on the podcast. 206 00:13:27,800 --> 00:13:29,280 Speaker 1: I was like, Oh, I really want to ask you 207 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:34,040 Speaker 1: what has been your journey with experiencing depression and anxiety 208 00:13:34,160 --> 00:13:36,920 Speaker 1: as a as a creative and as an artist. How 209 00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:39,679 Speaker 1: does that How does that fit within your process? How 210 00:13:39,720 --> 00:13:42,160 Speaker 1: does it impact your work? So just give us all 211 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:43,920 Speaker 1: the things around it, please. 212 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:47,400 Speaker 2: That's so loaded one right, So that conversation that you're 213 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:51,520 Speaker 2: referring to was with Quina LeBlanc. We talk about all 214 00:13:51,559 --> 00:13:54,920 Speaker 2: the things mental health all the time because this is 215 00:13:54,960 --> 00:13:58,320 Speaker 2: a this is a hot topic within our community, and 216 00:13:58,360 --> 00:14:01,200 Speaker 2: it's something that I struggle with all the time. And 217 00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:04,560 Speaker 2: sometimes I'd like to label it depression or sometimes it's not. 218 00:14:04,640 --> 00:14:07,360 Speaker 2: I don't know. I give titles to these things because 219 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:11,120 Speaker 2: I do go through moods and sometimes they last a year, 220 00:14:11,240 --> 00:14:14,600 Speaker 2: sometimes they last longer. Unfortunately, I don't like when they 221 00:14:14,679 --> 00:14:17,800 Speaker 2: last that long. But I do go through moments where 222 00:14:17,840 --> 00:14:20,520 Speaker 2: I'm hitting like rock bottom. And it's not because like 223 00:14:21,280 --> 00:14:23,520 Speaker 2: you know, if I've hit hardship. It's just like one 224 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:26,080 Speaker 2: day you wake up and you're like, this is not 225 00:14:26,280 --> 00:14:28,880 Speaker 2: it for me. And I don't know why. I don't 226 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:31,960 Speaker 2: know why we wake up like that. Maybe subconsciously somebody 227 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:35,080 Speaker 2: said something to us two days ago, and now it's 228 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:38,440 Speaker 2: festering and now we you know. I feel like artists, 229 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:43,040 Speaker 2: creatives are very sensitive. I am so sensitive, Like somebody 230 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:46,400 Speaker 2: can say one thing and like I'm like, damn, my 231 00:14:46,480 --> 00:14:51,560 Speaker 2: work does suck. It's just it takes that one comment sometimes, 232 00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:54,040 Speaker 2: Like as an artist, that's why I always laugh at 233 00:14:54,120 --> 00:14:58,000 Speaker 2: the comment the quote that Erica Baidu says in her 234 00:14:58,080 --> 00:15:01,320 Speaker 2: song that everybody always repeats, but I get it now, 235 00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:06,360 Speaker 2: Like I'm an artist and I am sensitive about my 236 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:10,160 Speaker 2: The journey has been hard for me because it's really 237 00:15:10,240 --> 00:15:13,960 Speaker 2: hard coming out of a space. When you're deep into 238 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:16,320 Speaker 2: like a depression state, it's really hard to come out 239 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:18,840 Speaker 2: of it. And so I spend a lot of time 240 00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:24,280 Speaker 2: figuring out how to come out of dark circles. But 241 00:15:24,320 --> 00:15:26,440 Speaker 2: I do deal with it, and there's a lot of 242 00:15:26,440 --> 00:15:28,880 Speaker 2: things that I do to help me cope, Like, so 243 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:32,120 Speaker 2: I have routines. One of my routines is I spend 244 00:15:32,320 --> 00:15:36,520 Speaker 2: thirty minutes in the shower. It's very expensive, but I 245 00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:43,160 Speaker 2: use that time to meditate, to think. The shower drowns 246 00:15:43,160 --> 00:15:45,320 Speaker 2: out noises. And I live in New York City, so 247 00:15:45,560 --> 00:15:48,160 Speaker 2: you know New York City is loud. So like the 248 00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:50,800 Speaker 2: thirty minute shower, and this is every day. This is 249 00:15:50,840 --> 00:15:53,440 Speaker 2: why I say it's expensive. Every day I'm like in 250 00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:57,120 Speaker 2: the shower, I'm meditating, just feeling my feet on the ground, 251 00:15:57,360 --> 00:16:00,640 Speaker 2: filling the water running through my scalp, like it's very 252 00:16:00,680 --> 00:16:03,880 Speaker 2: necessary to do that every day. And then I'll just 253 00:16:03,880 --> 00:16:06,840 Speaker 2: try to find moments of like happiness, like things that 254 00:16:06,960 --> 00:16:10,000 Speaker 2: make me feel good, and focus on the things that 255 00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:13,920 Speaker 2: feel good, even if it's like getting an ice cream bar. 256 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:16,360 Speaker 2: There's sometimes where I'm in that moment and I need 257 00:16:16,360 --> 00:16:19,000 Speaker 2: an ice cream bar like every day, and I go 258 00:16:19,040 --> 00:16:21,640 Speaker 2: get it every day until I don't want it anymore. 259 00:16:21,680 --> 00:16:24,200 Speaker 2: And it's just like, just do the things that make 260 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:26,600 Speaker 2: you feel good until you're able to come out of 261 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:30,640 Speaker 2: that dark circle. Because it's hard as an artist. But yeah, 262 00:16:30,640 --> 00:16:32,680 Speaker 2: there are things that I do to take care of myself, 263 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:36,760 Speaker 2: Like I love getting my nails done because visually for me, 264 00:16:37,080 --> 00:16:42,920 Speaker 2: it makes me happy. Visually it's expensive, but oh it 265 00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:46,360 Speaker 2: makes me feel good. And so it's little things like that, 266 00:16:46,440 --> 00:16:49,200 Speaker 2: like waking up every day and putting on your brows 267 00:16:49,520 --> 00:16:53,200 Speaker 2: that makes me feel good. And so because I learned 268 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:55,720 Speaker 2: myself very well, when I know that when I'm going 269 00:16:55,800 --> 00:16:58,520 Speaker 2: into a slump, I have to like amp up. I'm 270 00:16:58,560 --> 00:17:01,720 Speaker 2: amping up. I'm getting dressed, putting on my finest T shirts. 271 00:17:02,040 --> 00:17:04,760 Speaker 2: I'm putting on I'm putting on my best lash. I'm 272 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:06,840 Speaker 2: putting on lashes today. I'm not going nowhere, but you 273 00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:10,080 Speaker 2: know what I'm putting the lashes on today. You know 274 00:17:10,240 --> 00:17:12,679 Speaker 2: things that just make you feel good. And I think 275 00:17:12,760 --> 00:17:15,160 Speaker 2: that a lot of artists need to, like hone in 276 00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:18,440 Speaker 2: on that skill, like figuring out the things that make 277 00:17:18,480 --> 00:17:22,720 Speaker 2: you feel good and being active about doing those things. 278 00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:25,639 Speaker 2: I love that, and I'm gonna just say, lady, if 279 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:28,919 Speaker 2: you are listening and not watching us, you need to 280 00:17:29,080 --> 00:17:35,080 Speaker 2: watch us. Because Melissa just splashed us these beautiful nails. 281 00:17:35,320 --> 00:17:40,200 Speaker 2: I was like, yes, nails, Yes, these nails are fabulous, 282 00:17:40,240 --> 00:17:42,680 Speaker 2: and so you have to catch us on Patreon if 283 00:17:42,760 --> 00:17:48,000 Speaker 2: you want to see Melissa's fabulous nails. Melissa, what I 284 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:53,240 Speaker 2: love so much about what you said is being intentional 285 00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:57,560 Speaker 2: about doing the things that make you feel good. And 286 00:17:57,600 --> 00:18:04,399 Speaker 2: I love how you adapt to your environment what I 287 00:18:04,600 --> 00:18:10,159 Speaker 2: hear oftentimes because in my therapy practice, I'm constantly telling folks, 288 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:12,840 Speaker 2: let's let's figure out what are the things that make 289 00:18:12,920 --> 00:18:17,080 Speaker 2: you feel good, and let's do those things right. And oftentimes, 290 00:18:17,119 --> 00:18:21,159 Speaker 2: when folks are in a depressed space, they lack the 291 00:18:21,240 --> 00:18:24,240 Speaker 2: motivation and the energy to do the things that make 292 00:18:24,280 --> 00:18:28,040 Speaker 2: them feel good right. So then when I'm suggesting, well, 293 00:18:28,040 --> 00:18:30,560 Speaker 2: remember when you said X, Y and Z makes you 294 00:18:30,640 --> 00:18:33,840 Speaker 2: feel good, then they come up with all the reasons 295 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:39,440 Speaker 2: why they can't right, and I love how you figured 296 00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:42,919 Speaker 2: out how to adapt. You're in New York City, so 297 00:18:43,760 --> 00:18:47,639 Speaker 2: my guess is being able to step outside and plant 298 00:18:47,640 --> 00:18:50,800 Speaker 2: your feet in the grass and get grounded and rooted 299 00:18:50,840 --> 00:18:53,480 Speaker 2: with the with the earth in that way might not 300 00:18:53,600 --> 00:18:57,919 Speaker 2: be easily accessible for you, so you make that a 301 00:18:57,960 --> 00:19:01,800 Speaker 2: part of your shower ritual. And I love that. I 302 00:19:01,880 --> 00:19:07,280 Speaker 2: love how you make that adaptation to do what's necessary 303 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:13,040 Speaker 2: and what's within your realm of capabilities to make yourself 304 00:19:13,119 --> 00:19:19,840 Speaker 2: feel good. I love that so so much, Thank you, 305 00:19:19,880 --> 00:19:23,200 Speaker 2: thank you. I think it's important, though, like seriously critical, 306 00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:27,840 Speaker 2: like mental health is so important to be diligent about 307 00:19:28,320 --> 00:19:32,160 Speaker 2: making sure that your vibrations are high, because with everything 308 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:35,000 Speaker 2: that's going on in the world, just outside of just 309 00:19:35,160 --> 00:19:40,639 Speaker 2: our personal chaos, the world is we like we're going 310 00:19:40,680 --> 00:19:45,520 Speaker 2: through some things, we're going through some things, and then 311 00:19:45,560 --> 00:19:48,280 Speaker 2: you have your own personal life going on. So it's 312 00:19:48,359 --> 00:19:53,359 Speaker 2: just like we have to be super super conscious about 313 00:19:53,760 --> 00:20:00,000 Speaker 2: our vibrations and what is influencing or affecting our fas 314 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:02,000 Speaker 2: lower of energy, like what we're giving out and what 315 00:20:02,040 --> 00:20:02,760 Speaker 2: we're receiving. 316 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:07,879 Speaker 1: So yeah, I love that you also talked about learning 317 00:20:07,920 --> 00:20:10,679 Speaker 1: yourself because your self care practice may not look like 318 00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:12,359 Speaker 1: everyone else's. And so for you, you're like, you know 319 00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:14,520 Speaker 1: what I know, and I'll put these vows on. And 320 00:20:14,560 --> 00:20:16,320 Speaker 1: I saw your nails till you said they're expensive. I 321 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:18,080 Speaker 1: see all the crystals, I see all the jewels on 322 00:20:18,119 --> 00:20:20,320 Speaker 1: the nails. Now, okay, but that's your thing, Like if 323 00:20:20,359 --> 00:20:22,240 Speaker 1: you know that this is what I need to feel 324 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:24,080 Speaker 1: that way. I love that you say that. And the 325 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:26,119 Speaker 1: last thing I want to say about this topic is 326 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:28,359 Speaker 1: that I remember back in the day, I used to 327 00:20:28,359 --> 00:20:30,879 Speaker 1: think that, oh, if I do self care, like you know, 328 00:20:30,920 --> 00:20:32,440 Speaker 1: I did it on Monday, Okay, I'm good for a 329 00:20:32,480 --> 00:20:34,480 Speaker 1: couple of months, no boo. Like the same way you 330 00:20:34,520 --> 00:20:36,440 Speaker 1: shower and bathe every day, you got to keep your 331 00:20:36,480 --> 00:20:40,280 Speaker 1: spiritual and vibrational practice up as well. And so it's 332 00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:42,240 Speaker 1: never a set it and forget it thing. It's like 333 00:20:42,240 --> 00:20:45,119 Speaker 1: we're constantly revisiting and then when we evolve, as you know, 334 00:20:45,160 --> 00:20:48,040 Speaker 1: as women, we got to shift things again. So I love, love, 335 00:20:48,119 --> 00:20:51,360 Speaker 1: love that you share those practices that folks can pick 336 00:20:51,440 --> 00:20:53,600 Speaker 1: up and try on to see that fits for themselves. 337 00:20:53,800 --> 00:20:56,359 Speaker 1: And so what I want to ask you about now, Messa, 338 00:20:56,520 --> 00:20:58,359 Speaker 1: is can you talk to us a little bit about 339 00:20:58,960 --> 00:21:01,760 Speaker 1: skart space, and what inspired you to co found the 340 00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:04,520 Speaker 1: space with your girls, and just tell us what people 341 00:21:04,520 --> 00:21:08,440 Speaker 1: can expect if they visit my besties. 342 00:21:08,520 --> 00:21:12,959 Speaker 2: Okay, So yeah, So SKR Space opened in twenty eighteen, 343 00:21:13,320 --> 00:21:16,119 Speaker 2: and I co founded it with two of my best friends, 344 00:21:16,640 --> 00:21:20,479 Speaker 2: Jaron and Simone. And Simone is also an artist, and 345 00:21:20,640 --> 00:21:24,040 Speaker 2: one day, like we together, we were doing like a 346 00:21:24,040 --> 00:21:26,800 Speaker 2: bunch of exhibitions throughout Brooklyn and the city, just like 347 00:21:26,840 --> 00:21:31,359 Speaker 2: at cafes and art parties and different things like that. 348 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:33,600 Speaker 2: But we were like, we want something a little bit 349 00:21:33,640 --> 00:21:38,400 Speaker 2: more sophisticated, a little bit more upscale, right, not your 350 00:21:38,480 --> 00:21:42,159 Speaker 2: average cafe, and it's not Manhattan, but like you know, 351 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:44,720 Speaker 2: to do a nice little wall space, make it a 352 00:21:44,720 --> 00:21:49,320 Speaker 2: little fancy. And so we wanted to create this space 353 00:21:49,480 --> 00:21:52,440 Speaker 2: for our community so that they can have the same 354 00:21:52,560 --> 00:21:56,639 Speaker 2: experiences that you have when you're on twenty first and 355 00:21:56,720 --> 00:22:00,919 Speaker 2: eighth Street in the gallery district, where we're not like 356 00:22:01,680 --> 00:22:05,159 Speaker 2: welcomed in those spaces, right, And so to create a 357 00:22:05,240 --> 00:22:08,120 Speaker 2: space of our own for our community so that they 358 00:22:08,119 --> 00:22:11,800 Speaker 2: have the same experience, which is so critical for us. 359 00:22:11,800 --> 00:22:14,800 Speaker 2: And so we opened the space, and then the pandemic 360 00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:18,200 Speaker 2: happened and we had to physically close the space two 361 00:22:18,280 --> 00:22:21,240 Speaker 2: years later, and so we closed the space, but we 362 00:22:21,359 --> 00:22:25,480 Speaker 2: figured out a way to transform digitally and still create 363 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:30,960 Speaker 2: those opportunities for artists to display and exhibit within the 364 00:22:31,080 --> 00:22:34,040 Speaker 2: same fashion. It took us a very long time to 365 00:22:34,080 --> 00:22:38,440 Speaker 2: figure that out digitally, Like the whole virtual transformation when 366 00:22:38,680 --> 00:22:42,440 Speaker 2: the pandemic happened was a whole thing. And so during 367 00:22:42,440 --> 00:22:44,440 Speaker 2: that time we figured out, how are we going to 368 00:22:44,680 --> 00:22:48,760 Speaker 2: go from physical to virtual because a gallery space, and 369 00:22:48,800 --> 00:22:51,560 Speaker 2: so we figured it out and we're still up and 370 00:22:51,640 --> 00:22:59,840 Speaker 2: running as a gallery space, virtually mobile all the things. 371 00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:03,000 Speaker 2: We're everywhere, and so we work in different cities, like 372 00:23:03,040 --> 00:23:06,320 Speaker 2: we will curate in different cities, and so now we're 373 00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:10,080 Speaker 2: just we're all over. But so yeah, that is esk 374 00:23:10,320 --> 00:23:14,280 Speaker 2: our space. Still working on that and many other things too. 375 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:19,320 Speaker 2: I love that. I love that you are creating space 376 00:23:20,080 --> 00:23:24,920 Speaker 2: where for us, right and one of the things that 377 00:23:24,960 --> 00:23:29,160 Speaker 2: we know is the healing that comes from various forms 378 00:23:29,160 --> 00:23:36,440 Speaker 2: of art, right, But it's not always accessible. So why 379 00:23:36,880 --> 00:23:42,640 Speaker 2: is art and creation important for the community at large 380 00:23:42,680 --> 00:23:45,960 Speaker 2: from your perspective? And what are you doing to make 381 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:51,400 Speaker 2: it accessible for the community at large. I'll be honest, 382 00:23:51,480 --> 00:23:55,639 Speaker 2: and I feel like this is a very biased statement. 383 00:23:56,080 --> 00:23:58,320 Speaker 2: I feel like creative people are the most important people 384 00:23:58,359 --> 00:24:04,400 Speaker 2: in this world and are it is so crucial because 385 00:24:04,880 --> 00:24:10,520 Speaker 2: without us, I'm not quite sure what this place would be. 386 00:24:10,720 --> 00:24:19,560 Speaker 2: Like architects and social engagement designers and I mean, creative 387 00:24:19,640 --> 00:24:24,520 Speaker 2: people are so necessary to just the function of life, 388 00:24:24,680 --> 00:24:29,400 Speaker 2: just period. Visually colors, selecting colors change moods and brighten 389 00:24:29,520 --> 00:24:34,280 Speaker 2: up could help your It's just art is so beneficial 390 00:24:34,920 --> 00:24:37,679 Speaker 2: on so many different levels that it's so critical to 391 00:24:37,760 --> 00:24:42,640 Speaker 2: have access to that, and so access is another thing, right, 392 00:24:42,880 --> 00:24:46,560 Speaker 2: Access is another thing. And so I feel like I'm 393 00:24:46,600 --> 00:24:51,400 Speaker 2: so passionate about what I do because I know that 394 00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:55,639 Speaker 2: my community needs this work. They need the outlet, they 395 00:24:55,680 --> 00:25:00,560 Speaker 2: need the resources, they need the mentorship, they need something. 396 00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:04,880 Speaker 2: I think, just like on the grand scheme of things, 397 00:25:06,640 --> 00:25:10,960 Speaker 2: creating access from my community is like just so important 398 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:15,479 Speaker 2: because I know that the future generations are going to 399 00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:18,439 Speaker 2: use this and use this information and the work that 400 00:25:18,480 --> 00:25:23,639 Speaker 2: I've been doing to sort of further their careers and ambitions. 401 00:25:24,240 --> 00:25:26,560 Speaker 1: Sometimes art is really slept on, like people really be 402 00:25:26,560 --> 00:25:28,360 Speaker 1: sleeping on the impact of art. And I think about 403 00:25:28,400 --> 00:25:31,840 Speaker 1: how a lot of times when schools lose funding, it's 404 00:25:31,840 --> 00:25:34,000 Speaker 1: that they cut the creative programming, and it's like that's 405 00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:36,040 Speaker 1: what the kids need for an outlet, you know, Like 406 00:25:36,520 --> 00:25:38,520 Speaker 1: it's so crucial. It really really is. 407 00:25:39,960 --> 00:25:43,800 Speaker 2: It really is crucial, especially in this time right now, 408 00:25:43,880 --> 00:25:49,040 Speaker 2: because I feel like communication is being lost for our 409 00:25:49,160 --> 00:25:52,479 Speaker 2: generation because of what we're going through just virtually and 410 00:25:52,520 --> 00:25:54,280 Speaker 2: just all the things that are changing in the world 411 00:25:54,400 --> 00:25:59,400 Speaker 2: right now. We're like becoming more digitally inclined, which means 412 00:25:59,440 --> 00:26:04,080 Speaker 2: that we're we're not communicating. We don't need to communicate anymore. 413 00:26:04,080 --> 00:26:09,000 Speaker 2: We can communicate digitally, and I feel like the social 414 00:26:09,080 --> 00:26:12,920 Speaker 2: engagement is becoming awkward. We're losing our skills on how 415 00:26:12,920 --> 00:26:16,920 Speaker 2: to communicate with other people, and so art sort of 416 00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:20,160 Speaker 2: like we kind of use it to sort of help 417 00:26:20,200 --> 00:26:24,800 Speaker 2: students to communicate or people rather communicate visually, like sometimes 418 00:26:24,800 --> 00:26:28,040 Speaker 2: that can help you figure out how to say certain 419 00:26:28,080 --> 00:26:33,240 Speaker 2: things or articulate certain things. And art is very important 420 00:26:33,760 --> 00:26:37,720 Speaker 2: to that regards because we're losing I feel like we're 421 00:26:37,840 --> 00:26:43,240 Speaker 2: losing interaction as the years go by, we're losing that 422 00:26:43,240 --> 00:26:47,399 Speaker 2: that face to face interaction, and art is going to 423 00:26:47,440 --> 00:26:53,720 Speaker 2: be like super critical in those moments. I wholeheartedly agree. 424 00:26:53,800 --> 00:26:58,280 Speaker 2: I see it on college campus like as we are 425 00:26:58,320 --> 00:27:02,600 Speaker 2: coming back in person, and not just the kids, but 426 00:27:02,760 --> 00:27:07,199 Speaker 2: like us, grown folks who have lived long before and 427 00:27:07,280 --> 00:27:11,359 Speaker 2: have been in communication with each other long before. But 428 00:27:11,440 --> 00:27:15,320 Speaker 2: I also see how important it is for no matter 429 00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:19,359 Speaker 2: what age we're at, how art can help us. Right. 430 00:27:20,359 --> 00:27:23,320 Speaker 2: I also think about like I think about like my 431 00:27:23,440 --> 00:27:29,200 Speaker 2: nieces and nephews and the importance of seeing themselves in 432 00:27:29,280 --> 00:27:36,480 Speaker 2: the art. And so, Melissa, you're a black woman of 433 00:27:36,680 --> 00:27:42,080 Speaker 2: Costa Rican descent. That's not something that we talk about 434 00:27:42,359 --> 00:27:48,960 Speaker 2: in America enough, right, of what the full Black and 435 00:27:49,080 --> 00:27:55,040 Speaker 2: African diaspeora really is like. And since we know representation 436 00:27:55,320 --> 00:28:02,640 Speaker 2: is so important, what has your journey to self discovery 437 00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:07,240 Speaker 2: and seeing yourself represented in spaces? What has that been like? 438 00:28:07,960 --> 00:28:11,960 Speaker 2: These are some really good questions, y'all, very loaded, because 439 00:28:12,680 --> 00:28:16,080 Speaker 2: I feel like I'm thirty plus now and I feel 440 00:28:16,080 --> 00:28:20,720 Speaker 2: like I haven't really figured it out until just recently, 441 00:28:21,920 --> 00:28:25,119 Speaker 2: Like I was searching even like throughout college, and I 442 00:28:25,119 --> 00:28:27,760 Speaker 2: feel like college is the time where you're like learning 443 00:28:27,800 --> 00:28:31,840 Speaker 2: yourself young adults, You're like figuring all the things out. 444 00:28:32,040 --> 00:28:35,159 Speaker 2: But even after college, I feel like I still didn't 445 00:28:35,280 --> 00:28:41,160 Speaker 2: tap into who I really was, right, And I think 446 00:28:41,640 --> 00:28:43,959 Speaker 2: the more that I started creating art, and then I 447 00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:47,960 Speaker 2: started to need to write. Bios is when I started 448 00:28:47,960 --> 00:28:53,600 Speaker 2: to really dive into what my identity is and how 449 00:28:53,640 --> 00:28:59,760 Speaker 2: I want to I guess represent myself weird, I don't know. 450 00:28:59,840 --> 00:29:03,760 Speaker 2: And so at one point, you know, I would identify 451 00:29:03,800 --> 00:29:06,840 Speaker 2: as black, and then one point I want I didn't 452 00:29:06,840 --> 00:29:09,760 Speaker 2: want to be identified as African American. I remember being 453 00:29:09,840 --> 00:29:13,840 Speaker 2: like thirteen years old, being like, I am not African American, 454 00:29:14,840 --> 00:29:18,400 Speaker 2: and I remember, I don't know why I remember those conversations, 455 00:29:18,400 --> 00:29:20,520 Speaker 2: but I remember them as like the twelve year old 456 00:29:20,600 --> 00:29:23,160 Speaker 2: saying I'm not this and I'm not that, and never 457 00:29:23,280 --> 00:29:25,800 Speaker 2: telling people that I was Costa Rican. I never told anybody, 458 00:29:25,840 --> 00:29:28,160 Speaker 2: y'all was Costa Rican? In college, Like no one knew 459 00:29:28,200 --> 00:29:31,000 Speaker 2: these things. And then when people found out, they were like, 460 00:29:31,240 --> 00:29:33,760 Speaker 2: you're Costa Rican. That doesn't make any sense, Like how 461 00:29:33,840 --> 00:29:37,480 Speaker 2: were you Costa Rican? And so I started to tell 462 00:29:37,520 --> 00:29:40,400 Speaker 2: people like, yeah, I actually am Costa Rican. I'm a 463 00:29:40,440 --> 00:29:45,400 Speaker 2: dual citizen, like I actually like I lived there. Sometimes 464 00:29:46,040 --> 00:29:49,200 Speaker 2: I don't speak the language, but very immersed in the culture. 465 00:29:49,320 --> 00:29:51,720 Speaker 2: My parents lived there, they were born and raised there, 466 00:29:51,720 --> 00:29:55,440 Speaker 2: they still lived there. So the journey, I feel like 467 00:29:55,560 --> 00:29:57,600 Speaker 2: started to really pick up when I was in my 468 00:29:57,600 --> 00:30:00,760 Speaker 2: thirties and I needed to identify myself, and I'm like, 469 00:30:00,880 --> 00:30:08,480 Speaker 2: who am I like? Black, African, American, Jamaican, African, Costa Rican, 470 00:30:08,560 --> 00:30:11,720 Speaker 2: I'm like all the things? Right. I think that it 471 00:30:11,760 --> 00:30:14,320 Speaker 2: was important for me to do that so that I 472 00:30:14,320 --> 00:30:16,680 Speaker 2: can understand what type of work that I was creating 473 00:30:16,720 --> 00:30:19,960 Speaker 2: as well, because as you get deep into your work, 474 00:30:20,360 --> 00:30:24,000 Speaker 2: you got to understand what you're creating and why. And 475 00:30:24,680 --> 00:30:27,800 Speaker 2: for me, it happened backwards, like I didn't stay in 476 00:30:27,800 --> 00:30:30,760 Speaker 2: my mind, Oh, I'm going to create a black woman 477 00:30:30,960 --> 00:30:33,000 Speaker 2: that's X, Y and Z and Okay, now I'm going 478 00:30:33,040 --> 00:30:35,719 Speaker 2: to find the pieces and put it was like backwards, 479 00:30:35,760 --> 00:30:38,960 Speaker 2: like the pieces found me, then I put them together, 480 00:30:39,040 --> 00:30:40,960 Speaker 2: and then when I looked at it, I'm like, is 481 00:30:41,080 --> 00:30:43,959 Speaker 2: happening in this piece of art right now? And then 482 00:30:44,000 --> 00:30:45,720 Speaker 2: I would have to sit down with it and be 483 00:30:45,840 --> 00:30:50,440 Speaker 2: like what is this? So it was like my work 484 00:30:50,480 --> 00:30:54,240 Speaker 2: happens backwards, like the pieces find me, I create the piece, 485 00:30:54,520 --> 00:30:56,479 Speaker 2: and then I have to sit back and sort of 486 00:30:57,200 --> 00:31:01,600 Speaker 2: analyze and break down what it is that I subconsciously created, 487 00:31:02,200 --> 00:31:04,800 Speaker 2: almost as if I didn't create it. So like a 488 00:31:04,920 --> 00:31:10,440 Speaker 2: movement spirit sort of creates through me, and I feel 489 00:31:10,440 --> 00:31:13,640 Speaker 2: like that is a part of your identity, to like 490 00:31:13,680 --> 00:31:16,000 Speaker 2: a part of your process, is a part of your 491 00:31:16,080 --> 00:31:22,719 Speaker 2: artistic process. I feel like representation really matters. And I 492 00:31:22,800 --> 00:31:28,760 Speaker 2: don't remember growing up seeing anything or any work that 493 00:31:29,080 --> 00:31:32,480 Speaker 2: reminded me of culture or history or black people or 494 00:31:32,520 --> 00:31:38,720 Speaker 2: anything like. I don't remember learning about black art, you No, 495 00:31:39,080 --> 00:31:43,080 Speaker 2: even in college, maybe like a few pieces, but art 496 00:31:43,120 --> 00:31:45,760 Speaker 2: history was about. 497 00:31:46,280 --> 00:31:49,640 Speaker 1: That's so deep. Yeah, that's I think that's just so 498 00:31:49,760 --> 00:31:53,400 Speaker 1: it sounds therapeutic your process. But when you said that, 499 00:31:53,520 --> 00:31:55,680 Speaker 1: maybe think back to college in my art history class, 500 00:31:55,680 --> 00:31:57,480 Speaker 1: and we learned all about the white felks. We learned 501 00:31:57,480 --> 00:32:01,280 Speaker 1: all about European art and all that. When you say that, 502 00:32:01,320 --> 00:32:03,680 Speaker 1: I don't remember saying I remember Alexander the Great, I 503 00:32:03,680 --> 00:32:06,800 Speaker 1: remember this freaking this piece of art that we had 504 00:32:06,800 --> 00:32:08,960 Speaker 1: to analyze. I don't remember seeing no damn black art. 505 00:32:09,440 --> 00:32:11,360 Speaker 1: You know, I was the first artist or whatever, so 506 00:32:11,600 --> 00:32:13,840 Speaker 1: you know, but that's a whole other episode. 507 00:32:14,400 --> 00:32:18,480 Speaker 2: Right. So now I'm learning about all these black artists, 508 00:32:18,480 --> 00:32:21,360 Speaker 2: and I feel like I'm in school catching up. So 509 00:32:21,440 --> 00:32:23,840 Speaker 2: now I'm creating art and studying at the same time 510 00:32:23,920 --> 00:32:26,760 Speaker 2: on my own, I'm like, oh my God, like Michaelin Thomas, 511 00:32:26,800 --> 00:32:29,840 Speaker 2: oh Rashad knew something like all these black artists that 512 00:32:30,160 --> 00:32:33,520 Speaker 2: no one told me about. I didn't even even I 513 00:32:33,560 --> 00:32:37,120 Speaker 2: didn't even know black artists could be successful. It's never 514 00:32:37,160 --> 00:32:40,560 Speaker 2: even a thought in my brain, Like it was never 515 00:32:40,640 --> 00:32:43,160 Speaker 2: a thought that I could be a black artist in 516 00:32:43,200 --> 00:32:47,800 Speaker 2: America and make a substantial amount of money. Never a thought. 517 00:32:48,440 --> 00:32:51,040 Speaker 2: But I always wanted to be an artist, but never 518 00:32:51,160 --> 00:32:53,840 Speaker 2: saw it visually, and I feel like that hindered me, 519 00:32:54,320 --> 00:32:59,160 Speaker 2: low key hindered me. Because I went to school for art, 520 00:32:59,480 --> 00:33:01,920 Speaker 2: I didn't have any mentors, and so I kind of 521 00:33:02,040 --> 00:33:04,560 Speaker 2: was just like going rogue in a sense. I knew 522 00:33:04,560 --> 00:33:06,960 Speaker 2: that it was something that I loved, but I didn't 523 00:33:07,000 --> 00:33:10,200 Speaker 2: have guidance, and I didn't have any visual guidance either, 524 00:33:10,720 --> 00:33:13,920 Speaker 2: And I felt like if I did, that would have 525 00:33:14,080 --> 00:33:18,880 Speaker 2: helped me further along, like to see other black women 526 00:33:19,120 --> 00:33:25,240 Speaker 2: artists who are making a difference in the industry. Never 527 00:33:25,280 --> 00:33:27,280 Speaker 2: got a chance to see that until now, and I 528 00:33:27,280 --> 00:33:30,400 Speaker 2: feel like that motivates me. You know, when I see 529 00:33:30,400 --> 00:33:33,480 Speaker 2: people like Mickelen Thomas, who was a college artist in 530 00:33:34,000 --> 00:33:36,479 Speaker 2: her work is in the Brooklyn Museum and the moment, 531 00:33:36,600 --> 00:33:39,560 Speaker 2: the Googenheim and the Tate, like all these places, and 532 00:33:39,600 --> 00:33:42,400 Speaker 2: I'm like, wow, I wish I could have seen that 533 00:33:42,480 --> 00:33:46,400 Speaker 2: when I was in college or high school or anywhere. 534 00:33:48,280 --> 00:33:52,280 Speaker 2: So representation really matters. I still think that we're still 535 00:33:52,520 --> 00:33:58,080 Speaker 2: very far behind in terms of representation, but it's getting somewhere, 536 00:33:58,760 --> 00:34:02,880 Speaker 2: and so I'm working on a lot of things right now. 537 00:34:03,040 --> 00:34:06,800 Speaker 2: So I just got accepted to Maryland Institute College of 538 00:34:06,960 --> 00:34:09,359 Speaker 2: Art in Baltimore, so I'll be getting my Masters of 539 00:34:09,400 --> 00:34:10,120 Speaker 2: Fine Arts. 540 00:34:10,440 --> 00:34:12,919 Speaker 1: Congratulations, congratulation. 541 00:34:13,200 --> 00:34:19,920 Speaker 2: Okay, Okay, I'm like the only black girl in my program, 542 00:34:20,120 --> 00:34:23,319 Speaker 2: which is always the thing for me. I got my 543 00:34:23,400 --> 00:34:28,160 Speaker 2: Masters of Education in Springfield College, only black person in 544 00:34:28,239 --> 00:34:33,120 Speaker 2: my class, and so I'm really interested to experience this 545 00:34:33,280 --> 00:34:35,640 Speaker 2: program because I feel like now that I know so 546 00:34:35,719 --> 00:34:39,200 Speaker 2: much more about myself and I'm very vocal and I 547 00:34:39,200 --> 00:34:44,040 Speaker 2: can articulate my feelings. Oh I'm ready for grad school. 548 00:34:44,080 --> 00:34:48,040 Speaker 2: What y'all got for me? Because I'm here at this table, honey, 549 00:34:48,239 --> 00:34:52,840 Speaker 2: and I got a lot to say. Okay, where is 550 00:34:52,880 --> 00:34:56,320 Speaker 2: it ready? That period? 551 00:34:58,840 --> 00:35:01,880 Speaker 1: Oh my gosh, that's amazing. With listen, so for the 552 00:35:01,960 --> 00:35:06,720 Speaker 1: young artists right that's listening to this episode and she's like, ah, 553 00:35:06,760 --> 00:35:09,680 Speaker 1: Melissa is me Like that's that's my people like, I 554 00:35:09,760 --> 00:35:11,879 Speaker 1: want to be an artist. I want to do this professionally. 555 00:35:12,320 --> 00:35:14,319 Speaker 1: My family said, you can't make nobody to doing art. 556 00:35:14,360 --> 00:35:16,640 Speaker 1: And people are saying this, what would you say to 557 00:35:17,000 --> 00:35:20,200 Speaker 1: shoot younger Melissa or to that woman that's listening who 558 00:35:20,239 --> 00:35:22,600 Speaker 1: now has that moment of like, wow, I can actually 559 00:35:22,640 --> 00:35:25,320 Speaker 1: do this as a career, Like, what advice would you 560 00:35:25,360 --> 00:35:26,000 Speaker 1: share with her? 561 00:35:26,920 --> 00:35:30,840 Speaker 2: Research? Research now is a huge part of my practice. 562 00:35:30,880 --> 00:35:35,279 Speaker 2: It helps me to understand the Internet, Google, listen, take 563 00:35:35,320 --> 00:35:37,920 Speaker 2: advantage of it while we have it now, because I 564 00:35:37,960 --> 00:35:40,799 Speaker 2: think we go into a metaverse three seven point five. 565 00:35:40,920 --> 00:35:43,920 Speaker 2: I don't know while we are here with the internet, 566 00:35:44,480 --> 00:35:48,120 Speaker 2: use it as a resource. I would say, research, look 567 00:35:48,200 --> 00:35:52,319 Speaker 2: up black women artists because that is so it's so 568 00:35:52,520 --> 00:35:56,320 Speaker 2: inspiring to see another woman that looks like you that's 569 00:35:56,600 --> 00:36:00,279 Speaker 2: kicking doors down. It's like about to join got to 570 00:36:00,320 --> 00:36:02,600 Speaker 2: kick these doors down. It makes you feel that way, 571 00:36:03,120 --> 00:36:05,480 Speaker 2: and I think that's important to see, so that you 572 00:36:05,480 --> 00:36:09,000 Speaker 2: could feel in your heart, so that when you're moving forward, 573 00:36:09,080 --> 00:36:13,960 Speaker 2: you're moving with heart strings, so the actions are different 574 00:36:14,040 --> 00:36:17,000 Speaker 2: when you're moving in heart strings, right, no one could 575 00:36:17,040 --> 00:36:20,040 Speaker 2: tell you anything. And I think that's important too, because 576 00:36:20,040 --> 00:36:21,960 Speaker 2: in this journey. When you're trying to get to the top, 577 00:36:22,000 --> 00:36:23,799 Speaker 2: people are going to tell you you can't make it 578 00:36:23,840 --> 00:36:26,120 Speaker 2: to the top, and you will believe that and turn 579 00:36:26,200 --> 00:36:29,520 Speaker 2: back around. But when you're moving with heart strings, it's like, 580 00:36:29,600 --> 00:36:31,799 Speaker 2: no one can tell me anything because I'm making it 581 00:36:31,840 --> 00:36:35,800 Speaker 2: to the top with throw without you. Bro. So I 582 00:36:35,840 --> 00:36:39,040 Speaker 2: would say, do research and look up, like whatever it 583 00:36:39,120 --> 00:36:41,840 Speaker 2: is that you're interested in, to do more research about it, 584 00:36:41,840 --> 00:36:43,880 Speaker 2: and like look it up. Look at in different cities, 585 00:36:43,920 --> 00:36:46,960 Speaker 2: look up salaries, look up people, look up zodiac signs 586 00:36:46,960 --> 00:36:51,239 Speaker 2: of people who do what you do. Research all that. 587 00:36:51,520 --> 00:36:53,000 Speaker 1: I love it. I love it. 588 00:36:53,040 --> 00:36:53,440 Speaker 2: I love it. 589 00:36:53,480 --> 00:36:55,399 Speaker 1: And at this time, Lisa, I feel like it would 590 00:36:55,400 --> 00:36:57,920 Speaker 1: be a really good time for us to just shift 591 00:36:58,080 --> 00:37:02,520 Speaker 1: up the energy of this conversation. And because we recognize, appreciate, 592 00:37:02,560 --> 00:37:05,319 Speaker 1: and celebrate the multifaceted woman, and we believe it it's 593 00:37:05,360 --> 00:37:09,480 Speaker 1: okay to be bougie and classy and ratchet and you 594 00:37:09,520 --> 00:37:12,920 Speaker 1: can still be elegant and dance to strip club music. Okay, 595 00:37:13,360 --> 00:37:17,000 Speaker 1: we want to invite you two with the ou blatchet segment. 596 00:37:17,080 --> 00:37:24,720 Speaker 1: So do you take on the challenge? Yes, Patris question, Yes, 597 00:37:25,040 --> 00:37:28,000 Speaker 1: I love it. So now that you've agreed, Melissa, we're 598 00:37:28,000 --> 00:37:30,040 Speaker 1: gonna tell you what to expect. Okay, So we're gonna 599 00:37:30,040 --> 00:37:33,520 Speaker 1: ask you three questions. We're gonna share three sentence completions, 600 00:37:33,560 --> 00:37:36,000 Speaker 1: and then we're gonna have you choose the number between 601 00:37:36,120 --> 00:37:40,279 Speaker 1: one and three. And we have a photo pulled up 602 00:37:40,320 --> 00:37:42,200 Speaker 1: of you on the big screen that we're gonna share 603 00:37:42,200 --> 00:37:44,680 Speaker 1: with you, And we want you to choose the photo 604 00:37:44,840 --> 00:37:47,960 Speaker 1: and share with us some context about this photo that 605 00:37:48,000 --> 00:37:50,440 Speaker 1: we don't know and we wouldn't know by just looking 606 00:37:50,480 --> 00:37:53,640 Speaker 1: at it. So we're gonna go ahead and dive on in. 607 00:37:53,680 --> 00:37:55,120 Speaker 1: So I'm gonna go ahead and pass it over to 608 00:37:55,160 --> 00:37:55,960 Speaker 1: doctor don. 609 00:37:56,520 --> 00:38:02,040 Speaker 2: Our first question it could be boogie, classy or ratchet, 610 00:38:02,160 --> 00:38:06,240 Speaker 2: depending on how you choose to answer it. Our first 611 00:38:06,320 --> 00:38:11,480 Speaker 2: question is what's the best piece of wisdom or advice 612 00:38:11,840 --> 00:38:17,440 Speaker 2: you've ever received? Fake it till you make it? Best 613 00:38:18,080 --> 00:38:20,880 Speaker 2: advice ever received in my life? Say that? 614 00:38:21,080 --> 00:38:21,840 Speaker 1: What does that mean to you? 615 00:38:21,880 --> 00:38:25,960 Speaker 2: That might that has gotten me through life? Fake it 616 00:38:25,960 --> 00:38:26,640 Speaker 2: till you make it? 617 00:38:27,719 --> 00:38:28,319 Speaker 1: I love it? 618 00:38:29,000 --> 00:38:29,759 Speaker 2: What does that mean to you? 619 00:38:29,800 --> 00:38:30,200 Speaker 1: Melissa? 620 00:38:30,440 --> 00:38:31,319 Speaker 2: I want to know more. 621 00:38:31,360 --> 00:38:32,840 Speaker 1: I'm like, Oh, tell us more about fake it to you? 622 00:38:32,880 --> 00:38:34,279 Speaker 1: Make it for you. 623 00:38:36,000 --> 00:38:41,279 Speaker 2: Sometimes when you need to get ahead and you don't 624 00:38:41,280 --> 00:38:45,120 Speaker 2: know how you're going to get there. Sometimes you gotta 625 00:38:45,480 --> 00:38:50,120 Speaker 2: tap into that childhood imagination where we used to like 626 00:38:50,640 --> 00:38:53,400 Speaker 2: flying school buses and we end up in Egypt and 627 00:38:53,560 --> 00:38:57,880 Speaker 2: somehow we got there. We got there, okay, and we 628 00:38:58,040 --> 00:39:00,920 Speaker 2: faked it until we made it. So it's kind of 629 00:39:00,960 --> 00:39:04,120 Speaker 2: like this. It's like the same concept. Like you're trying 630 00:39:04,120 --> 00:39:07,120 Speaker 2: to get somewhere. Sometimes you're just gonna have to put 631 00:39:07,200 --> 00:39:09,840 Speaker 2: on a facade and act like you are supposed to 632 00:39:09,920 --> 00:39:12,480 Speaker 2: be in that space where you are, and you make 633 00:39:12,560 --> 00:39:16,600 Speaker 2: it work. Learn as you go, face the fair, just go. 634 00:39:18,000 --> 00:39:20,920 Speaker 2: And I have had to do that many many times. 635 00:39:21,480 --> 00:39:23,200 Speaker 1: I love it. I love it. Well, it's I have 636 00:39:23,280 --> 00:39:28,160 Speaker 1: four words for you. Okay, twerk or two step? What 637 00:39:28,280 --> 00:39:33,879 Speaker 1: you're doing? YESZ like to hear? 638 00:39:34,440 --> 00:39:40,880 Speaker 2: Okay, okay, yeah, okay, it's not working summer time. It's 639 00:39:40,880 --> 00:39:41,840 Speaker 2: about to be summertime. 640 00:39:42,520 --> 00:39:45,480 Speaker 1: It's working, okay, Okay. 641 00:39:45,160 --> 00:39:55,879 Speaker 2: It is season now, speaking of twerking season, What is 642 00:39:55,920 --> 00:40:04,920 Speaker 2: the sexiest item you own? It smart be a little ratchet, y'all. Okay. 643 00:40:06,040 --> 00:40:09,920 Speaker 2: The sexiest item that I own might be some rope. 644 00:40:10,960 --> 00:40:16,080 Speaker 1: Oh okay, And this is not for our projects. This 645 00:40:16,200 --> 00:40:17,680 Speaker 1: is not for our project, y'all. 646 00:40:18,719 --> 00:40:24,120 Speaker 2: It could be because in the spirit of creativity, okay, 647 00:40:24,680 --> 00:40:25,520 Speaker 2: this should be our. 648 00:40:26,120 --> 00:40:29,239 Speaker 1: Okay, I think it's our. 649 00:40:29,480 --> 00:40:30,239 Speaker 2: I like it. 650 00:40:30,960 --> 00:40:34,160 Speaker 1: I like y'all might either give me some rope now, yes. 651 00:40:34,080 --> 00:40:36,319 Speaker 2: If you go online. And the reason why I'm so 652 00:40:36,400 --> 00:40:40,280 Speaker 2: into it is because you go online and the professionals 653 00:40:40,480 --> 00:40:47,239 Speaker 2: create these super elaborate designs with the rope. It's meant 654 00:40:47,280 --> 00:40:50,440 Speaker 2: for restrictions, but they have turned it into such an art. 655 00:40:50,680 --> 00:40:53,880 Speaker 2: They create these elaborate nets and designs with the rope, 656 00:40:53,880 --> 00:40:56,839 Speaker 2: and I just really love it. It's art, it's art. 657 00:40:56,920 --> 00:41:01,560 Speaker 1: I love it. I'm gonna look this up. Yes, yes, right, 658 00:41:01,680 --> 00:41:07,279 Speaker 1: sexual art thing that I own. We like sexy, we 659 00:41:07,400 --> 00:41:09,080 Speaker 1: like rope. I'm about to have to order me some 660 00:41:09,160 --> 00:41:12,400 Speaker 1: rope now listen, so listen. We have some sentence completions 661 00:41:12,400 --> 00:41:14,960 Speaker 1: for you, okay, girl. So the first one is one 662 00:41:15,120 --> 00:41:18,560 Speaker 1: question or topic that I wish people asked me about 663 00:41:18,640 --> 00:41:19,360 Speaker 1: more often. 664 00:41:19,920 --> 00:41:25,719 Speaker 2: Is my culture about, like you know, my my identity, 665 00:41:26,160 --> 00:41:31,200 Speaker 2: like Costa Rica, And that would be a yeah, since 666 00:41:31,239 --> 00:41:40,040 Speaker 2: we're here. Your next sentence completion is one thing I 667 00:41:40,160 --> 00:41:45,319 Speaker 2: wish people knew about my culture is that there are 668 00:41:45,320 --> 00:41:50,440 Speaker 2: black people there. There are black people in Costa Rica. 669 00:41:50,960 --> 00:42:03,280 Speaker 2: Lots of them right right be everywhere, every everywhere, legitimately everywhere, yes, 670 00:42:04,800 --> 00:42:05,759 Speaker 2: even in Hong Kong. 671 00:42:07,160 --> 00:42:11,320 Speaker 1: Amazing. Thank you for sharing, Melissa. We have one last 672 00:42:11,520 --> 00:42:14,320 Speaker 1: sentence plusion for you before we jump into this photo, okay, 673 00:42:14,520 --> 00:42:18,360 Speaker 1: And that sentence complition is what I love most about 674 00:42:18,880 --> 00:42:20,320 Speaker 1: myself is. 675 00:42:21,719 --> 00:42:28,759 Speaker 2: My ability to conceptualize and bring my thoughts into like 676 00:42:28,880 --> 00:42:29,480 Speaker 2: real life. 677 00:42:31,680 --> 00:42:36,480 Speaker 1: I still love that. That's amazing visionary bringing stuff to fruition. 678 00:42:36,640 --> 00:42:37,080 Speaker 2: We love it. 679 00:42:37,120 --> 00:42:40,600 Speaker 1: We love it. And last but not least, when listen, 680 00:42:40,680 --> 00:42:42,760 Speaker 1: we need to choose the number between one and three, 681 00:42:43,440 --> 00:42:45,600 Speaker 1: and we will reveal the photo. 682 00:42:46,600 --> 00:42:49,839 Speaker 2: Three three yo three is a popular number. I feel 683 00:42:49,840 --> 00:42:50,799 Speaker 2: like a lot of people choose three. 684 00:42:50,840 --> 00:42:53,320 Speaker 1: Okay, let's go ahead and show you this photo now, Melissa, 685 00:42:53,360 --> 00:42:55,800 Speaker 1: everyone will not be watching the video, they'll be tuning 686 00:42:55,800 --> 00:42:59,319 Speaker 1: into the audio perhaps, so if you can explain the 687 00:42:59,320 --> 00:43:01,839 Speaker 1: photo that will look looking at and then give us 688 00:43:01,840 --> 00:43:04,120 Speaker 1: some context that we would not know by looking at 689 00:43:04,120 --> 00:43:04,600 Speaker 1: this photo. 690 00:43:05,880 --> 00:43:09,239 Speaker 2: This was the photo I was talking about, like, you know, 691 00:43:09,400 --> 00:43:12,600 Speaker 2: doing the exhibits in the cafes and stuff my mom 692 00:43:12,680 --> 00:43:16,919 Speaker 2: talked about that interview. This is a photo from one 693 00:43:16,960 --> 00:43:21,200 Speaker 2: of those cafe shows and it just really brings me 694 00:43:21,360 --> 00:43:25,680 Speaker 2: back to a time twenty sixteen when I was doing 695 00:43:25,800 --> 00:43:26,920 Speaker 2: cafe shows. 696 00:43:27,480 --> 00:43:29,959 Speaker 1: Tell us about the piece that you made there, because 697 00:43:29,960 --> 00:43:32,600 Speaker 1: I saw the hashtag I didn't use the condoms, and 698 00:43:32,640 --> 00:43:34,440 Speaker 1: I was like, wait, are those condoms in there? 699 00:43:36,840 --> 00:43:41,040 Speaker 2: What? This is really fun to look at because I'm 700 00:43:41,080 --> 00:43:42,920 Speaker 2: reading it, like, did I wrote that? 701 00:43:43,080 --> 00:43:43,480 Speaker 1: Huh? 702 00:43:43,560 --> 00:43:49,040 Speaker 2: I put those hashtags there. I didn't use the condoms. 703 00:43:49,200 --> 00:43:55,640 Speaker 2: I swear. I was really inspired by a piece of 704 00:43:55,760 --> 00:43:59,080 Speaker 2: artwork that I've seen that had condoms in it. And 705 00:43:59,200 --> 00:44:03,360 Speaker 2: at the time, I was creating bodies and bodies of 706 00:44:03,440 --> 00:44:08,920 Speaker 2: work around the heart and love and passion, and I 707 00:44:08,960 --> 00:44:12,319 Speaker 2: wanted to experience with the texture of condoms, and so 708 00:44:12,480 --> 00:44:17,200 Speaker 2: that's what that was. That was an experiment and it's 709 00:44:17,239 --> 00:44:21,799 Speaker 2: beautiful too. I really got a lot of attention, obviously, but. 710 00:44:23,040 --> 00:44:25,560 Speaker 1: I love it. And right in time for Valentine's Day, 711 00:44:25,560 --> 00:44:28,239 Speaker 1: I see it was posted right around that February timeline. 712 00:44:28,280 --> 00:44:29,000 Speaker 1: So I love it. 713 00:44:29,000 --> 00:44:29,319 Speaker 2: I love it. 714 00:44:29,360 --> 00:44:32,360 Speaker 1: Beautiful piece of are Melissa. We just want to celebrate 715 00:44:32,400 --> 00:44:34,040 Speaker 1: you and thank you for the work that you do, 716 00:44:34,120 --> 00:44:37,160 Speaker 1: for the representation that you're providing for the next generation 717 00:44:37,719 --> 00:44:40,440 Speaker 1: and for us right thank you for sharing your story, 718 00:44:40,520 --> 00:44:43,560 Speaker 1: for educating us and should just being so transparent and open. 719 00:44:43,560 --> 00:44:47,120 Speaker 2: We appreciate you, Thank you for having me. This was 720 00:44:47,280 --> 00:44:49,760 Speaker 2: such an amazing conversation. I had a lot of fun. 721 00:44:50,680 --> 00:44:55,120 Speaker 2: Thank you. It is and we know that our listeners 722 00:44:55,640 --> 00:45:00,319 Speaker 2: also enjoyed this conversation and they want to their gonna 723 00:45:00,320 --> 00:45:02,600 Speaker 2: want to know where can they find you? Where can 724 00:45:02,640 --> 00:45:06,640 Speaker 2: they follow you so that they can see that piece 725 00:45:06,680 --> 00:45:10,880 Speaker 2: of art and understand the meaning behind. I didn't use 726 00:45:10,920 --> 00:45:14,600 Speaker 2: any condoms. I swear right like they want. They're gonna 727 00:45:14,680 --> 00:45:19,360 Speaker 2: want to know. Yes, So where can our listeners find you? 728 00:45:19,360 --> 00:45:24,160 Speaker 2: You can find me on Instagram at Melissa Skva Artist. 729 00:45:24,920 --> 00:45:28,720 Speaker 2: You can also check out my website which is www 730 00:45:28,840 --> 00:45:33,200 Speaker 2: Melissa Sutherland Melissasutherland art dot com. 731 00:45:33,239 --> 00:45:38,040 Speaker 1: Thank you, thank you. Hey lady, It's Terry here from 732 00:45:38,080 --> 00:45:41,640 Speaker 1: the Cultivating her Space podcast. I'm hosting a free podcasting 733 00:45:41,680 --> 00:45:44,399 Speaker 1: masterclass where I'm going to teach you how to create 734 00:45:44,440 --> 00:45:48,040 Speaker 1: your impactful podcast and how you can generate multiple streams 735 00:45:48,040 --> 00:45:52,040 Speaker 1: of income. You can visit podcast with Terry dot com 736 00:45:52,080 --> 00:45:54,440 Speaker 1: to register for free. I hope to see you there. 737 00:45:54,840 --> 00:46:00,080 Speaker 2: Thank you, thanks for joining us today. Please note that 738 00:46:00,160 --> 00:46:05,360 Speaker 2: our show may contain conversations about self help, advice, self 739 00:46:05,360 --> 00:46:09,640 Speaker 2: empowerment and mental health, but is by no means meant 740 00:46:09,680 --> 00:46:13,520 Speaker 2: to be a substitute for an ongoing formal relationship with 741 00:46:13,640 --> 00:46:17,359 Speaker 2: a trained mental health provider. If you are someone you 742 00:46:17,440 --> 00:46:21,000 Speaker 2: know is in need of mental health care, please visit 743 00:46:21,080 --> 00:46:26,400 Speaker 2: a Therapy for Black Girls directory Psychology today or contact 744 00:46:26,440 --> 00:46:27,560 Speaker 2: your insurance provider. 745 00:46:28,120 --> 00:46:29,960 Speaker 1: If you liked what you heard and want to keep 746 00:46:30,000 --> 00:46:35,000 Speaker 1: the conversation going, visit our website at cultivatinghirspace dot com 747 00:46:35,400 --> 00:46:37,640 Speaker 1: and be sure to tick the Patreon tath to get 748 00:46:37,719 --> 00:46:42,719 Speaker 1: access to video content, bonuses, and our weekly after show 749 00:46:43,640 --> 00:46:48,240 Speaker 1: and before we meet again, repeat after me, what's meant 750 00:46:48,239 --> 00:46:51,759 Speaker 1: for me? Will never miss me? I don't have to 751 00:46:51,840 --> 00:46:52,160 Speaker 1: chase