 Before we move forward visual artists on the first coast joining us today My friend Elena Olander a visual artist who specializes in fine art illustration, but also creates murals Elena. Hello Good morning, and then we've got my dude Malcolm Jackson award-winning artist and photographer Malcolm. How you doing? I know it's been too long it's been too long since we've seen each other in person this one Aaron Kendrick I see her all the time. Thankfully. God is good. How are you? I'm great How are you? Aaron Kendrick is a visual artist and arts Educator and my man over street to cost visual artists using mediums from traditional canvas to wood frame doors He's amazing and also I mean like these four people around the table are all friends of mine Over street. How you doing there? Great. All right street. You got to get a little closer to that microphone for me Listen, this is a meeting of friends, but you're my friend too So call in and be a part of the conversation Five four nine two nine three seven you can tweet us at FCC on air first coast connected wjct.org You can also reach us on Facebook. We are here join the conversation guys. Just kicking it off Please talk to me a little bit about the challenges of being a visual artist on the first coast Hmm, I would say one of the challenges one one. I'm happy to be here. I will say that this is my hometown I was born and raised here um, but I would definitely say one of the challenges is Visibility, you know when it comes to being an artist here and then also having some visibility outside of the city um, I would love to have more like top-down opportunities to Show in other cities to have like connections via government through other cities. So like there could be programs where There's like exchanges between cultural councils or you know things like that So that's one of the things I would say is it's just visibility and being able to have the support of our like local government and local organizations to facilitate that Yeah, I think uh One of the challenges space Because uh artists are always looking for space and I'm fortunate to have I mean, I've been in the same space for over 10 years But other artists, you know, they're constantly moving out uh, you know, almost every year possibly to a different space and um, I currently have two space and I'm looking for a third one Space is what we need. Yeah, I actually create. Yeah, Elena. I know that that's something that like you've been dealing with a little bit Yeah, I think space is truly a challenge. Um, and not just space, but affordable sustainable space for artists long term Um, there are more artists and there are spaces available to accommodate the need. So Having more support in that respect would be phenomenal. Yeah, I think that and also even just awareness too, you know, um I remember we was at that dinner with uh, that breakfast with a Debra Roberts and uh, I forgot who said and said, you know, I'm a local bass artist said no, you're a Jacksonville based artist And you know, the the general conception is an artist is You know, oh, I never met one before and you know, they think they only live in these major markets where artists is anywhere and art is anything Right. Um, so just having a general awareness that you have artists that are your next door neighbor Um and going to support them and do a whole lot for everybody Then you bring in more awareness and more people to be more intrigued into what a Jacksonville based artist brings to the table Yeah, you know, one thing that I think about when I'm thinking about Jacksonville is that we uh, tend to be a very humble city in the sense that like in this city, uh, you think about uh, us As a city on a whole and you're like, well, we're not Atlanta and we're not Miami I don't want to be either one of those things I think that Jacksonville is an amazing city with top-notch artists And so like I would like you guys to just brag about yourselves right now because I know All the amazing things that you've done Malcolm. I've seen your pictures in national magazines Um, I did over street like I know personally like you travel all over and and display your work Erin Elena both the same. So please uh, the floor is open brag a little bit. Um Yeah, I mean, I'm again, I'm blessed to be able to do everything I've done and being able to travel the world and being from Jacksonville I didn't move anywhere to do what I'm doing You know, I um, the most recent thing I did was uh, I worked on um the 1619 project which is on hulu Which has actually been nominated for Emmy um, so, you know praying if uh, I get to get one of those but just even being on set for something like that was incredible As a photographer. Yeah as photographer I did the set unit photography for that show and then I got to meet Niall Rogers. Um, so that alone was amazing for me. Yeah Yeah, um, but I mean just working with them working with the jaguars working, you know, new york times watching them post I've done stuff with netflix I do a lot of stuff with nike nike running Um, at this point, it's kind of like if you name it, I probably work with him at this point to be quite honest Yeah Elena Oh Yeah, I feel like To say jacksonville based artist is a great way to discuss Um, you're a locale in where you live, but having a worldwide mindset is something I feel like I've advocated for a while now and um I think as far as my work goes Recently, I had the opportunity to go to la and new york in the past month I go to tampa in orlando this weekend and atlanta And other things coming up in the fall So I find myself traveling outside of the city, but I like living here I like the culture and the identity and the friends and the collaborative nature that we have together Yeah, I've seen you doing murals like all over the country like if you go to your instagram page Like you're it's like where's the lana now? It's mostly in the southeast right now, but yeah, I There's plenty of opportunity to to work all over the place How about you erin? Give us a little bragging rights um, I would definitely agree that this city is full of Amazing artists and not just on the commercial end not just on the hobby end But like critical like artists who are making very critical work who deserve to be in the larger art conversation. Um myself personally I do have the opportunity this december to show at the prism exhibition, um at art basel for the first time So I treat that kind of like my debut. I'm a fellow with I'm what's called a garden fellow with tila art studios in atlanta and that's the Vehicle by which I'll be able to show so I'm really sort of putting all of my effort into that right now and not only Making it about myself But um as I get farther and farther into it because there's a lot of Education that plays into this fellowship really kind of like reaching back into my art community here And making sure that I'm translating that information over to them And as much as I can kind of get all of us down there and into the right venues and you know in spaces with the right people That's my plan kind of going into it. Yeah street Uh, I think the biggest the best bragging right is the artwork itself Right, um if I would say there's nothing else like it. No one else like me and you'll never find one I've been called a daveship pale of art John stewart of art. It has humor. It's fantastic. It's the best storytelling ever That's over street. I I believe you brother. I believe you so so, um Going going from that because actually like when I think of your art, I think it's you know, I should tell the listener that like Besides Malcolm and we're going to change this and besides Malcolm. I I have a piece of art from all of you um and street like the uh, the work that I have that I tend to think of you a lot and and the work you do is very political um one of my favorite series that you did uh was a series of uh, I guess the right term is a bullseye on on on targets on targets Can you talk about the political nature of your work and how Jacksonville is influenced it? Uh, well, it all started with actually here at Jacksonville about I think 20 I don't know 2009. I think something like that and um, there was a show called all things florida And I like to think outside of box. So I was like, uh, you know what? Everybody's gonna have palm trees and pelicans and sea and water and and I wanted to do something that was completely different So I thought how can I do some difference? So I came up with this concept of uh, using gun range targets And using them as a magazine as a political statement But using them as a magazine cover called the florida targets Which were targets on certain issues so the first issue was uh, I guess around the time of uh A dinner with the florida lottery and I had one dinner with breast cancer awareness And um, I forgot what was the third one. Yeah, but it all started just you know being me thinking outside the box And uh, trying not to do what everybody else was doing But I'll start in Jacksonville. Yeah using the targets as targeted issues Elena wanna uh, Elena, I'm I'm saying Elena and looking at Aaron. Sorry Aaron, uh, when I think of your art, I think of like the series Uh of of little black girls, which feels uh, in some sense I think that people could look at it and just be like, oh, these are nice little black girls It's it's great. But in another sense, it's a very political piece Um, can you talk a little bit about that? And I think the intention of it is for us for it to really function on both levels, um There are these backstories to these little girls. Um in my artwork in general I'm very interested in um Showing and starting conversations about just like humanness in black women and girls, you know, not these sort of like um Serial types and tropes and things like that that um, we've carried with us, you know over generations But to just you know find ways to bring about conversations about about humanness about empathy And the little girls themselves Um, so it became like the best vehicle for me to ask people like when does your mind start to change? Like when do you start formulating? um, your ideas about who black women and who black women are and and and you know Why why we're here and and what we stand for And on the surface of that it gives me an opportunity to have Little girls that I know that are around me little black girls Give them the opportunity to see themselves as fine art, you know, that's probably the best part of it for me Is that they get to see themselves in these spaces? So I am very intentional about that Like putting the the imagery and the stories of us in fine art spaces to be in that larger like art historical conversation So that's that's the best part of it is it's watching them see themselves as art You can join the conversation at five four nine two nine three seven You can tweet us at fcc on air first goes connect at wjct.org and you can find us on facebook Elena To you like your process it um, it feels political as well like like can you tell me you know What's your thought process when you're creating a piece? um, I have several bodies of work that lend itself to the overarching thing, but um, recently I've been interested in kind of like um, visiting my childhood and re-understanding kind of Any sort of traumas that I might have experienced and rewriting that narrative For myself in hopes that it reaches others to see that journey and like moving through healing process And that's kind of happening in my work in a general sense throughout the years, but It ebbs and flows based on What i'm trying to Work through at the time of creation. Yeah. Yeah Laco, how about you? um, well for me It's on two levels right one is being able to show people in Jacksonville What they truly look like and have a sense of pride in who they are and kind of Take it back off of what Aaron said of being intentional and putting these people in these spaces um And then from there you kind of looking at the nation as a whole a lot A lot of my work centers on race predominantly african-american culture But it's talking about class talking about economics talking about you know fellowship and love and just how we're moving and maneuvering in this area And I think Jacksonville one is the perfect canvas To tell what's going on nationally from this perspective. So using that and then using my own community I'll have to be able to speak on that while also lifting my community up and and you know being that guy That wants to take those portraits of those people who may not have those portraits I grew up seeing you know, you know, you can say whatever you want by Jacksonville We all know Jacksonville is a little rougher on the edges Um, and you know growing up the only scene may be muck shots in the news But you know, you didn't see those those nice portraits that you see everybody else, you know And then I was like I took that upon myself like I'll be that guy to provide those images there's a One of my more known images is the guy on the dirt bikes and uh ham rest in peace He did pass away back in think 2020 Um, but hearing that his mom and his sister say, you know The images that you took of him just riding the dirt bike are the most positive that I've seen of him And I always try to keep those images alive and that always reminds me of this is what I do what I do In what ways does living in Jacksonville impact your ability to make a living as an artist? um One I think I on the positive end. I think there's nothing here but space and opportunity Yeah, you know, like I went to graduate school in Atlanta So I had every reason to like stay in Atlanta in this larger art community and and fight my way You know up there, but I thought that you know It's been over 10 years, but I thought that you know, I could there's nothing but space and opportunity there So why not go there find go back home find my way? um grow with the city There are challenges here, but but at the same time, you know, I can sit around and complain Or I could be a part of the solution So I've done everything that I could and am doing everything that I can um to be A working artist an active working artist in the community and also function in that education space So whether that be um at jams in my nonprofit program where I teach, um, whether it be just like community ed so, um, I am very Committed to um, what I believe is the reason that so many of us don't Let's say apply for larger opportunities international um fellowships grants exhibitions national things is because we Collectively aren't prepared, you know to apply meaning Paperwork so I started artist types, which is an organization that helps artists write You know helps artists with their professional presentation so that we feel like we're ready to apply for these things We have the work You know So I'm just kind of doing my my best to Offer myself to my community here, and I think um, there's nothing but good to come up there. Yeah Um, I think that um, it seems like there's a lot of opportunities that are coming You know Every day there's a meeting about the arts and it seems like the people involved in these meetings are all part of people that we know So it seems like there's part of a new administration right now that's happening And people are getting more involved and I'm looking forward to what's to come But as far as opportunity comes in my experience I've never felt like there was a lack of opportunity and I've always uh I feel like as long as you have a positive attitude and you're are consistent And you are good at what you do You will never have to call anybody. Yeah Yeah, Jacksonville is is the place when I think about jacksville Malcolm, I love your description. Uh, the jacksonville is rough around the edges Because it is rough around the edges, but I love that roughness like that's what makes who we are Exactly. Like if if it was all smooth and pretty, I don't know if I'd be all that interested into it Um, but I when I think about jacksonville, I think, you know, exactly what you guys are saying that like it gives you space to actually Um Find who you are and find your artistic voice because you're not being crowded out and at the same time The arts community here is very, uh, uplifting. Um Like all all four of you around this table, you all know each other pretty well You've seen each other all over town The question I have though, like goes up against that idea. Do you think that they're, um, that it's Too easy to get comfortable in jacksonville because of that I mean, yes and no, um I think it became because of You know success in any measure can make you become that person, right? And if it's not done, right? No matter big or small success, you can grow an ego from it So, you know, you can have that but at the same time too, um, you know, I guess That's the beauty of jacksonville is that it stays making you hungry because you always have to go out and earn something Um, and that's kind of where that that I think where that balance comes into play Whereas you can take successes that you do have from it But you have to remember because you are from only jacksonville You got so much more work that you have to do. Um, and for me that keeps me going, um, and kind of You know where is also doing and continuing in education. So while i'm not in more of the public space like that Thanks to social media I'm able to reach back and talk to younger photographers and younger artists And giving them the gateway, you know, I tell a lot of young guys all the time I'm putting you in these positions now because I need you to make more money than what I'll make Because are you going to be able to do that now because of the door is open And you know, these doors wasn't open before I got here into the space now that I'm here It's my job to make sure you walk through that door No problem and be better and then make sure that you pass that down to that expert So we don't have this issue anymore Um, I'm thinking about uh, a lot of young artists that are out there and uh, maybe You know are not at the level of success that that you are Um What would be your advice to them about getting active in the community? Like where should they go? Who are the people they should seek out that sort of thing? Um, I I would definitely first say show up. We actually kind of went through a time period post covid Where there were like a like a small a group of people who really like sort of complained a lot on social media about how no one was helping them and um You know how there there weren't opportunities out there and the collective voice was just like show up There's lots of things going on. We have a very active arts and culture community And the people who are out there getting help and and we're all kind of like I'm sure we can all name someone that we're talking to on on like a weekly monthly basis It's because they show it up right and they do the work So it's like it's start there like show up do the work There's a lot of us out here in a lot of different capacities art mediums Ethnicities whatever you need to kind of make that first connection. We're all out here. So just show up. Yeah I I believe in the uh quote from a movie Long time ago, which uh was just if you build it, they will come And when I got started doing spoken word, um I mean, I'm just going to be really honest when I got started doing spoken word There was basically like maybe two or three Venues those venues were primarily um For lack of a better term literary like people were reading like, you know forgive my bloodness, but snooty works of poetry The thou and all this and it did not excite me I did my thing there and I was definitely the like everybody was looking at me like what and so I decided that like I just needed to create a space for myself to do my stuff because I felt like there were other people out there That wanted to do that as well and me and two friends of mine Uh started putting on spoken word nights in Jacksonville. They got big. They did well blah blah blah But that was the beginning of it like me deciding that like if there isn't a space here for me I will create a space and that's what Jacksonville does So I think if you're a young artist out there looking for it show up be in the places meet people But also know that like if you build it and you start building community around what you're building They will come Um, I'm I'm curious about uh going outside of the city and finding opportunities outside the city Um, because we all know like in Jacksonville if you want to put a show up There are places here that are fully welcoming to local artists, right? Like just off the top of my head yellow house comes to mind um doing a Something at cork comes to mind. There are also other many other places that you could go But I'm curious like how do you Uh move beyond the city to you know national and and just other cities as well. How do you plant those seeds? um, I mean lately I've been doing uh like festivals like I did the um arts field Lake City, South Carolina, which is like a very small city and when I went there and I saw that how Huge that festival was and people coming from all over the country in the world It made me like oh my god Jacksonville. We got to get it together you know and then uh Next month i'm doing the end. I actually won a prize there too And then the following year or this year my wife won so So it's possible. Um, and then uh this year we're doing art prize I mean, yeah, yeah art prize and uh grand rapids and the good thing about that too We both have been accepted again and not only that but I just received uh Grant just uh show there So, um, you know, that's one thing you can do is just start doing uh festivals, you know that give out prizes Prizes are good I think another is residencies I know you kind of have to get a little bit into your career a little bit to maybe start thinking about that I was um, I was honored to to be a part of a residency with ballroom projects and the airy uh, Culture Council in eerie, Pennsylvania. So I did about a month up there in the cold Florida boy wasn't used to that. Um So I think doing that and and you know, we live in a social media age now And I think you know, just your network and through instagram and twitter is is there Um, you know, thanks to that. I kind of can kind of can go anywhere. I want to Um, wherever wherever i'm in a city I probably know a photographer or somebody there and they're like hey mount what you want to do You know and and i'm blessed with that the mortgage kind of Build upon that and so many people that are like you in these other places that you you have no idea Yeah, I think I think social media is a great way to Find some of those opportunities. I know for myself, um I found a lot through like hashtags that a lot of entities would use in order to reach a broader network So if you look up hashtag call to artists and this is especially for you know, those looking for more opportunities outside of the city It's one easy way to do that. There's also databases that All the call to artists um cafe is one of them call for entry um They have a huge database of opportunities all around the country from exhibitions to submission based things to festivals to Um city commissioned mural public art projects like it's there's so much out there. Yeah One thing that I'll add um that you know put on my teacher hat That I teach my students to do and like if I'm you know working with a group of artists is to do what I call cv stalking So like find someone whose career you'd like to model Pull up their cv see where they've been like what shows have they been in what residences they've had And then sort of like use that as a starting point, you know, do I qualify for these things? What do I need would I qualify in? A year from now things like that. So I teach people to cv stalk all the time. Yeah, I mean I early in my career I would do that all the time like if there was a uh theater artist that I love Uh, I would totally figure out like all the places they'd been and then the the first one the the The minor leagues so to speak that would be the one I would target Um, and and a lot of times I didn't get in but like preparing to target that That that venue or whatever it also left me with a body of work that I could use and send out to other places So for me like um when I would apply for something and I didn't get it It was never a loss because it made me think about my work It made me had made me have samples of my work that were ready to send out to other places I think one thing that I when I think about art in general is that you know to be honest like art is a lot about rejection You know, let's speak on that like like you guys are are uh, in my opinion, um Just like world-class artists. I I love everything that you guys do But it took a while to get there it took like a lot of you know, false starts to get there talk to me about that One thing that I learned from over street. I don't know if you know that he taught me this um Was that sometimes it's not so much about you're always trying to get in the show You're always trying to get the thing but sometimes it's about looking at who um Who the jurors are? And and having an opportunity to get your work in front of those jurors, you know It's just to kind of start to establish like Recognition recall things like that so that really made me kind of pay a lot more attention to not only like Hey, there's this opportunity But who are going to be the people sitting at the table that will see the work? Yeah, I hope that wasn't your answer Yeah, I mean, um, I am decently transparent about it but I think for majority of the opportunities that I apply to whether they're residencies grants or um mural festivals, I think this year I have had probably over 25 rejections and Every time I get it my heart breaks a little but I also feel like oh, yeah It's the same thing who saw that submission and You know, I'm going to come back stronger and I'm going to keep pushing myself so that I do get that acceptance one day and it happens. Yeah. Yes the same thing. I mean, uh, there's a famous um a famous uh Whatever it's called but it's the new york times puts it on right and you know Photographers all over the world sign up for this thing I've signed up for years and years and years and This year's finally the year I finally stopped doing it because like well, I work with them now Like I don't need to deal with it Um, but it kind of just let me know like the more you just kind of kept putting it out there Like maybe somebody actually is looking at it like some trust me. We got you We don't need you to be here So I kind of try to look at the glass half full sometimes with it too Yeah, anytime I apply for something and I'll get it there immediately my enemy and I have to crush them Oh If I don't get it, I gotta crush you. I gotta like one day you're gonna look back and be like, huh I passed on outlets and yes, you did sir. Yes, you did So listen one thing that like And this is no judgment. Okay. Please listeners no judgment if you invite me to your house and and you've got this in your house Like I'm not judging you. I'm just saying but like it drives me a little Maybe there's a little judgment of people who have target art in their house and like When there's such amazing artwork from local artists that you can go out and buy So I would love for you guys as we wrap up to tell us where they can find your art I'll start where they are if they do have a target art might as well be one of mine Ah Yes paint on targets literally literally, literally um, okay for me, um Pretty much every everywhere you can find me at erin is creative. So this erin erin is creative.co Um, so that's most social media platforms. Um artist types has its own So if you're an artist and you're looking for um some help on that end then you can find me at artist types Yeah, everything is under my name Overstreet Dukas Elena Elena olander.com and Elena olander on social media Uh mountjax.com mountjax everything m a l c j a s All right, and that's it for this segment Elena olander Malcolm Jackson erin kendrick and Overstreet Dukas Thank you all for coming in to talk to us today about being an artist in the first coast Thank you. All right, and we will be right back