Artist Feature Magazine | Winter 2020 [Issue No.03] by I AM ART Campaign

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OUR MISSION To provide a platform that brings artists together in collaboration with one another; while also giving readers a closer look into the lifestyle of an artist and the perspectives that make each of us unique.

OUR VISION To create content of value that Empowers and Educates the next generation of the arts community; while also sharing stories of inspiration that brings people together.

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BE INSPIRED.

JOIN THE MOVEMENT.

EDITORS LETTER

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ISSUE No. 03

PUBLISHER / EDITOR IN CHIEF ARTavius Veasey CONTRIBUTORS Dominique Gummelt, PhD Shane “ChicoFit” Huggins Lauren Bridgedale Rashida Banks Lilah Higgins Karina Nistal Ellen Foord Daksha Morjaria ARTist Feature is an international digital + print quarterly creative lifestyle and empowerment magazine; With an objective to featuring diverse creatives, mindsets, and personal journeys of artists in the industry.

Nothing compares to Good Style IAMARTCAMPAIGN.COM/MAG

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Let me be the first to say, everyone has their own unique taste when it comes to style. Rather its fashion, home decor, or interior design; to each its own. I will confess and say my TV only has two channels which is HGTV and the DIY Network. Those who know me personally know that I have at least an hour blocked out in my schedule , religiously every day for a couple of episodes on either channel. It’s me, ice cream, and my my zebra snuggie, a bowl of Cookies & Cream , , recliner. This is my dedicated ‘Me-Time’ to learn about new tips and tricks about home decor, design, or getting ideas to spice up my apartment throughout the year. In this issue, I wanted to highlight artists and creatives in the decorating industry. I hope it inspires your inner interior decorator with more tips and tricks you can use to spruce up your space during this holiday , in 2021! season. Happy Holidays! See y’all

Find us on Social Media @ArtistFeatureMag ARTist Feature Magazine reserves the right to edit all materials for clarity, space availability, and suitability for publication. ARTist Feature must give permission for any material contained herein to be reproduced in any manner. Any advertisements published in ARTist Feature Magazine do not constitute an endorsement of the advertiser’s services or product.

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CONTENTS EDITORS LETTER

FROM MY DESK: Nothing compares to Good Style 05

HEALTH+FITNESS

FESTIVELY FIT: Staying fit over the holidays

CHICOFIT: Are you ready to sweat? 09

BEAUTY+FASHION INTERVIEW: Malcolm Williams

22 21

FEATURE: Coleman & Neal FEATURE: WEAR BRIMS

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DESIGN+CREATIVITY

SHOPPING TIPS: 10 IKEA items for a designer home on a budget!

INTERVIEW: Nicholas Oates

COVER STORY

STAGING SPACE: Creating a conversational living room

17 COMING NEXT ISSUE SPRING 2021

SEASONAL

ISSUE No. 04

MIND OVER MATTER

ON THE COVER

For this Sring Issue, we will like to bring awareness to Mental Health and how it affects us as creatives. Gathering diverse, forward thinkers to share their personal stories; help encourage, inspire, and introduce tips to help continue the new year in a better mental space.

HIV+ART

Arro Home and We Are Scout

Email us your stories, ads or ideas to: artistfeaturemag@gmail.com

SPECIAL ICONS Video Clip

DIY FOR THE HOLIDAYS: DIY Chalkboard Wall Advent Calendar 39 CHRISTMAS WORLDWIDE: Christmas traditions around the world 41

INTERVIEW: Michael “Miss Mikey” Lamb 45 FEATURE: The Paige 48 INTERVIEW: Dapharoah69 49 Image Credit:

WANT TO BE FEATURED?

LIFESTYLE

ENTREPRENEUR: How to brand yourself as an ARTist 31 ARTIST TO WATCH: Roman Caesar 33 ARTIST TO WATCH: Jay DeMoir 34 COMMUNITY: Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood 35 ADVICE: Trust the Process 37 MENTAL HEALTH: Tools to Manage Anxiety 38

Buy Item

More on website

BUSINESS+ENTERTAINMENT

INTERVIEW: James Worthy 52 INTERVIEW: Antino Crowley-Kamenwati 55 FEATURE: Marlisha Applewhite 58 INTERVIEW: LJ Ugarte 59

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HEALTH+FITNESS

FESTIVELY FIT: 07 IAMARTCAMPAIGN.COM/MAG

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STAYING FIT OVER THE HOLIDAYS by Dominique Gummelt, PhD

Are you fearing this year’s holidays? Are you wondering how you will handle the challenges of being confronted with mountains of delicious food, endless parties, and crazy schedules? Unfortunately, these worries and fears often lead to complete resignation, which causes people to give up all regular routines, self-discipline, and otherwise manageable self-restraint related to health and fitness. This, in turn, can result in guilty consciences, sick stomachs, sleepless nights, sluggish bodies, and bad attitudes.

The Good News: There is a Better Way! If all this sounds familiar, your first step is to change your mindset. Practicing sound nutrition,

health, and fitness habits are vital to life-long wellness. Healthy eating, effective physical activity, and regular rest are practices that should become part of who you are and essential to your daily life, just like brushing your teeth or taking a shower. This shift in mindset sets the stage for greater self-empowerment and self-confidence, as well as a transition in locus of control from external to internal. The key is to recognize that you have the power to transform your life and live it to the fullest during times of joy, trouble, hardship, success, holidays and festivities by applying key foundational behavioral principles. When you do that, you won’t get bogged down with seemingly endless challenging choices in every situation.

If you make the following key foundational behaviors a priority, circumstantial, seasonal, and unexpected events won’t have the power to derail you. Each “Festively Fit Tip” showcases an example of how you can apply these behaviors in real situations and stay fit over the holidays. 1) Drink water. Choose to drink water over anything else. Cold or hot herbal teas are a good option, too. Drink two cups of water when you first wake up in the morning and when you feel hungry outside of your regular mealtime/regular snacks. Festively Fit Tip: When you arrive at a holiday party, drink two cups of water or herbal tea before you start eating. 2) Move more, sit less. If you have the option of standing versus sitting, stand. If you have the option of walking versus driving, walk. If you have the option of moving about versus standing, move about. Daily physical activity and structured exercise, including cardio, strength, and flexibility exercises, are a part of a healthy daily routine. Festively Fit Tip: When you attend a holiday party or an event, find a way to avoid sitting for the majority of the time (move about the room, start a dance party, etc.).

Festively Fit Tip: Focus on nutritious foods during the holidays rather than on what you shouldn’t eat. Each time you eat at home or at a holiday party, add things to your plate that are good for you, such as vegetables, fruit, nuts, or other healthy proteins or grains. 4) Take control. Focus. Reflect. Ask yourself: Is this behavior good for me? Be mindful. Choose wisely. Follow-through. Festively Fit Tip: When you are at a party and about to fill your plate with all the goodies from the buffet, pause and ask yourself: Is it time to eat now? What have I already eaten today? What is available here that is considered healthy? 5) Half is enough. Eat only half of the less-nutritious foods on your plate. If you take a cookie, for example, eat half of it and pack the other half for another day. Festively Fit Tip: At a holiday party or event, serve yourself only half of what is on the serving platter. For example, if you want a brownie, cut it in two on the serving platter and only serve yourself half (and don’t go back for seconds).

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3) Something positive is better than nothing. Get away from an all-or-nothing mindset. If you don’t have time for a full workout, do 10 minutes of exercise and you’ll reap some positive benefits. If you forgot to add any fruits or vegetables to your meals during the day, add an apple at night. Apply this principle where it makes sense.

www.lacomidadejeremie.com

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CHICOFIT

HEALTH+FITNESS

ARE YOU READY TO SWEAT? I’m here to give you just a couple exercises that you can do in the space of your home to get you toned and sweating. Today we will be Crushing Abs! Giving you options that are both easy and difficult. So pick your level and SLAY!

Each exercise should be performed for 45 seconds with 25 seconds rest between each. All five exercises are equivalent to 1 cycle and should be completed for a total of at least 4 cycles.

Here are five ab exercises that you can do at home to keep that core in tip-top shape.

EXERCISE ONE:

EXERCISE TWO:

Easy: Straight Arm Banana Hold Difficult: Single Leg Banana Pulse *Alternate each side (Difficult Level)*

Shane is originally from Bridgetown, Barbados but has lived in St. Vincent and the Grenadines for 18 years where he received his primary and secondary education. He believes greatly in the words of St. Augustine, “Faith is to believe what you cannot see, the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.” By this, he exudes onto others their ability to reach their health and fitness goals by looking deep and believing in themselves. Shane has been in the fitness industry for the past 5 years after completing his qualification with the International Sports Sciences Association. Since his Personal Training Qualification, Shane moved to South Africa and has worked with many clients around the world providing exercise and

nutritional plans and helping them reach their goals through HIIT Training, resistance training, as well as sports specific training. He realized the need to push people past their comfort zones and has applied this to each person through positive encouragement and constant reminders of the euphoric and life-changing benefits looking after your body has. He has seen nothing short of outstanding results by doing this including working with TV Personalities and high-class clientele on Resort Islands in the Caribbean. Shane has been immensely devoted to his work and enjoys helping live happier, healthier, and longer lives. He applies his beliefs to himself and is always keen and excited to put his professional skills and knowledge to good use.

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Easy: High Plank Hold Difficult: High Plank Sholder Tap *Alternate each side (Difficult Level)*

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EXERCISE THREE:

EXERCISE FOUR:

Easy: Low Plank Oblique Difficult: Low Plank Straight Leg Oblique *Alternate each side(Both Levels)*

Easy: Heal Taps Difficult: Elevated Shin Tap *Alternate each side(Both Levels)*

EXERCISE FIVE:

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Easy: Alt In & Out Difficult: Single Arm In & Out

DON’T FORGET!

Each exercise should be performed for 45 seconds with 25 seconds rest between each. All five exercises are equivalent to 1 cycle and should be completed for a total of at least 4 cycles.

FOLLOW CHICOFIT @Chico Rudy Huggins @ChicoFitHuggins

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BEAUTY+FASHION

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We saw your designs on New York Fashion

Being granted the opportunity to present in New York fashion week is an experience like no other. Introducing my designs alongside millions of other big-name designers dedicated to the same career was mind-blowing. Seeing your name on the big screen as your garments come down the runway is probably one of the most amazing feelings! It’s almost like riding a roller coaster and chugging all the way to the top with so many butterflies in your stomach and nervousness all at the same time; Once you hit the peak, it’s full speed downhill with so much excitement and joy its

amazing! Last year was my second time presenting in New York fashion week, so every year, I feel like I’m getting closer and closer to my dreams! Where do you seek inspiration for each of your pieces? I seek most of my inspiration from life and things I may be going through at that moment; It can be situations that make me happy or sad, I extract inspiration from many things. My family plays a big role in my inspiration as well; they always push me to do and be my best in whatever I do. Everything I do is for my family. I want to make them proud and show all my little brothers, sisters, cousins, nieces, and nephews that if you put your mind and heart to anything you want in life, you can do it. If you could design a gown for any celebrity in the world, rather dead or alive, who would it be and why? My celebrity would be Michelle Obama. She is

Malcolm Anthony Williams is the Founder and Fashion Designer of Willie Gee’s. Hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Williams founded the company in September 2006. As a company, he plans to take each collection to the next global level and beyond. Willie Gee’s Designer Collection is an exquisite collection designed to fit many styles from everyday fashion to gowns and suits for Red Carpet events. Using the past to recreate the future in fashion has allowed Willie Gee’s to become the fashion house it is today. When designing my garments, I like to imagine this fantasy world; a world where everyone is beautifully dressed, and with absolute style and taste. In this world, my friends and I are living busy, yet amazing lives. We’re attending business meetings and dinners to continue our prosperity. We’re flying on jets around the world to be welcomed to red carpet premieres and galas. But most of all in this world, we are living our lives looking and being fabulous.

a strong and incredibly talented young woman that I know would do my gown justice, plus who wouldn’t want to design a beautiful gown for the first lady? The first lady of color at that. How long have you been designing, and what is your ultimate dream as a fashion designer? I’ve been desiging for over 15 years since 2006. My ultimate

FOLLOW MALCOLM @Fashionablemalc @Willie_gees @Malcolm Anthony Legacy-Mizrahi

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Willie Gees is a name driven by my grandfather and grandmother that raised me. My grandfather‘s name was Willie H. Williams, and my grandmother‘s name was Georgette Williams; everybody called her Mama Gee Gee, and that’s how I came up with Willie Gees. My mother was a big inspiration to me in getting into designing clothes. As a young child, watching her make and create her own clothes for work inspired me to do the same.

Week runway, tell us about that experience.

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Where did the name Willie Gees come from, and who inspired you to get into fashion?

dream is to have my clothes inside the stores and be known as one of the top fashion designers like Chanel, Dolce and Gabbana, Versace, Balmain, and many more! What has been your most proud moment as a designer thus far? My proudest moment as a designer is when I won designer of the year for Pittsburgh Fashion Week. Walking across that stage in front of my city was the most rewarding accomplishment. What advice will you give an aspiring designer who’s looking to get into the fashion industry? 15

Never give up, always follow your heart, listen to your gut, and wear your crown knowing that you cannot be stopped by anything or anybody. Before we let you go, any last words for our readers or your supporters? God has blessed us to be on this earth for a purpose. Figure out what your purpose is and shine like the star you are. Special thanks and shout out to two special people, my aunt Unika Lynn Williams and my late fiancé Tyler D. Lane aka my king; if it wasn’t for these two I wouldn’t be the man I am today, I love them both rest in heaven you two! Also, thanks to the Willie Gees Committee and staff.

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BEAUTY+FASHION

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FOLLOW C&N Coleman & Neal is an upscale clothing line. It embodies the style of the working professional, the entrepreneur, the self-employed, and the uniquely fashionable. With collections that encompass every mood, you are destined to find something that fits your personal style.

@Coleman&Neal @ColemanNeal www.ColemanNeal.com

BEAUTY+FASHION

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FOLLOW WEAR BRIMS We will help you look and feel your best.... literally. Our company was founded on basic principles that are at the core of every decision and every design. Faith, Family, Confidence. Embedded with life lessons passed down through generations, We at WEAR BRIMS understand the importance of being your best self internally, and how that translates into how you express yourself fashionably. Gone are the days of self-doubt, wondering if you have what it takes, not only in what you wear, and how you wear it, but in any capacity. Be the most confident in the room. WEAR BRIMS. Wear Confidence.

@WEARBRIMS @WEARBRIMS @WEARBRIMS www.wearbrims.com

SUPPORTER HIGHLIGHT

We’re incredible individually, but together, we’re unstoppable. Please continue to send and tag us in your I AM ART Merchandise, brightens our day. Either email your pictures to: iamartcampaign@gmail.com or tag us on social media: @iamartcampaign #iamartcampaign

If you want to get you some I AM ART merch you can go to: www.iamartcampaign.com/store

BE INSPIRED.

JOIN THE MOVEMENT.

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Our supporters (#TeamIamART) is the heart of the entire I AM ART Campaign operation; This is a team made up of diverse creative and non-creative youth, aspiring artists, allies, industry creatives, and entrepreneurs. Working together, believing in the mission of the campaign to help empower the next generation of artists.

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DESIGN+CREATIVITY

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by Lauren Bridgedale

THE TOP 10 IKEA ITEMS THAT LOOK HIGH-END FOR A LOW PRICE TO DECORATE A HOME THAT IS TIMELESS AND WITH A MODERN FARMHOUSE STYLE. This post has been one I’ve written in my head before. Because so often when I look around our house I think, “Gosh. I really do have an IKEA love affair going on.” I’m not sure if it’s my Swedish roots or the fact that I just really love a great deal, but when I walk into our nearby IKEA, I lose. my. mind! I will say though you have to do it right. Because there’s a fine line between stylish home decor and hi-I-live-in-a-college-dormroom. So I thought it’d be fun to round up some of my favorite IKEA items that look high end for a low price, if you’ve ever felt lost there.

1. Vadholma Plate Shelf / Rack This plate rack I got at IKEA has actually been discontinued (called Galemby), but they have one very similar to it now. It’s $70, and I swear I couldn’t even build it for less than that. I painted ours in Fusion Mineral Paint Coal Black.

3. Faux Plants

I swear it’s hard to find good-looking faux plants, especially inexpensive ones. Most of the ones I’ve seen at IKEA actually look really convincing. They have great real plants too, but they don’t stand a chance against my black thumb. I even got a pair of artificial boxwood trees for our front porch too. No one EVER guesses they’re totally fake, even up close. (They were only seasonal and have been discontinued, but they always have new artificial plants every 6 months or so.)

4. Barometer Lamps

These armed lamps we had on our nightstands in our old master bedroom were only $40 that look exactly like $100 versions I’ve seen in more highend stores.

5. Vases and Pitchers

If you’re a fan of farmhouse, their white pitchers are my favorite for flowers or for using in the kitchen.

6. Stocksund Chairs

We have two of these slipcovered chairs from

7. Throw Blankets

I use their throw blankets all the time, especially the ones that have lots of texture. This one is called Ofelia.

8. Jars and Baskets

Their Korken jars are my favorites for keeping dry goods in our pantry air tight. And they’re glass, so we don’t have to worry about any plastic chemicals. I use their Byholma baskets quite a bit too, mainly because I love the gray wash on them.

9. Henriksdal Dining Chairs

We carried the slipcover love into our dining room because we love the look of upholstered dining chairs that can stand up to a messy kid. It’s been 5 months since we bought these Henriksdal chairs, and so far, we couldn’t be happier! The covers can be tossed in the wash, and to get the wrinkles out, I put them on damp and steam out any wrinkles in the skirt. They’re pretty comfy too.

10. Christmas Decorations

I went nuts this past year at Christmas because all of their artificial holiday greenery was so cheap! And I knew we’d use it over and over again. I picked up these white poinsettias for our planter wall.

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They have SO many great, basic frames for really cheap, and a lot of them come already matted, which is a bonus. I’m a sucker for matted black and white prints in frames because they are so timeless. I put free public domain images of vintage clotheslines in them for our laundry room.

the Stocksund line too that we’ve been really happy with. They’re really wide, almost like a chair and a half, and very easy to curl up in.

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2. Picture Frames

DESIGN+CREATIVITY

Nicholas Oates:

ASPIRE to

design

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I’ve seen your diverse portfolio and notice you had an extensive amount of product design; what is it about product design that interests you? I guess it would be that you’re creating something that didn’t previ-

ously exist. First, there’s an idea. Then over time, it turns into this amazing thing that exists, and you are its creator. I admire the abstraction of your pottery designs and your attention to detail. Tell us how you got into it. I took a beginner pottery class at ATU (Arkansas Tech Universi-

ty) and I was instantly hooked! I saw what the seniors were creating with their unique designs and techniques. They were telling their individual stories through their creations and I wanted to do that! After experimenting with clay I fell in love with decorating my pieces eccentrically with curls and spirals. I really enjoyed the individuality that each piece took on. No two pieces were ever exactly alike. That’s what I loved about it! I would even surprise myself with the end result of each piece.

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Thank you, it’s been an interesting journey. Outside of decorating, I am a freelance graphic designer. I create various logos, invitations, promos, and basically whatever a client needs.

I keep seeing little snippets or doodles of you sketching maps. I’ve always been curious and wanted to know your fascination with maps and the inspiration behind them? It is my wanderlust soul and love of fantasy sci-fi. Maps of both realistic and imaginative places always interest me. It brought those places and stories to life for me. I have always loved traveling, seeing different places, and experiencing other unique ways of life. And I believe that is what started the cartography of the imaginative universe in my

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First of all, Nick, I’m so proud of you for stepping out on faith and following your dreams of being an Event Decorator. We as artists know how hard and scary that could be. Outside of decorating, what other ways have you used your creative talent?

Speaking of details, I’ve been following you and your work since you were in undergrad a few years back, and

Nicholas’ love for art started early with a childhood of bookcases full of sketchbooks instead of action figures and sneaking paper to draw during church service. Over the years, it branched off in several different artistic interests: from pottery to cartography drawing. In 2012, Nicholas studied creative writing at Arkansas Tech University, then switched to graphic design & Fine Arts, and never looked back. Nicholas moved to northwest Arkansas to pursue a career in graphic design and currently works as a Production Artist in Bentonville, Ar.

FOLLOW NICHOLAS @noates930 @Nicholas Oates

head and bringing it to life for others to see. I never thought of it like that! I love it! So now you’re exploring decor, what inspired that curiosity, and where do you plan on taking it? LOL! As your readers will probably see is that I have multiple interests. Just like with my pottery and cartography, decorating allows me to tell a story. Bringing various details together to tell the story, theme, or meaning of an event really excites me. One day after more research, I want to start my own business to become a freelance event decorator/ planner.

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When I tell you the annual Christmas parties, you and your partner have be OFF THE CHAIN! Your decorations are so beautiful, and the food gets even better each year! I’ve been to everyone for the past three years or so. I hate this year’s party is canceled due to COVID-19 safety restrictions. Have you had the chance to decorate any other event outside of the annual Christmas parties, and what do you enjoy the most about it? Thank you! We enjoy doing it. It is our gift to all of our friends. Other than our annual Christmas party,

I collaborated with a close friend of mine, Kristen Vick to plan her annual Halloween party. It became a tradition of ours to help each other to decorate for each of the events. Well, what I enjoy most is the planning, finally the execution of the plan and watching it come to life. Most importantly to me is seeing the face of our guests light up upon entering. What will be your dream event to decorate and why? I would love to design any kind of event. If I had to pick, I would say a formal grand ball of some kind. Yeah, I’m thinking big lol! If you could collaborate with any other designer, who will it be and why? I would have to say my two inspirations, Bartus Taylor and Jose Rolon. Their attention to detail and the ultimate level of grandness they both take their events just blows my mind. I would love to collaborate and learn so much from them! In the next 3-5 years, where do you plan on being within your career? Hopefully, I would like to have my own business as a freelance event decorator taking off. What advice will you give to someone who aspires to design or make that leap of faith into a desired career?

I would say know your audience and do your research. I hate to let you go, but that’s the end of the interview. Thank you so much Nick for taking the time to chat with me. Please keep going and reaching for the stars! In due time, everything you want and desire will come to fruition. Keep working on your craft and bettering your skills, you’ll be there in no time. Before I let you go, do you have any last words for our readers or your supporters? I would say, surround yourself with like-minded people who are deeply passionate about something as you are. Being an artist means you’re part of something big. Artists understand each other because we process the world around us in similarly different ways.

COVER FEATURE

So many of us live in homes where we have a family room and a formal living room. Typically the formal living room is a space in the home that’s either under-used, decorated last if at all, and if it is decorated it’s usually higher end furniture that no one is allowed to touch for fear of it getting messed up. To be quite frank, I’m not even sure who came up with this idea to have 2 sometimes 3 living spaces (Family room, living room, basement, may be a sunroom), but what I am sure of is that our house in its entirety should work for us and be utilized. My next home decor project with The Home Depot is transforming my dear friend Michelle McKinney’s

formal living room space into a conversational room using accent furniture. Michelle’s lifestyle involves family round tables with her children, and also the gathering of women on various topics from entrepreneurship, to purpose, to dating, to marriage, to life events; she loves encouraging women to live out their dreams. So I knew I had to create a safe space that fostered conversation and collaboration. I immediately thought about the four chair layout placed around a round coffee table. She also has a TON of books, so we needed stylish storage. After understanding her lifestyle, here’s the mockup I came up with:

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by Rashida Banks

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A CONVERSATIONAL LIVING ROOM

When thinking about the empty spaces in your home consider your lifestyle. Think outside the box. Just because someone labeled the room “formal living room” doesn’t mean you have to use it that way. Make your home work for you. Here’s a before of the blank space:

So of course I headed to homedepot.com/decor and started searching for the bookcases first. I knew I wanted something that was tall, hefty since her space is large, and had glass doors. And I came across the perfect Ivory Wood Bookcase from the Home Decorators Collection. It was absolutely perfect, so I ordered 2 since the room is big. Remember to fill your room up with larger pieces to avoid your space looking too cluttered.

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Then I started searching for the coffee table. I filtered my search to see all coffee tables from the Home Decorators Collection because I really love how well built their products are. Many people will use that table for playing games, placing their beverage, or writing and it needed to be furniture that lasts. I spotted this beautiful washed oak coffee table with brass nailheads that had a tabletop

and more room for storage underneath.

Right under the light, I decided to get some wooden frames, and DIY my own artwork. Did you know The Home Depot carries wall frames…oh and realistic faux plants? To make the plants look more decorative, I added these beautiful bamboo baskets set to place the plants in.

The Home Decorators Collection strikes again, with this natural linen arm chair that was hefty enough for the space and big enough to sit and put your feet up. And the ball front legs make it easy to swing in and out of the space.

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For the longest time, I’ve been wanting to try out the “no electrical” library light fixture. Since Michelle doesn’t have any overhead light, or any sconces previously installed, I knew we had to get creative. So even though this metal brass wall sconce is supposed to be attached to an electrical box, we just attached the bracket to the wall, and added battery operated puck lights (with the remote).

Accessories are so necessary in pulling a space together. A room still feels empty without decorative accents. I really loved these gray vases and this larger brownish gold vase that I found on Home Depot’s website. You can add wheatgrass to your vases or leave it empty... And let’s not forget these cute wooden dice.

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I also DIYed lots of accents: like the copper pipe blanket ladder, the glass and plastic bowls, I painted to look like concrete, decorative chain links and faux roman shades using 3 tension rods per window and tablecloth for fabric.

Now I know I said that accessories pull a room together, but an area rug does the same by grounding the space. I went with a seagrass rug that smelled so good when taking out of the wrapper. The natural texture is exactly what the space needed to warm up the room.

I really hope this post inspires you to think outside the box for your formal living room or empty space. Explore ideas that will best serve you and your lifestyle.

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“ You Create Your Reality”

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We can’t forget textiles! The Home Depot has a wide selection of pillows and blankets to choose from. Throw pillows and blankets give the space a cozy feel but also are functional because they provide comfort.

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LIFESTYLE ENTREPRENEURSHIP:

by Lilah Higgins

DECIDE WHAT YOU’RE MAKING 31 IAMARTCAMPAIGN.COM/MAG

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Before you have a brand, you have to decide what you’re going to offer. This can be anything you want it to, but you MUST be incredibly clear on what it is. Think about the benefits as well as the results. What will people feel when they have your product, how will people identify themselves, and what will people think of themselves once they buy. For example, you make ceramic mugs. But really help people build and invest in their homes with handcrafted drink vessels. They feel cozy and at home when they use them, they identify as a home-body and they think well of themselves for buying handmade.

REMEMBER WHY YOU’RE MAKING

Remembering your Why is crucial to playing the long game in business. This is two-fold. There is the Why for Others and the Why for You. The Why For Others is all about the good you’re bringing them. You’re making change and affecting the world in some way, so you have to know what that is if you want to be intentional about it. The Why for You is to keep you going in the hard

days, when it feels like there’s no good going on and you can’t get your head above water. Maybe it gives you purpose or helps you through mental illness. Maybe it’s to feed your babies or care for your home. Remember your why and don’t forget it when it gets tough.

TEST YOUR PRODUCTS

Once you know your Why’s and your What’s you have to figure out your How’s. This is the platforms you use, the methods you present your work in, and the way you plan to showcase and sell your work. This requires a lot of testing, tweaking, and marketing. This is not just your products, but who you’re marketing to, how you’re getting it out into the world, and your visual branding. As my coach Dana Malstaff says, “Success is in the tweak, not the pivot.”

FIND YOUR UNIQUE VALUE PROPOSITION

After you’ve got your Why’s, your What, your How - you need your Who. This is also a process of tweaking, but it’s incredibly helpful when building your visual brand. Once you know the person who will buy your products, you know how to visually

and verbally present it to them in the most attractive way - and you have to know why you’re unique. The longer you’re in business, the more you can narrow down your market to really target the specific people who are more likely to purchase.

DEVELOP YOUR SKILLS

Makers are generally great at continuing to build their skills, but sometimes in the thick of business, we can forget. Be sure to continue to build your skillset so you can improve your craft and keep up on current growth patterns and trends in the business and online world.

BUILD A VISUAL BRAND GUIDE

The next step is to pair each of these outlines with visuals that convert. It’s not just about being pretty and professional, it’s about being intentional and purposeful behind those visuals.

BUILD AN ONLINE SPACE

Once you have your branding nailed down you have to present in some way to the world. This is done in online spaces through a website & social media and offline through print media and showcases. This space shouldn’t be an echo-ing chamber, but a place where your Who feels comfortable sharing their thoughts, desires, and questions.

“Success is in the tweak, not the pivot.” -Dana Malstaff

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LASTLY, KEEP YOUR MESSAGE SIMPLE

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If you make a space for your Who without a purpose in mind, they’ll get bored and wander off. Build a strong, clear message revolving around what you’re about and you’ll begin to build a tribe that converts and is consistently in love with the work you’re putting out into the world.

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LIFESTYLE

ARTIST TO WATCH:

BROOKLYN, NY

SINGER/SONG WRITER

NEW MUSIC

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ALL EYES ON YOU

BIPOLAR (B.P.D.)

LIFTED

ROMAN CAESAR

ROMAN CAESAR FT. MIC GENIUZ

ROMAN CAESAR

Brooklyn native, Roman Caesar, is nothing short of a hustler. From videography to cutting hair, he truly wears many hats, but his main hat will always be music. Singing from the age of 4 and writing since 12, Roman continues to grow musically, always embracing his roots in R&B Soul and love for theatre. Roman’s music is written from life experiences. Ready to focus on the future of his production company, Roman’s next project Trauma Queen will be his final act, but THIS story you will want to hear. Stay tuned...

FOLLOW ROMAN @Rxman.c @Roman Caesar

LIFESTYLE ARTIST TO WATCH:

MEMPHIS, TN

PUBLISHED AUTHOR

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As a child growing up in Memphis, Jay DeMoir discovered that his life could be a whirlwind of adventures by simply opening a book and reading. To this day, reading is still the 28-year-old’s favorite thing in the world. He still has a fondness for fantasy, sci-fi, and fiction, which is probably why he writes for those genres. Escapism is so important for a young, creative mind. His love of writing began in middle school during a creative writing class and he’s been writing ever since. As of November 2020, Jay is the author of eight novels: The Wives series— #1 The Wives, #2 Journey to Freedom, #3 Out of the Ashes, & #4 The Untouchable Rose—and the Across the Stars series—#1 Across the Stars, #2 Unfolding Mysteries, #3 Emotions of I, & #4 The Reaction—with more on the way in the coming months.

FOLLOW JAY @Jay_DeMoir @JayDeMoir @Jay DeMoir

MUSIC

Painted Lucky Daye

Ready Ruel

Back to Music Rachel Kerr

Long Time Coming Ra DeShawn

Dur& Durand Bernarr

The Mindvalley Podcast with Vishen Lakhiani

Becoming A Living Testimony Podcast with ARTavius Veasey

The School of Greatness Lewis Howes

Straight Up Trent Shelton

PODCASTS

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Dead Ass with K&D

It’s a beautiful day in the

Neighborhood

LIFESTYLE

BOOKS What doesART mean to you?

The 5 Second Rule Mel Robbins

The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck Mark Manson

Street Art Alessandra Mattanza

“ART is a way to express actions through personal or other experieces. It’s like having multiple alter egos and to be able to display them is awsome.” Steve Brown MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE

MOVIES & PLAYS

“ART is being original and your true authentic self.”

Hurting Pleasures

Silver Bell Killer

Howard PHeelgooD MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE

“ART or music is what gets me through most emotions, and I couldn’t live without it... be a dull life.” Jay Childs MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE

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“ART is a feeling and movement that’s so powerful it allows creative freedom.”

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Kiki Carey NORFOLK, VIRGINIA

LIFESTYLE

ADVICE:

by Karina Nistal

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I’ve always felt like such a late bloomer. Ever since I was a kid, I would observe my peers and my friends. I would see them excel at certain things I felt I was not able to easily get. I would see them getting those math problems, earning those awards, and nailing those grades. I would even see girls blooming into maturity, dating the cool guy, or just enjoying popularity. I realized I was definitely different and I learned at an early age to appreciate my individuality. Since “comparison is the thief of joy.” I allowed myself to observe without envy. Also, my mother always made it clear that God gave me my own gifts and I would learn to appreciate them and utilize them as I got older and I believed her. This truth allowed me to start looking for my strengths early on so I could cultivate them. I realized I wasn’t so much a late bloomer. I was learning to appreciate the journey. I was learning to stay in my own lane and experience life as it came to me. I was a student of life. I learned that many lessons would keep presenting themselves until I was able to overcome them. I considered myself a humble student, but I also realized I had apply myself. I had to be assertive about taking on my challenges and convincing myself I could actually succeed. There has to be a belief and willingness to achieve the things we want. We can’t just desire them from the sidelines without taking any action. Also, we have to believe in the right timing for things to manifest. We can work towards something our entire lives and suddenly it can happen for you overnight. We could be looking

for our ideal mate for many years and suddenly meet someone that we finally feel we connect with. We could be applying and searching for the perfect job for a long time when we finally find a position that’s suitable for us or even better we create the opportunity we’ve been searching for. Sometimes we have to let go of the obsession and allow things to happen while still staying focused on what we want. The point is to never lose hope. You’ll see your peers moving through life, getting their breaks and you’ll think, “it’s so easy for them” but you never know what their struggle was. You never know how difficult their journey was or what their challenges were. Those same people could be looking at your breaks wondering how you were able to achieve it. The grass is not greener on the other side. We just need to learn to water our own grass. We could have our own beautiful garden with our own unique landscape and it could feel so rewarding. Growth is a funny thing and it’s inevitable. You could find yourself achieving more than most while you could find yourself revisiting some things you’ve seen your peers excel with. Keep learning, keep pushing, keep trying, keep doing, and keep growing. Change the inner dialogue to “I will get it” and you will whether it’s on your time or not. Our best accomplishments require patience. Everything is by design. You have your own journey while others have theirs. No one is superior. We are all students and we can all take the time to learn from each other. Strategy is important. Develop a plan of action towards your goals but in the meantime enjoy the journey. Trust the process.

LIFESTYLE MENTAL HEALTH:

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“Nothing can bring you peace but yourself.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

SEASONAL

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DIY CHALKBOARD WALL ADVENT CALENDAR by Ellen Foord

Kick the countdown to Christmas up a notch with this wall-sized Advent calendar. Grownups and kids alike will anxiously await each day to find out what treat the next envelope holds.

I’ll be the first to admit that we’re not the most religious family. But we do want our daughter to understand the story of Christmas, so that it’s not just a carnival of presents with Santa Claus headlining the act. Because our daughter is still a few months shy of turning three, explaining things in small bites with lots of repetition is key to helping her learn what Christmas really means. With an Advent calendar, we get to give her a small lesson every day leading up to Christmas, with the carrot of a small trinket that will delight her.

I glued on the red numbers and then stuffed the envelopes with the toys before I tacked them up on the wall in a Christmas tree shape. A few chalk outlines and a little hand-lettered holiday cheer, and done-zo! Easy peasy DIY Advent Wall Calendar.

Plus, it’s just fun. We have a chalkboard wall that’s been hanging out empty lately, and I knew it would be the perfect backdrop for a modern Advent wall calendar.

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I grabbed a package of glassine envelopes from my local craft store and grabbed some red paper I had on hand. Then, I chose a festive font I liked for my numbers and printed them out in outline, so I could cut them out. Next, I made a run to my local toy store for a few small and inexpensive little toys.

I can’t wait to get started on the calendar with Elsa. As a kid, we always had the Advent calendar with the chocolates behind the little doors — you guys TOTALLY know what I’m talking about, don’t you? Those things were the BEST. Why don’t they make those suckers in a twelve month calendar? Seriously. Somebody get on that.

SEASONAL

CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

by Daksha Morjaria

IAMARTCAMPAIGN.COM/MAG

For many of us, Christmas is all about decorating cookies, seeking out the perfect tree, enjoying time with family and friends, and, of course, exchanging gifts. As it turns out, not everyone celebrates the holiday in the same way. Here are some fun Christmas traditions from around the world.

The Philippines

Every year on the Saturday before Christmas,

the Philippines city of San Fernando hosts the Giant Lantern Festival. Residents from over eleven surrounding villages participate in this fun competition that entails creating elaborate lanterns. Though initially crafted from simple materials such as bamboo, the lanterns have become increasingly larger and more intricate over the years. Many now even incorporate impressive electrical displays. The 110-yearold festival is so popular with both locals and visitors that San Fernando has earned the title, “Christmas Capital” of the country.

Sweden

Children in Italy don’t get a visit from Santa Claus. Instead, they look forward to the arrival of La Befana, or the Christmas Witch, on the night of January 5. Similar to the jolly fellow in red, La Befana enters houses via the chimney and fills stockings with presents and candy for “nice” children and coal for the “naughty” ones. According to the legend, when the Three Wise Men were seeking baby Jesus, they met an old woman and asked if she’d like to come along with them. She declined the offer because she wanted to finish cleaning her house. Now, every year, the old lady soars through the skies on her broomstick in the hopes of finding and showering baby Jesus with gifts. The friendly, soot-covered witch is also known to sweep every house she visits. To show their gratitude, families often leave out a glass of wine and a plate of traditional food the night before her visit.

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Japan

Italy

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Since 1996, the Swedish town of Gävle [say: yeah-vleh] has been celebrating the Christmas season by building a giant straw figure of a goat. While the animal may seem an odd choice, smaller straw goats are popular across the country. According to local folklore, the Yule goat not only helped deliver presents, but was often Santa’s ride of choice. Strangely enough, the massive figure, which stands 42 feet tall and takes 1000 man hours to build, has given rise to another Christmas tradition, one the officials had never envisioned – locals placing bets on if it will last till the New Year before someone tries to burn it down. In the past 52 years, the Gävle Yule goat has been destroyed 35 times, just days after it was constructed. However, despite the vandalism, the officials have never considered using anything other than straw to build the revered Christmas symbol.

Christmas isn’t a national holiday in Japan, but that doesn’t stop residents from celebrating the day with a special meal from an unexpected place: Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC)! The tradition can be traced back to the fast-food company’s wildly successful 1974 marketing campaign, “Kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii!” (“Kentucky for Christmas!”). Today, over 3.6 million Japanese residents flock to the fried chicken chain for a special Christmas dinner. Many even order the 3,336 yen ($40), special bucket, which includes cake and champagne, months in advance to avoid having to wait in lines that can often take over two hours. Joonas Rokka, associate professor of marketing at the Emlyon Business School in France, believes KFC became the destination of choice because it helped fill a much-needed void. The expert says, “There was no tradition of Christmas in Japan, and so KFC came in and said, this is what you should do on Christmas.” Of course, the fact that it is “finger-lickin’” good doesn’t hurt either.

@Its_SunnyintheShade

@ItsSunnyintheShade

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JOIN THE CONVERSATION

@cocktailsandconvoz

@Cocktails & Conversations

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HIV + ART

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Who has been your biggest influence(s) artistically? Inspirations as far as artistically, shit my list can go on for days. But my sister is a singer and songwriter. Herself and our friend of over 10 years, Demanda, had a duo that took our hometown by storm. They used to write songs and spend hours in the studio, I was right there every time. So, to see them create such good music right in my face has a lot to do with my creative process. I love Lauryn Hill! I want to leave an imprint on the world as Miseducation did. Tupac, Jay-Z, Biggie, Kanye, Nas are more artists I listen to that inspire me. I’m a huge Foxy Brown fan as well, her Broken Silence

album was in rotation when I wrote my first piece. I go to an open mic once a month in Tampa, Florida called Smoken Words. That is one of the best places for an upcoming artist. Novacane, the host, inspires me to be me no matter where you’re at or what crowd you’re in front of. I love her flow and her vibe as a being here in the universe. There I met two poets who also inspire me, Deytime & Lorrin. Another artist I look up to is Donatello/Jr Dunk. He is a native of Orlando, Florida who spits nothing but facts. His flow is crazy. We’re actually working together in the near future, which I am totally excited about. Like I mentioned before, as long as I can relate

Michael “Miss Mikey” Lamb is an award-winning poet, advocate, and published author using his diagnosis of HIV to propel the effort of eradicating the virus during his lifetime. As a Florida native, Miss Mikey has seen first hand how barriers accessing equitable care can cause one to fall through the cracks of the broken health care system. Miss Mikey uses his poetic talents to bring about awareness, education, and accountability to people living & thriving with HIV/AIDS or people who serve the community. Miss Mikey is a regular contributor to TheBody.com and can be seen on stage performing or on the streets protesting.

to you in some way, I can be inspired to pick up my pen. Each artist I named stood for something and let the world know this, it is what it is so take it or leave it, either way, I spoke my piece. What is your creative process or inspiration that goes behind creating new material? Each time I write a poem, the process is different. I could be in the car and a thought could pop in my head and I’ll pull my phone out and jot something down in my notes to come back to later. Sometimes I’ll just be bored and grab my pen and just write. For example, there’s

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FOLLOW MISS MIKEY @Michael Lamb

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Thank you. This is clearly a God-given talent that I honestly didn’t know I had. I’ve always been a writer and loved English class throughout school. But I never thought it would be poetry. My inspiration to write my first poem came on September 19th, 2014 when I got a phone call saying my dear friend from around the way died. He was always wishing me well and success when I would upload videos or controversial topics with a comical twist. His death hit home to me because we related on a level not many people knew; I felt as if, if I was open about my status, I could’ve saved his life just by having a con-

versation. That right there was my confirmation, save lives, educate people, and be the voice of someone who doesn’t have one. December 19th, 2014, I uploaded my first spoken-word piece on Facebook and received 6k views in one day. The response was overwhelmingly positive.

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We are truly inspired by your strength in sharing your story of HIV. Your community service and advocacy towards educating others about the disease is absolutely outstanding. Tell us your inspiration behind going public about your status and using it as a pedestal to promote positivity and educating others about the virus?

references, I’ll watch a documentary or interviews on certain topics that can make my piece factual. Again, each piece is planned differently. As any creative it’s tough getting your name out there; What advice would you give to an aspiring poet or spoken word artist who is trying to break into the industry?

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a piece I wrote in my book, Miss Mikey’s Cookbook, which will also be featured on my mixtape, Everything In Me, titled “I’m a Witness”; That piece is basically a domestic violence awareness piece. I wrote it as a friend who is witnessing their friend go through a domestic violence relationship. I listened to Eve’s “Love is Blind” one day randomly and remembered one of my good friends went through the same thing in that song. So, I just made my own version with my own experience. As long as I can relate to something, I can be inspired by it. If I want to write something to move you, I’ll listen to gospel or uplifting music. If I want to be cocky, I’ll listen to upbeat music to just vibe and feel myself. If I want to write a piece that is more conscious with

Network. Evolve. Write at least once a day, even if it’s a few lines or a whole piece, always keep your pen in your hand. Be ready to do a lot of free shows and open mic nights. Get your name out there. Copyright your shit! Make sure everything that comes out of your mouth can only be spit by you cause if someone else comes behind you trying to bite it, they can’t fuck with your delivery plus, if it’s copywritten, you can sue them! Don’t be afraid to ask other poets for help or constructive criticism. Listen to other poets, know there are so many styles of poetry, and find which one fits your lifestyle and make it your own. Stay humble. As you mention earlier, you have a book called “Miss Mikey’s Cookbook” Can you give us a brief summary of the book? Miss Mikey’s Cookbook, is not a real cookbook! Ha! You’d be surprised how many people asked me that when I released the cover. I

got the title idea from way back in the day I was very...messy. I was always cooking up mess. Messy Mikey was my name around town and I didn’t care cause that’s the life I was living at the moment. So, I just played off of that! This book is a compilation of my poems, basically ingredients to let people know the recipe for what makes me the artist I am. This book includes reality poems along with some fun and moving poems. So I hear you have a new mixtape coming in December called O.W.H.F (only weak hoes fold) what was the inspiration behind it and where can we listen to it? Ahhhhh! OWHF is a saying I’ve not coined per se but am kinda known for. In Florida, we say fold when someone goes against either their morals, close friends/ family, or just overall sells their soul for a little clout. You gotta be a weak hoe to do such a thing. The inspiration behind the EP is everything I’ve been through from friends turning their backs on me, health scares,

homelessness, late nights, early mornings, and overdrawn bank accounts all the while pushing my pen. Last year in October, I almost died due to what I now believe was the early stages of COVID—19. I spent 8 days in the hospital surrounded by healthcare professionals who didn’t know what was wrong with me. During those eight days, I yearned to write. I couldn’t even bathe myself the first three days so writing was out of the question. Once I was released and recovered, I picked up my pen & came up with the EP. It’s being released this December but you’ll have to wait to see what date because December is a special month. December 1st is World AIDS Day, the 19th is when I was diagnosed with HIV eight years ago, and the 25th is Christmas. I’ll let your mind wander. Thank you so much Miss Mikey for your time, before we let you go, do you have any last words for our readers or your supporters? Safe sex and paychecks!

HIV + ART

OUR VISION

The PAIGE provides volunteering opportunities for high school/college students, counseling, advocacy, and nonprofit professionals. With our volunteer opportunities, you have the chance to directly impact your community and be the celebrated change agent that you thought you could always be.

Being a change agent with The PAIGE involves recruiting new supporters, spreading a positive message about your work, and raising awareness for your causes in the community. With various interests and talents, you can educate and invite other community members to lend their abilities by plugging into creating a movement around Black LGBTQ liberation in society, education, incarceration, and health.

FOLLOW THE PAIGE The PAIGE (The Project of Advancement in Gays’ Efforts) is a Black LGBTQIA social justice organization that focuses on health and wellness, leadership development, and community building in the Greater Memphis area. Addressing the issues that affect our youth and community while providing resources in preparation for a better tomorrow.

@ThePaige901 @ThePaige901 @ThePaige901 www.ThePaige.org

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Helping through donating and/or funding the various programs of the PAIGE will assist in developing a standard of wellness, education, and empowerment for Black LGBTQ youth/young adults. According to the 2019 Memphis Poverty Fact sheet, Blacks are the most impoverished of other races. To add, this same population represents the majority of the lack of healthcare access including sexual health services.

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how can you help?

To instill the liberty of acceptance and freedom to those who may struggle with mental health while also fighting on the front line with leaders in support of HIV decriminalization and education of better sexual health.

HIV + ART

IAMARTCAMPAIGN.COM/MAG

Life hasn’t always been so rewarding for you; As you mentioned, you were homeless in the midst of the accolades. Take us back with a brief synopsis of your story that made you the man you are today? I’m from Goulds, Florida. Born in Salinas, California. I survived sexual, verbal, and emotional abuse since I was six years old, back when there was no social media or internet. I suffered in silence. My love for my grandfather’s bookshelf saved my life. I started writing at age eight. My teacher introduced me to Sarah Teasdale, Langston Hughes, and Robert Frost. I remember telling my grandfather, retired Master Sergeant McCray (Airforce) that if I wrote a book would he read it? He threw my Cat in the Hat book across the room and sat me on his lap, and gave me a National Geographic magazine. I read every last one up

until the age of 17. I was in College Prep English since the 8th grade and was the only black kid in that class. The racism I experienced on top of being a bisexual man, resulted in being blacklisted from my family. I did porn for five days just for the money to put out my own books independently. I had to figure it out on my own when I was homeless with just a dream and people laughing at me saying that I’d NEVER get published. They’re not laughing anymore, they’re fans now. I write blood raw stories with a message to help others; I stimYOUlate first, then I edYOUcate, that’s my motto. Throughout the trials and heartache of your past, how did you manage to overcome and remain driven to keep going? Prayer. Prayer. Prayer. And knowing Yahweh, in Yeshua’s name, will pull me through. I pray when it’s good. I pray when it’s bad. I trust in Him when everything around me is ugly and trust me I have been through hell and back protecting my writing voice. When I tried to do it without

Him, when all kind of organizations tried to trap me in slavish contracts to own my material, I fell flat on my face when I refused to sign or sell my mountainous catalog for one time only payments, crumbs, and peanuts. But when I put it in His hands and published my own work stepping out on faith, I wound up having The King of Erotica book 1, 2, and 3 on the Barnesandnoble.com Top 100 bestseller list at the same time in 2009, making me one of a few gay authors to achieve that feat. Who is your biggest influence(s) and why?

Dapharoah69 was born in Salinas, California June 26, 1977. He is a multiaward-winning, bestselling novelist of 20+ books, poet, professional model, HIV advocate, dancer, professional chef, and community leader. He may be best known for his novels and online stories written under his pen name, Dapharoah69: The King of Erotica.

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Dapharoah69 stems from the MySpace days. I was a blogger with 500 #1 blogs in the writing and poetry category. I even ranked #7 on the overall chart over Puff Daddy, The Suicide Girls, and New York Times Bestselling Author Zane, and I was homeless at the time. Since my work was read by over three million people worldwide, erotic fiction was the only big thing at the time, so I wrote The King of Erotica 1: The Throne as a homeless man in 5 days. Dapharoah69 is symbolism. “Da” is slang for “The” “Pharoah” I purposely misspelled to remind me of the racism I experienced with my 1st-grade teacher. And “69” is my Zodiac sign, Cancer, Ying Yang. I kept “The King of Erotica” because my entire 8-book The King of Erotica series garnered over 900 (5) Star Reviews, sold over 300,000 copies combined, featured in over 2,000 worldwide book clubs, featured in the late E. Lynn Harris’s

very last literary cafe in May of 2009 before his death two months later, and featured on over 150+ Blog Talk Radio programs.

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What was the inspiration behind the title King of Erotica, and where did Dapharoah69 stem from?

Three people. Jan-

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et Jackson, her Rhythm Nation album changed my life at age 13, to take my writing seriously and to address socially conscious issues in my work. Secondly, Damian Campbell, author of Soul of a Fatherless Child. My favorite author, the Architect of Words. We both started on Myspace. And his writing reshaped everything in me to strive for excellence. And lastly, E. Lynn Harris. He opened doors for me to walk through and open for those after me. He was my dear friend and personal mentor. He was a big fan of my work. I believe it was last year or so where you had the opportunity to perform at the orange bowl with a major recording artist; tell us more about that and how it came about. I had the pleasure of dancing for multiplatinum artist Gavin Degraw. My little brother Kelvin, stationed in Korea (Airforce), hit me up with the op-

portunity to audition to dance in the 2019 Orange Bowl Prime Time Half Time Show, and I made the final cut. I was the oldest on the squad and to see myself on ESPN was worth all the rehearsing. You’re very open about your status and being a poise example for those who are HIV+. For anyone out there who may be an aspiring creative struggling with accepting their status; What advice would you give them? My advice would be to keep your faith in God, keep a great support system, and love yourself no matter what. Granted, when I found out about my status I was devastated. I was in a committed relationship with the man I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with, but he had another relationship behind my back and played us both for two years. He actually contracted the disease from infidelity and quietly gave it to me out of fear of losing me. Once we broke up I went nearly two years trying to get over him, but I hadn’t known he was HIV+ yet nor did I

know that I was. I remember seeing HIV signs everywhere. Every time I turned on the TV an HIV ad would be coming on or going off. Every time I randomly opened a magazine there were always HIV med advertisements staring me in the face. So I followed my gut and got tested through Diamond Taylor who worked for SoBap at the time, a non-profit organization. One of my good friends. When the swab test came back positive, I withdrew within myself and knew immediately where I contracted it from. Diamond was my support system. I’d given up on writing and all my dreams. I remember he took me by the shoulders and said, “Do you want to die with only three books to your credit by giving up, or do you want to live and leave a Legacy?” That single-handedly changed my life. Thank you, Diamond! I recently completed my 100th book and I’m undetectable. My husband is HIV NEGATIVE and we’re approaching our 13th anniversary together overall as a couple. So what’s next for Dapharoah69, and what

can we expect to see from you in the near future? I wrote 60 books during Quarantine. In 2021 I’m releasing Book 1 of The Law of Beasts, which just nabbed 1st Place in the Vampire category in The Eternity Awards, Some Men Wear Panties book 2, the ENTANGLEMENT series, and Diary of a Bald Head Bitch. I have other ventures in the works, but I’m keeping quiet about it right now but you’ll be the first to know when it’s time. Before we let you go, do you have any last words for our readers or your supporters? For aspiring writers, DON’T GIVE UP. You can do anything you set your mind to. Write to express yourself and let that impress people. Everyone isn’t going to like or support you. Find your niche and go for it. Keep God first in ALL you do. If you don’t know your HIV status I urge you to get tested. PREp is NOT the answer nor is it a cure. And thank you ARTist Feature for the opportunity to share my life with the world. I love you dearly.

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Who is your biggest musical influence and why? I have many influences in a musical sense, but I admire artists like Whodini, A Tribe Called Quest, Q-Tip, Kanye West, The Weeknd, Frank Ocean, and many others. They have all carved their lanes in creative spaces to open up boundaries in music that weren’t done before. You don’t see too many R&B singers coming on the music scene nowadays, mainly rappers or pop artists. What inspired you to step out as an R&B artist?

R&B has always been my favorite genre. It hits you in a different way that can touch your soul in my opinion. I began as a Songwriter, and Producer so making those styles of records helped me create my own in the ways I always imagined. How will you define your sound? Most people would classify it as Dark R&B; I would say it’s a blend of Dark R&B and Soul. Being a 3X Grammy Nominated Producer is a big deal; in your career thus far, who has been your favorite artist to work with and why? There are so many, but

to name a few: Bobby Brown, Bobby Brown Jr, Truth Hurts, Justin Bieber, Robin S, Future, Big Gipp, Kurupt, and plenty others. If you could choose any artist(s) in the industry to work with, who would it be and why?

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The Weeknd. His sound is very prolific to where I think we both understand artistry at its highest form to create something magical. Sonically his music is where I want to be. Your new single Goldmine featuring one of R&B’s finest, J. Holiday is definitely a hit. What inspired this record?

Thank You. I’ve had this record for a few years now; Much love to Rey Fonder who is the writer of this song. I went through my catalog of songs months ago and came across the demo in which I totally forgot I had the song. Right then and there I had to use it. Me and J. Holiday have known each other for some time as well, and I felt his voice would compliment the song well so we made it happen! Along your musical journey so far, what has been your biggest challenge you’ve faced and the best lesson you’ve learned? Not being understood

musically or as a person. It’s difficult when you are around those who don’t motivate or inspire you to be the best you can be. I had to learn that you can’t always expect those people to do those tasks, only you believe in yourself at the highest peak in any aspect of Music, Business, Creativity, etc. What advice will you give to the aspiring R&B singers who are looking to get into the industry? Learn the ART of song, understand your voice, learn the business, know who you want to be,

and what your value is in the industry. What could we expect to see next from you? Any upcoming projects? Right now, I’m working on my debut album for 2021; Also, look out for new collaborations releasing towards the end of 2020. Before we let you go, any last words for our readers or your supporters? Thank You for supporting the James Worthy brand. Stay safe, productive, and smart in these trying times. I love you.

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James Worthy is an American R&B singer, record producer, and songwriter. Worthy is responsible for his work with musical artists including Fetty Wap, 6LACK, T-Pain, Truth Hurts, Robin S, Tony Terry, Kurupt, and PM Dawn. Born in Queens, New York, he moved with his family to Atlanta as a teenager. His parents were both in the entertainment and travel industry. At age 16 he began self teaching himself how to craft music production which led him to his first publishing contract with Sony. Shortly after he attended Art Institute of Atlanta where he earned a bachelors degree in audio production. Worthy came to prominence with working, producing, and writing for artists such as J Holiday, DJ Drama, Kurupt, Yung Berg, and many others. His most notable production work include “Fight 4 Love” by Truth Hurts, “1 & Only” by Jhonni Blaze & Fetty Wap, “Blessing Me” by Robin S, “Drip” by Sammie & J Young MDK. In 2017, Worthy has also pursued acting, and has been featured on “Access Hollywood”, and appeared on BET’s docu series “From the Bottom Up” Season 1. In 2017 he joined the duo group Kings X2 where they released their debut single “Wine For Me”. The song peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot Singles Chart.

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@KingJamesWorthy @KingJamesWorthy @KingJamesWorthyMusic @JamesWorthyMusic

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WHEN THEY SEE’ US by far was my favorite. I’m a big fan of Ava Duvernay and she was pure magic to work with. The scene ended up being very unexpectedly emotional as Jharrel Jerome brought his A-game. And the fact that we all came together to highlight this ugly factual moment in our country’s history I will just always feel blessed to be apart of this project. Out of the many characters you’ve played over the years, which character will you say closest identifies with who you are in real life and why? I shot a short film titled “ONCE A STAR” written and directed by Donja Love of @theeachotheroroject. Since the story was inspired by my own journey, that character was definitely as close to the real me as you can get.

You have some actors who play roles so well that the audience will think they are that character in real life. You play the bad guy very well, have people mistaken you to be that character offscreen? When ‘WHEN THEY SEE US’ first came out and my head was still shaved, I kept getting recognized and stopped my folks on the street. They would reprimand and scold me about “what I did to that boy.” A few people were actually genuinely mad. I’m like, ‘you know it was a film right?’ Lol. Now that I’m sporting a head full of hair it doesn’t really happen anymore. We saw a monologue you did as the joker and OMG Amazing! You definitely embod-

ied the character. Tell us more about what inspired you to do that and your dream of being the first black joker? The Joker is more than just a mere supervillain to me. He is a case study in mental health and what can happen to anyone cast out, neglected, and abused by society. I’ve often felt like this in the past and while I have a better handle on my sanity than Arthur Fleck (IYKYK) I can definitely relate to that feeling of wanting to snap sometimes and just lash out. I have a lot of darkness inside of me of which I’ve learned to manage through therapy and growth. Playing the Joker would be the perfect

FOLLOW ANTINO Antino Crowley-Kamenwati is an actor based in NYC. He is known for roles in the network hits Blue Bloods, Law & Order: SUV, NCIS, FBI, Gotham, Bull, First Wives Club, and the Emmy -Winning When They See Us

@AntinoNotAntonio @AsickSociety @AntinoCrowleyKamenwati www.bewearasicksociety.com

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I’ve wanted to be an actor since I was a child but adult life happened and I was sidetracked for awhile. One of the positive things about my brief stint in the adult film world is that it reignited the flame of acting that I had put out for years. Once that bug came around again that’s when I knew I was doing the wrong kind of acting so I quit porn and never looked back as I started a new journey. And here I am today. My influences are Ryan Murphy and Jordan Peele as far as visionaries. My actor influences are too many to list but here are a few, Joe Morton, Forrest Whitaker, LaKeith Stansfield, Laurence Fishburn, Viola Davis, Cate Blanchett, Daniel Day-Lewis, Leonardo DiCaprio, Barry Keough, and Timothee Chalamet.

Being a part of big roles on both movies and tv series such as Blue Bloods, Gotham, Law and Order SUV, and Netflix miniseries When They See Us, what have been your favorite show to work on and why?

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As a fan from the very beginning when you went by the name Angyl Valentino up to now, your growth in acting on the big screen makes me so proud, what inspired you to get more serious about your acting and who is your biggest influence?

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outlet to unleash those demons in a safe and healthy way. Being the first Black Joker is definitely a goal of mine. I hear LaKeith Stansfield wants it too. I’m a fan of Lakeith but may the best man win. We heard through the grapevine that you are working on this new movie called The Suicide Saint, tell us more about that. Again NDA but I can tell you the film centers around mental health and in this case PTSD; Also it highlights fatherhood, in particular Black father-

hood. I play the main antagonist. You know I love being bad lol. For more information and to keep updated follow the films writer, producer, director @HezuesR and @suicidesaintmovie We know you use to be in the fashion industry before you got into acting, now you have your own clothing line called A Sick Society. It has very powerful and controversial pieces, what’s the vision and message you’re trying to push with the brand? To bring awareness to social issues through fashion. I’m an activist and philanthropist at heart. The issues that affect all marginalized

groups and are always relevant no matter what generation such as racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, government, and religion. These are all things I’m either highly critical of (government, religion) or I seek to extinguish altogether (all the rest).

What advice will you give an aspiring actor who’s looking to get into the acting business?

Throughout your career thus far, what has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced and the best lesson you’ve learned?

What can we expect to see next from you, anything new you got coming up?

The business side of acting has definitely been a headache and a lesson learned. While acting itself is a creative art form, it is also a business and ever-changing industry. You must constantly practice your craft to stay competitive. But you must also constantly network, promote yourself, and manage your career. Even if you have representation. Your agent only gets 10% so that means they do 10% work for you. The other 90% is on you. Your career rises or falls because of YOU.

Start taking acting classes, get good headshots, create your own content, and self submit yourself on Actors Access.

I have a few projects coming up none of which I can discuss because of NDAs but keep your eyes open. Some action, supernatural, and maybe even superhero movies coming. Before we let you go, any last words for our readers or your supporters? Never be afraid to pursue your dreams no matter how wild they are. There is no such thing as the impossible. Do not let others project their limitations onto you. You create and control your destiny. No one else.

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Mental Health is IMPORTANT. Depression is REAL. You too shall OVERCOME.

FOLLOW MARLISHA Marlisha Antionette Applewhite was born and raised in Memphis, TN. 24 year old mother, model, actress, film director, author, and fashionista.

@Marlisha A. Applewhite @Marlisha Polk

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Cut Deep is a short film in association with my first book #CoveredScars. Examining flashbacks of trauma I’ve faced as a child, teenager, and adult; Evaluating the perspective of how all scars aren’t visible at the surface level of a person’s body; most scars are internalized and hidden from the outside world to recognize. Emotional and mental trauma are two of the most dangerous situations any person can endure, no matter what age they may be. This is why I chose to speak up and share my story by publishing Covered Scars and Cut Deep; hoping it will provide hope and healing to young women to know that they are not alone. Mental health is important, and depression can get very dark and scary. My goal is to bring awareness to these issues to set those free who may be struggling with depression or mental health; Encouraging them to not be afraid to speak up or seek out help if needed.

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Being so multitalented, what inspired you to venture into the differ-

In show business, a lot of performers lose tons of money due to the lack of financial literacy, so I branched out to start my own business. I took some time off a few years back to master the business side of things, from accounting, management, artist development, songwriting, and film production. I wanted to take full responsibility for my own endeavors, stay creative, and oversee all aspects of my career.

I credit my dad for telling me to respect the arts and stay creative. Also, Desi Arnaz from the classic television sitcom I Love Lucy. He was the first Hispanic to own his own production company (Desilu Productions) and film studio which was also inspiring. I saw your music video to Feeling the Music and I loved the cinematography! What was the inspiration behind the song and video?

Who is your biggest creative influence(s) and why?

When I was writing, I envisioned a carefree song about living your best life and having a good time; Initially, it was intended to be used for a carnival cruise commercial about celebrating and having fun. Unfortu-

Luis John Ugarte (LJ) was born January 6, 1981 in Brooklyn, New York; Captivated by the world of Art and Entertainment early in his life at the age of five. Louis began singing, taking dance and acting classes. As his skill and talent developed over the years, he fueled it by taking ballet at the Ballet Hispanico Dance Company; whereas a student, he was able to master the art more, enjoying every moment of it. During this time, Lj embraced every opportunity to develop and diversify his love for art and entertainment. In 1997, Lj’s family moved to West Palm Beach, Florida, where he attended Palm Beach Lakes High School and continued to study acting. While in High School, he also continued dancing his senior year. He had the chance to perform for the Florida Stage Company in the production of Gun Play. The next year, he attended Kaiser College and studied Computer Graphic Designing and Imaging. While in college, Lj was also working on starting up his music career. Following college, Lj began concentrating on performing professionally at small venues with local artists at various nightclubs in the South Florida area. Lj is currently in the process of writing and producing his own music with an eye towards much more success in the music industry, in addition to his acting.

nately, those plans didn’t work out so it was revised to something else. In the video, the revamped storyline plays on the concept of revenge after discovering your partner cheating, encouraging the viewer to move on, get over it, and go have fun, fun, fun. Now as a producer and owner of the production company Firecreek Entertainment, what inspired you to take that step into business ownership? I embarked on a little journey of self-discovery. I searched and searched knocking down doors in Los Angeles, New York, Miami, and Bal-

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First and foremost, thank you for the opportunity to chat with you it’s a real pleasure. My first introduction to the arts started when I was around five when my father would play music around the house; he was a talented musician in his own right. Around nine years old, my older sister took me to see the wizard of oz musical live from radio city music hall in New York City. To this day, I can remember the sound of the audience applauding and thinking that someday I’ll be on stage and receive that same applause. Since then, I’ve been able to study and master the craft of entertainment.

ent avenues of art?

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You are known to your supporters as a singer /songwriter, dancer, actor, and producer. I heard your first introduction to the arts was through theatre. Tell us more about that and how you emerge into acting.

company? Stay consistent, creative, and be prepared to work. Running a company is a non-stop job that will be challenging at times, but always keep your eyes and ears wide open, and remember to do it for the right reason and not for vanity. When it comes to producing movies, what’s your favorite genre(s) and why?

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timore; with minimal results, I was still determined to find my way. Along my journey from city to city, I carried my black, beat-up suitcase, and after a while of searching, I returned to West Palm Beach, Florida to regroup, and that’s when I decided to take matters into my own hands. Later I found myself flying to Bluff City, Tennessee to record demos for an unknown artist I had begun writing music for. It was during that time where the inspiration came with the beautiful Smokey mountain view, it shouted “FIRE CREEK”. This was on November 20, 2006, and it marked the moment that the company was launched not knowing where it will go or how far it will reach. Years after, I still hung on to that black suitcase during my progress in Florida. Firecreek ordinated with a steamer,

broke down lamp that I used for camera lighting, and a small makeup box. Fast forward to 2020, the company now owns stocks and a warehouse located in West Palm Beach, Florida with over 19 films. There are 9 out of the 19 films which are available to own on DVD and can be streamed worldwide. We are in the process of branching out to Canada, Finland, and England, and we have only just begun. In the beginning, I was told I didn’t work hard enough or contributed much to the industry but honestly, people don’t get to see what happens behind the scenes, and looking back at all the hard work I had to endure, this greatness all started with my black suitcase which I still have as a reminder of where I began. Being in business for now 14 years, what advice would you give to someone who wants to start a production

Horror, suspense, and comedy are some of my favorite genres to produce. Keeping people on the edge of their toes is always fun to orchestrate, and laughter is the best medicine. Whenever we can make anyone laugh, it makes us smile. What can we expect to see next from Firecreek Entertainment, and what are your plans for the company in the next 3-5 years? We plan to expand worldwide and hope that our sister company (Etragu Studios) which are one of our Subsidiary Companies under the Firecreek banner, will launch successfully, and of course, a major blockbuster hit. As an artist and business owner, what will you say has been your biggest lesson you’ve learn and the hardest challenge you’ve faced thus far in your career? My biggest challenge as an artist was staying on top of my game. I’ve

learned to stay true to myself, never give up even when times get super rough, have a sense of humor about things because we all know that rejections are the hardest part of show business, especially when starting out, and learn to have thick skin. Running a multi-media production company you have to stay on top of it all and remember it is a business therefore, it should be treated as such. Respect it, stay creative, know who to trust, and enlist especially when putting your team together, don’t give up on yourself, have fun, and always remember why you’re doing it in the first place. Thanks for your time LJ, I really appreciate you. Keep creating and going after those dreams; wherever that creative mind takes you, be sure to follow. Before we go, do you have any last words for our readers or your supporters? Stay humble, stay true, stay creative, no matter what type of art you’re into, do it because you love it, doesn’t matter what age, sex, or body type, do it because it’s your passion, your creative outlet.

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