There's ALWAYS enough black to go around! The many lives, loves and legends of artists of color! From the page to the stage, let us live and support our art! #artsupportsart
As some of you may or may not know, I'm currently working at Florida Studio Theatre, located in Sarasota, FL as the WRITE A PLAY Program Coordinator and an Education Associate Artist. Looking past the big title, my main responsibilities are to oversee and run our touring and outreach programming. As a teaching artist, I lead various workshops and help with other outreach initiatives. I can also be seen on stage as a cast member of FST Improv on the weekends. My job is great, I love working here, but after living, learning, growing and working in Sarasota, for two years as an intern/apprentice and then finally transitioning to a full time staff member with very little time to vacation and/or take time away from work, I was in serious need of a recharge.
I found myself stressing over every little thing and was emotionally overwhelmed at work and outside of the office. Coming from my journeys in Atlanta at Morehouse and attending a pretty diverse high school, I must admit being one of the few brown crayons in the box at work became exhausting. I longed for social interaction with people that knew my short hand, that shared cultural, social and experiential similarities and most of all...I wanted some really really good food.
So this past weekend, I made a weekend vacation to my 2nd hometown, Atlanta, GA. I happened to schedule my trip the same weekend of commencement for my beloved Alma Mater, Morehouse College and the equally amazing Spelman College. I socialized, laughed, reminisced and boy oh boy did I stuff my stomach with the tasty delights that the southern Mecca is known for. It was a much needed refresher to reconnect with some of my friends and fraternity brothers that have stayed in the area.
I say all of this to say that sometimes we need that refresher, that recharge, that sharpening. Turn that crayon box around and use the sharpener in the back! What invigorates you? Who is your "person"? (Sorry...I watched the Grey's Anatomy Season Finale and am still living from it!) If you find yourself stressing and completely removed from what makes you tick, it may be time to take a moment and just sit. Relax and Recharge. My remedy was a weekend refresher. Yours may be too or it may just be completely unplugging from the world. Taking a day to go on a nature hike. Having a spa day. Whatever it is....DO IT. Don't be afraid to treat yourself....every now and then. As long as it doesn't break the bank :-)
I first saw Joy Brunson on stage at Spelman College in a production of The Colored Museum by George C. Wolfe. We became friends shortly there after and even got to share the stage under the direction of Jasmine Guy in the stage adaptation of The Bluest Eye.
Fast Facts about Joy Brunson
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Schoolin' Life: Spelman College
Crayon Box Color: Sunset Yellow
Website: www.joybrunson.com
Twitter: @JoyBrunson
Instagram: Jojomcnair
Joy resides in Los Angeles, CA living, creating and dreaming. Since our time in college, Joy's grown into a powerful actor, activist and already phenomenal woman. Always churning out new ideas and platforms, I was excited to catch up with my friend and sister in the arts.
Pat: Who is Joy B?
Joy: Um…[it depends] on the day…
but today I would say that I am Joy Brunson. I am an “Actor-prenuer”, I’m an
artist and I create platforms, specifically for women— specifically for woman
of the African diaspora to grow and live and learn more about themselves in
every way.
Pat: What’s an Actor-preneur?
Joy: I think it’s all
encompassing because acting is my main priority and my main passion but I really
really do love creating platforms, like I said. So when people ask me, instead
of saying well, “oh I run a non profit and oh I write on the side and oh I also
have a vegan web show…when people ask me what do you do? I can just say I’m an Actor-preneur.
Someone told me that one day, “Oh you’re an Actor-preneur” and I liked that!
So, it’s a conversation starter and it’s also all encompassing
Pat: You should put that at the bottom of your resume! So
as far as acting is concerned, what coming up?
Joy: Coming up? Goodness…I
honestly will know something within in the week. Since moving to LA, it’s been
more about getting settled into the city and meeting casting directors and
that’s been great. This last pilot season I went out for a lot of things. I
have not booked yet, but to be in that
caliber, to be I that room to be, you know, going up against working actors—because
there are so few of us, black women working actors—I know that I am just
inching closer. But I am working on my one-woman show, so personally that’s my next biggest goal.
Pat: A one-woman show? Tell me More?
Joy: It’s called “Inner Joy.” Subtitle
is TBD, but it’s called “Inner Joy.” I’ve been working on a one-woman show for
years, honestly. I’ve always been hesitant because not only am I performing it,
but I’ve chosen to write it, so it’s like two ways in which I could have viewed
people judging me. But now I see it as me needing to get this work out to be
creative and to be artistic and to spread what I feel are important messages.
They [the characters] are all women. They span time and location and they are
all talking about different ways they have found peace. For some of them it’s
because they were gay and didn’t know how to come out and for some it’s because
they lost children in the earthquake in Haiti and one is because…um…Well, I
guess two are about lesbians actually when I think about it! (laughs). One is a young girl who is
kinda pan-African but I’ve put it into a voice of a nine-year-old and what we
teach our children about sexism and colorism, but in a fun, creative nine-year-old
way. It’s all women trying to figure out who they are and the process helped me
figure the woman I’m becoming.
Pat: I want to talk about Get Rooted!
Joy: I was hesitant about it,
because I’m very particular about how I come off or at least I try to be. Umm
as someone who’s like, “Oh I’m vegan and therefore I am here and you are there”—and
I think that sometimes veganism comes off like that—people kinda condemn people
for their choices. I personally don’t care what you do with your body, but I
find that especially in our community a lot of people are interested more and
more in weight and health and what goes into their body. And I feel that
veganism is a perfect way to find that. Also, being from the south, I’m not a
life-long vegan. I was raised on meat and I understand how it tastes, but for
me I like to know very specifically where my food comes from and then I’m able
to make that choice. If I know it comes a factory and I still want to eat it,
then cool. A lot of times in the African-American community we sit down at the table,
cover our food in hot sauce, and we don’t question how far back it went before
the grocery store, we don’t care as long as it’s on discount. I think for any
community, especially for the black community in order to repair this tear in
our cultural fabric, we have to start from the inside out.
I didn’t want to make
another vegan cooking show. I wanted to know that it happens, and everyone has
a different definition of it. Our last episode, we had young people who are
artists [and vegan]. One eats fish, but she considers herself vegan. Another is
dietary vegan, but he has no problem wearing leather. It’s what you make it,
you know, but the point for me is to be in control over your food.
Pat: Now, you also have non-profit organization under your
“Actor-preneurial” umbrella, Tee2Tea?
Joy: Well, Tee2Tea is a golf
mentorship organization where we use the game of golf to teach principles of
life. So…commitment, dedication, accountability for young minority girls 8-18.
First off, we do not discriminate [against] any sweet little Caucasian babies.
It’s so interesting that when an organization [is] for a specific group, people
are focusing on what it’s not. This
is not anti-white org, this is not a anti-male org, it just happens to be an
org for minority, mostly Black mostly Hispanic young girls.
We make the game of golf
affordable and accessible. In the inner city, there are no golf courses. Not
only is the game of golf, different and unique but it can open doors…it opened
doors for me. When people find out that you can play golf, they look at you
differently. Men, especially white men, people in power places look at you
differently to be able to step outside of what is considered “normal” for a
young black girl and say, “No, I know how to do this” is really beneficial.
We have summer camps and are
working on having another golf tournament. We also have what is called “High
Tee,” which is just mentorship. The girls go through etiquette class and
self-empowerment class, because I didn’t want just another organization that
taught a sport. Those organizations are great, but for me, I wanted to make
well-rounded individuals and young women that will contribute to society. It’s
still very new, but I have lots of dreams for Tee2Tea. I hope it can be a full-fledged
program that lives on it’s own, where girls can come and grow after school and
during the summer.
Pat: I’m a web series fanatic, so I was so exited when on
saw you on YELLOW.
Joy:(laughs)
It is so crazy to me because I feel like I’ve done other stuff but it seems
like yellow has been the thing that my friends like the most. Honestly, that’s
why I did it. They [BLACKandSEXYTV] have a following and they do good work and
I had so much fun.
Pat: Speaking of film and TV, what’s your stance on black
women in the media. How do you feel about “Lupita” fever?
Joy: I don’t know what it is, but
where there’s this hit black person, you
become that. As soon as she started
becoming popular, I had quite a few people saying that I remind them of her and
I’m like NOOOOO. We’re just similar colors, but we are very different. It’s
like “oh, there’s a black dark skin girl…” But in the same vein I’m like,
“There’s a black dark skin girl and I get to be like her!” That is a very beautiful thing. As far as black women in
the media, I think things are beginning to change and I’m very excited about
it. There’s still healthy competition and there still are inner circles, but I
think that’s just more human nature than anything else. Overall, I’ve seen
black women act very professional toward each other. They may not be friends or
acting chummy, but I’ve never seen them mean or try to cut them down, which is
great. There is sisterhood and I’m still finding that and not necessarily in
the black community, which has surprised me. Some of my closest friends in
California aren’t black, but they have been incredibly supportive. I had to
kinda take a step back because I’m used to Atlanta and being around beautiful
strong black women. This person isn’t black but they believe and support me and
have my best interest at heart. The women, the female community has been good
to me, right now. Did I answer you question?
Pat: Finally…what’s your vision down the line?
Joy: Well, like I said my biggest
thing is my one-woman show. I want to continue theatre out here and continue to
build my brand. If I say I’m going to be here and work here, I need to start
planting seeds here. I think God gives us gifts and if you don’t nurture them, they will go away. So I’m working on growth as an actor right now. But hey talk to
me in a few months and I may be on a project!
#artsupportsart
Keep up with Joy and all of
her “Actor-preneurial” adventures at www.joybrunson.com
and check out Get Rooted on Youtube!
Aaron "Leo" Gregory and I met during our time at Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA. Since graduating from our beloved Mother Morehouse, we've gone our separate ways but he was happy to take some time to be my very first interview for The Crayon Box!
Fast Facts about Aaron "Leo" Gregory
Hometown: Omaha, Nebraska (Yes, there are brown people in Nebraska) Schoolin' Life: Morehouse College and New York University
CrayonBox Color: Lion's Mane Orange Twitter: @LeoDijinero Instagram: LeoDijinero1914 Facebook: Leo Dijinero/Aaron Leo Gregory
Currently residing in New York City, Aaron is a choreographer/teaching artist and creator of the "Groove and Flow" Technique. Groove and Flow is a release technique created to liberate dancers internally for greater performance quality and centers around the mantra, "I can, I will, I am Enough", which speaks to my spirit as a young artist myself. I caught up with Aaron in between one of his classes at the Lower Manhattan Arts Academy. I couldn't believe it when he told me that he's currently teaching dance to youth students between the ages of 5-14 with three different schools/organizations across the city.
Pat: Who would you say are you artistic inspirations?
Leo: Alvin Ailey. I was exposed to him for the first time at
Spelman. We had to do our own research on dance and he was one of the first I found,
because of the legacy he has created with his work. And how his work is
transcendent in time.
Kathleen Wessel, I don’t know if you remember her. (Yes! I remember Kathleen!!!) She
taught modern at Spelman and Emory. She was one of the first teachers who
really believed in what I had before I even knew what I had. Being able to
connect with her after not seeing her for three years, in Italy was really
great.
Hmm . I have two more. Pharrell Williams. His creative
abilities to just kinda be in his own lane and how he’s definitely moved so
many people without them even knowing that it was him. Everyone’s like
“Pharrell” but he’s been in his own lane doing his thing for a while. It give me
hope to stay in my own lane and I’ll get to inspire the people I’m meant to
inspire and reach the people I’m meant to reach.
Missy Elliot, definitely hip hop wise. She is…everything.
She’s musically..She’s always created something for the dancers. Broke records,
her being a female rapper, plus-size. She’s always been ahead of the game.
We’re waiting for her to drop something else but she’s taking her time. She
always put her life force in to what she makes to make great things.
Pat:I'd like to go back and talk about Kathleen Wessel and the STAIBdance Intensive in Sorento, Italy?
Leo: I learned how to tap into myself as a better performer. The
intensive was about two and a half weeks. We had class from about 8-4 or 5
o’clock in the afternoon. We did ballet. We did Gaga, which is an improv
technique from Israel. It’s centered on helping the dancer, not the dancer the
mover, connect internally to what's happening externally. That was the pivotal
experience during the intensive for me. I connected more within myself. When we
had our final performance, as soon as the music started until the end of my own
section…I didn’t go on until about 17 minutes into the piece, I was on. I just
felt on fire. I felt alive, the entire time and I’d never felt that before.
I took to Gaga and to my instructor. He moved like…an alien.
I wanted to move like that, I wanted to be more free.
Pat: Talk to me about Groove and Flow?
Leo: Yes. I can definitely do that. Groove and Flow…my baby. Upon
our graduation, Kathleen Wessel said, “You are going to create your own
technique one day”. I had no idea what she was talking about, but as I began to
grow as a dancer I was realizing that I was able to combine all my styles into one.
Movement wise, I knew I had this variety of movements that I draw from to make
up combinations, but there’s more to it because it’s not just a combination
class. So the workshop…I totally believe in, what’s the word I want to use?
Come on Jesus, what’s the word I want to use? Motivating people to be better.
Showing them, themselves and helping them to realize that there’s more to them
than what they see and that comes from my life long battle had to see myself as I really am. We’ve all
received compliments and couldn’t see them for what they were, truly great
things. The Spirit in me drove me to want to create a class for people who were
in a rut and wanted to get out.
I want to keep showing people that there is more to you than
meets the eyes. All the things that are good about ourselves and bad. I
mentioned not having confidence…I didn’t have confidence because I didn’t SEE
myself. Looking for approval from people that would never approve of me. I was
constantly trying to please and be something…instead of just being myself.
Pat:I think that is a journey for a lot of young artists.
Leo: And now I’m on this thing of…dance breaks chains. There
are people walking around here shackled. Slave to the false image. Slave to
over confidence. Slave to the job. Just walking around broken and connected to
things that hold us back. The most recent piece of choreography I’ve done for
the class is called, “Breaking the Chain.” In the beginning of the class, I
allow them to do that. We do a focus exercise and I ask them to “Imagine,
yourself being the best you”. I used Gaga techniques that help them feel and be
aware internally and externally. Through that, when you are connecting and
checking in with yourself you are telling yourself, “I can, I will and I am
Enough”. When we go through the combination, my hope is that they are telling
themselves that. My class isn’t about the combo. It’s about telling yourself
that you can do this and take at least a step away from that thing…(whatever it may be) when you leave
that class.
Pat: Moving Forward, what is a path that you see for yourself?
Leo: Out of the combinations that I have made, that I am making…I
do want to choreograph works. I fell in love with choreography during my final
project at NYU. I have to keep choreographing, I HAVE TO. Ultimately, I love to
have a company or even a platform to where I can present my work with dancers
that understand my style of movement. We can start to make actual pieces about
these topics that I address within my workshop/class and inspire the audience. #artsupportsart Aaron's next "Groove and Flow" Workshop is this Sunday, March 16th at CAP21 Studios from 7-8:30PM. Only $10! Check out some footage from the workshop here.
Well....here I am! First off, hello world. My name is Patrick, Pat, Pat.Jak and I am black, technically brown. It's really shouldn't matter, it really doesn't matter. But beyond who I am, what I do is really truthfully why I am here.
What is The Crayon Box?
"I am an artist and I am sensitive about my shit", said the beautifully amazing Erykah Badu. As an artist of color and a citizen of the world, my hue has become more of a question than a celebration. I seek to inform and enlighten but most importantly share some of the great stories and magic that is out there with other artists like myself. The artist community from the page to the stage and everywhere in between has alway been a voice of the generations yet many of those voices are seldom heard. It is my hope that through this blog I can share some of the lesser used "crayons" and get them some time to paint their pictures and color the world. The revolution is past being televised and now sits at the keys of our computers just waiting, yearning to be ignited. With that I light the first match.
So, stop by every two weeks (God willing I'm not saving the world one stage at a time) and I'll have a new colorful artist here to share their world with you!
