ARTIST INTERVIEW & FINE ART FEATURE: PROCEED ZINE ISSUE NO. 2 “TIME” 2019 ART • FASHION • CULTURE

PROCEED MALIZINE

Manifesto:

We are agents for good. The modern hunter-gatherers of art, architecture, fashion, film, literature, music, photography, theatre, and travel. Purveyors of nobility and connoisseurs of elegance, who choose to criticize their world through creation - because it's the only thing louder than destruction.

Innovators of culture, who regard decorum versus the temptations of the brash incivility of their surroundings. Ladies and gentlemen alike, that purport to conquer diverse walks of life and can appreciate the functionality of an artifact as well as its aesthetics. We are aristocrats, artisans, entrepreneurs, jet-setters, scholars, and visionaries who desire to raise the standard of living, everywhere, in all things, in style.

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Who are you and where are you from?

“My Name is Ebony T. Perry and I’m an Interdisciplinary Artist (specializing in the visual and performing arts). I was born in Santa Monica,CA and raised in the port town of San Pedro, CA.”

When and how did you get started?

I began creating art as a kid… initially I think it was a way to have privacy with myself and it was a manner in which I was able to process society… to escape to a safe environment and just dance with my imagination. Most importantly, I resorted to art as a healing outlet in order to cope with difficult chapters in my upbringing and throughout my life. My relationship to art has always been very sacred for that reason.

My first loves or mediums of expression from Elementary through Middle School were media I was exposed to through a lot of free community arts initiatives, the public library or creative after school programs. These involved theatre and film acting, writing and performing poetry, lyrics, stories/journal entries, doodling, (a lot of paper-pen based creations), collaging, altering and painting on clothing, knitting scarves, sewing, sculpting with found objects, painting, and learning ballet. During those stages, I was also heavily influenced and inspired by my family’s culture and their stories (I always wanted to know about everyone’s life adventures, how we all came to be where we are, etc.), I enjoyed blasting music (mainly rock/alternative) on my headphones and drawing patterns, and I spent a lot of time reading spiritual books, books about astrology, Greek mythology, international folklore and fairy-tales. I admired and researched a lot of classical artists, and continued to shape my creativity (and confidence) with the help of many wonderful and inspirational mentors that included teachers, actors, community leaders, life coaches, school guidance counselors, doctors, lawyers, musicians, poets, authors, light workers, intuitives, and role models on educational television shows. I would also create art on weekends with youth mentors at an amazing organization called Peace4Kids, in addition to taking art workshops and different creative recreational classes after school at the local Boys & Girls Club and YMCA during the week. It’s like the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child…that was very real for me. When I entered High School, I continued to stay broad with my mediums because I enjoyed expressing myself and experimenting with different elements. I continued working hard at drawing and painting in my classes and practiced creating my own stylized pieces at home with what materials I could afford.

I later joined the Honors Art Society and participated in a few fine art showcases and competitions. I continued exploring Yoga, learning ballet (and eventually got into dancing en pointe properly). Sophomore year of High School, I wound up joining Drama Club a an extracurricular activity and continued to do theatre with the desire to pursue acting professionally. That summer I continued to study acting via YouTube, reading through monologue books, attending workshops, etc. and even started to play with exploring music again. After I wrapped up my Sophomore year summer job, I saved up enough money to buy my first acoustic guitar and began teaching myself how to play by ear (I’d practice with the White Stripes “7 Nation Army” riff), this is when I started writing lyrics and poetry again. During my last years of high school, I circled back to sewing… I would play with altering clothes, painting shirts and sweaters, creating plush characters, and even started shadowing a FIDM bound designer for a summer gig I had, where we worked on a few costumes to prep for a Halloween fashion show. That summer sparked an even further interest in someday being involved in apparel design. I think gravitating back to sewing also had to do with how my style was evolving personally (I went through so many phases: goth, punk, etc.) and having the long time desire to express myself more through fashion after wearing a uniform for so long.

Fast forward to College, I went in as an interdisciplinary major on a 90% scholarship and studied Theatre Arts (acting and production) and Media Arts (digital art and design). During my time at Marymount California University I performed in several plays and competed in KCACTF (The Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival). I ended up winning an audition based scholarship through KCACTF in 2012 to attend a CSU Summer Arts Chicago-Style comedy and improvisation intensive in Monterey Bay, CA with some amazing professors and improvisation artists like David Razowsky, Amy Seeley, James Grace and Eric Hunnicutt and Julie Granata. This experience is where I saw the magic of teamwork (truly listening to your scene partner), presence, mindfulness and awareness at work in acting and how to even begin blending yoga, comedy and performance philosophies together for an authentic piece.

During College I was also super involved in studio art (painting and mixed media), documentary film (interviewing, shooting and editing), and gallery work in addition to theatre- because I wanted to know more about production, direction, curating and event management in the arts. Throughout my final two years of college, I wound up participating in more film classes, festivals, joined the Women in Film club, did multiple arts and culture internships and was encouraged by one of my professors, Pat Kelley to submit a short to the Musician’s Institute in Hollywood. This is where I wound up collaborating with students from MI to compose music for “The Story my Candle Will Tell” and ultimately gathered the confidence to continue exploring storytelling and filmmaking. I have to say my final year of college was probably one of the single most impactful years for me as an artist…one, because of the Capstone process…two, because that is when I really got to experience what selling your work as an adult feels like…what putting together and executing your own art show, opening reception, book and artists talk step-by-step actually looks and feels like. After exhibiting my illustration series “Ocular Ambrosia: A Multimedia Spectacle” I was hooked… and for the first time in my life I felt like an “official” artist.

After graduating with my B.A. in 2014, I applied to be a Getty Multicultural Intern at Angels Gate Cultural Center (through the suggestion of my professors and a mentor) …I’m grateful to say I made the cut. That summer, in addition to seeing the way different museums and art organizations in and around Los Angeles are run, I was exposed to everything from gallery management, curating and writing statements, proper art preparation, installation and preservation methods, creating exhibition signage and graphics, archiving, etc. This is also the summer I got my start in designing more graphics for other artists and their projects, exhibitions, small local businesses, non-profit organizations, community gardens, apparel, and start ups in my community. This totally awakened my entrepreneurial side and led me to continue building my freelance portfolio and launching my website. After this opportunity, I was interviewed and hired on by our program Dean Blue Wade as an Arts & Media Gallery Manager for the new space MCU was opening at the time. This was where I got to put my new experience into practice through helping plan and curate numerous exhibitions, coordinate for film festivals, concerts, lectures, and other public arts events.

After this opportunity, I persisted to think about how I wanted to expand and be more effective as an interdisciplinary artist in the realms of art and healing and give back to community. Due to personal experience in witnessing the way the arts are still being impacted by budget cuts and other matters… I often circle back to reflecting on how an education in art saved and enriched my life… and continue to seek new ways to advocate, be an active ambassador for creativity and pay it forward. That way, the next gen of rising artists, can continue to experience the joy and benefits the arts have to offer. Most ideas and initiatives of mine have involved art offerings in more public/accessible spaces, while merging events and workshops with the healing arts. I often think about how art along with other modalities of self care and expression have had the power to help me heal, transform, find my voice and confidence many times- which is why I sought to further educate myself and look for a field of study that combined these passions.

Being in this new state of inquiry, led me to further study my other passion Yoga and Ayurveda in 2016. After receiving my 200-RYT from Long Beach School of Yoga (LBSOY) I was extremely inspired by what I had learned and began teaching community yoga, traveling and camping in nature to familiarize myself and visualize hosting retreats, studying psychology and art education, instructing meditative/intuitive art workshops in gardens and other community spaces, and really tuning into the art therapy/expressive arts therapy world. Currently, I continue to study while creating independently and collaboratively- with a focus on peace, holism, environment, mental health, creative education, transformation, self expression and creative entrepreneurship. This merging of ideas and passions, in addition to my personal journey, independent research and practice is what greatly influenced my work and shaped it into what I continue to do today with my art. In addition to continuing to evolve my art practice, perform more and get a Masters/PhD, my current dream is to operate my own studio and business that is dedicated to sharing the benefits of art and Yoga with community.

What is/are your passion(s)?

My passions have always been pretty consistent in terms of Yoga, drawing, painting, writing, performance art/filmmaking, learning voice and music, traveling/roadtripping and connecting with nature, reading, crafting, thrift shopping, enjoying a good skate session (rollerskating that is), touring museums, gallery hopping and dreaming of course.

What were your influences that got you into what you are passionate about? Where do you find inspiration?

I have so many haha…literally a village... but in all seriousness I’m extremely grateful for all of the people who have graced my life with their wisdom and creative light. My influences definitely include my hometown of San Pedro, the land was always good to me when I needed to get out of my head and connect with my higher self (the port, downtown arts district, the cliffs, the beaches and nature preserves are all locations that inspire me to this day). Other major inspirations include my ancestors, cultures, family, all of my closest friends who I consider my soul family, my godfather, my partner, all of my art teachers, professors, mentors, coaches, contemporaries and elders that have guided me. They all make me want to continue striving for great things and have instilled so much grounding energy, love and confidence in me when the road gets tough.

I’m also heavily influenced by the organizations that nurtured my strengths as a youth- like Peace 4 Kids, the Boys & Girls Club of San Pedro, the YMCA and San Pedro Ballet School. I also find a lot of inspiration through gratitude, meditation and disconnecting from social media. In terms of artists in entertainment, directors, inspirational creative content, icons, educational content, designers, music, that inspires me, etc. I have an ongoing list because I am constantly inspired by how all is interconnected: I really enjoy and have enjoyed being inspired by numerous TED Talks, Inside the Actors Studio with James Lipton, Project Runway, Film Screenings, art music and yoga festivals, David Bowie, Ballet, Misty Copeland, Emily the Strange, Guy Ritchie, Martin Scorcese, Yayoi Kasuma, Maya Angelou, Adrian Piper, Cher, Charlie Chaplin, Betty Boop, Tim Curry, Lewis Carroll, Little Rascals, Tim Burton, Coco Chanel, Rosario Dawson, Solange, Eartha Kitt, Oprah, Michael Caine, Led Zepplin, The Doors, Beck, Daniel Day Lewis, Tracie Thoms, James McAvoy, Salvador Dali, Hole, Teraji P. Henson, Sneaker Pimps, Oasis, the Verve, Devendra Banhart, Corita Kent, Frida Kahlo, Outkast, Andre 3000, Mooji, Buddha, Don Miguel Ruiz Jr., Viola Davis, Jane Goodall, The Velvet Underground,Yung Pueblo, Stan Lee, Flora Bowley, Susan Sarandon, Cat Power, St.Vincent, Black Sabbath, Trevor Noah, Keira Knightley, Beyonce, Patti Smith, Erykah Badu, James Franco, Lucille Ball, Gwen Stefani, No Doubt, Roald Dahl, Edward Gorey, Fleetwood Mac, Dave Chappelle, Natalie Portman, J.K. Rowling, Jim Carey, Tilda Swinton, George Carlin, Bob Ross, Curtis Mayfield, Nirvana, Pablo Picasso, Mike Perry, Wynona Ryder, Emma Watson, Christina Ricci, Angelica Houston, Will Smith, Floria Sigismondi, Carlos Santana, Saginaw Grant, The Clash, Coldplay, Lucy Liu, Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, Jamie Lee Curtis, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Neve Campbell, Fairuzah Balk, The Beatles, Nirvana, Andy Warhol, Jack White, Toro Y Moi, Tyler the Creator, Flying Lotus, Kaliuchis, Quentin Tarantino, The Dead Weather, The Cure, The Coathangers, Marylin Manson, Morrissey, Metallica, Bloc Party, Dangermouse, Franz Ferdinand, Interpol, Bob Marley, Sublime, Incubus, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Karen O, A Tribe Called Quest, Queens of the Stone Age, Led Zepplin, Rolling Stones, Queen, The Runaways, Blondie, Elton John, Iggy Pop, The Growlers, Arctic Monkeys, The Kills, Jimi Hendrix, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, Gary Clark Jr., WAR, The Killers, just about anything and everything on KCRW and PBS (including Antiques Roadshow), Masterpiece Theatre, Twiggy, Mia Farrow, Diana Ross, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Audrey Hepburn, Tyra Banks, Naima Mora, Smashing Pumpkins, Johnny Cash, John Leguizamo, Spike Lee, Andy Warhol, The Mighty Boosh, Pharell and I am other.

(For this section we want out readers to know what you like to do and create, and if your current occupation happens to be aligned with what your passionate about, then feel free to include that information, it is totally up to you!. We just want to know what is you love doing and and what were your influences that inspired you to work on your creative passions).

I love to create pieces that send viewers a message of some sort or something that engages them in consciousness. I love creating projects that tell a story and capture my reflections and meditations on the time that has passed and obstacles that have been overcome. My current art forms are meditative drawing, painting, writing, ceramics, design, photography, performance art, modeling and film.

What music are you currently listening to and what music has inspired or influenced your work and style?

Toro Y Moi and Anderson Paak have to be my two favorites right now though in terms of getting my energy in the right space. In addition to the music I mentioned back there, anything that gets me in a higher clearer frequency/headspace and unlocks the ability to reflect on memories, emotions, important themes and messages. I tend to stick to my Rock and Roll, oldies, blues, funk, reggae, soul, experimental, punk, psychadelic, indie, world and meditation music (sound healing tracks and 432HZ), anything on KCRW/KROQ, etc.

What motivates you to get out of bed every morning to continue to pursue your dreams and aspirations?

What keeps me going is another chance at life, my tribe, another chance to discover and learn something new and possibly find a solution to something… to build a better world (embodying the change I want to see)… having the opportunity to inspire or illuminate someone’s perception as well as my own. Mastering my doubts and fears, manifesting my dreams and inspiring others to do the same keeps me going.

Creativity has no limitations, it usually bleeds and blends into other formats - what are some other endeavors that you are interested in pursuing?

Many of my endeavors are educational, I love to learn and see myself being an old wise renaissance woman someday. Some of those include continuing to practice and teach yoga, explore more music, movement, and ayurvedic health. I plan to continue taking more Psych courses, circle back to clothing design and merchandising etc. as well.

What upcoming projects are you going to be working on and where can we find you?

I am still adding more and more paintings and other mixed media pieces to my ongoing “Ritual of Resilience Series” that I’ve been working on since after I graduated College to present day. I am also working toward hosting more events around art and wellness, building a brand and getting back to my first love of performance art with projects surrounding that as well. You can find the latest and greatest on my website www.ebonytperry.com and my main Instagram account @ebonytperry - I’m still working on some new pages for my other creative endeavors so definitely stay tuned.

What does the word PROCEED mean to you?

To continue…continue creating. I actually remember someone telling us all that during an art lecture, it is important to “Never stop creating.”

What does TIME mean to you?

Treasure, reflection and endless possibility.