Often, those who tread off the beaten path are misunderstood or mischaracterized and so we asked folks from the community to reflect and tell us about the times they’ve been misunderstood or mischaracterized.

Shaunte Daniels

Well first, growing up in the ghetto/hood, I wasn’t around many resources that contributed to kids who were artists, musicians, basically creatives. So I started to share my artwork with the neighborhood and God kids together to form our own groups to show that even kids from rough places can do something good and creative. Another is costumes, lol I started to cosplay in 2011 and was one of the first black girls to really do it in my city and it was hard for people to take me seriously, Read More>>

Christy Jones

Definitely. I think when your work leans into vulnerability, especially when it’s centered around celebrating women in such an intimate and powerful way, it’s easy for people to misjudge it. Read More>>

Sean Roane

In 2018 I started experimenting with “west coast” sounding beats for my music. By 2019 all of my songs were produced by individuals from California. I’m from New Jersey so my new sound wasn’t necessarily welcomed by everyone who heard my music. They labeled me a “west coast rapper” and some of my peers on the east coast refused to collab with me. I felt like I was being placed in a box. I was constantly told , “You should go to Cali”. Read More>>

Taylor Carr

The main times I’ve felt misunderstood or mischaracterized as an artist come down to when people arbitrarily try to put only one style or label on me. I’m very intentional about not putting myself in a box, both creatively and in life, because I believe in pushing boundaries and exploring all that I’m capable of. Read More>>

Susan English

The most frequent comment I get about my work is that it is calm. I understand the comment, but it surprises me because I’m not a particularly calm person and I think people might jump to a conclusion that I am in a serene or zen state while making the work. I do have my zen moments, but there is plenty of struggle and frustration in my studio as well. I am always trying to push the work, make the best work I can and to continue to evolve and develop as an artist. Read More>>

Mario Cruz

I’ve been misunderstood a lot throughout my life. Just due to the fact of me always working. People tell me a lot of things saying I’m an outcast and laugh at my dreams. I even had a past coach of mine laugh at me for thinking I was going to be the best. It hurt because it felt like I wasn’t normal, while everyone else is going to party have fun or hangouts I’m always just on the track running. Read More>>