Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Danté Crichlow. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Danté, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I recently started a project called “Your Selfie on Film” where I’m giving people the opportunity to take a photo of themselves on a medium format film camera (Mamiya RB67) by using a shutter cable release button (or extension cord). I’m offering them a chance to have some agency over the moment they capture. Without focusing on what it might look like they can remain present with how they feel in their bodies in this moment. I wouldn’t say this idea came to me all at once, but in pieces.

One of those pieces being the discoveries i’ve made taking my own self portraits on film. I found a lot of freedom and vulnerability in capturing myself. I started taking self portraits through the lens of documentation. For example if I had a really good day, I would then set up my film camera to take a self-portrait. And since it’s on film, I wasn’t trying to capture a look or emotion but just noting that the actual act of me taking out my camera and taking this photo on THIS day was because of how I was feeling. It became both ritualistic and journalistic.

I was having fun.

Now the Mamiya RB67 being a medium format camera basically means the photo will have more detail, or dynamic range overall than a 35mm camera or a point and shoot (fun saver). For me though, this camera does a really great job at capturing essence. Unfortunately it is quite a heavy camera to be carrying around, so I wasn’t really taking it around with me 24/7. And so another piece to this project is that I was desperately looking for a way to use this camera more often.

The final piece of the puzzle was my social anxiety. I’ve been navigating being more present and less in my head during social interactions. It was getting hard for me again to stop overthinking and placing judgement on myself during almost every interaction I was having with people. Meditation was helpful, as was showing myself more empathy in the moment. But I wanted to enjoy my interactions more, I wanted to flourish in new and unfamiliar spaces by simply being.

And that was when everything clicked! I could provide a space for people to simply be, to bond with friends, create memories, enjoy their present moment and be surprised by that treasure later.

Danté, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

If I can say that I’m an old soul, then assume I have a young spirit. I believe in a universal oneness that stems from love while also being deeply connected to that which makes me, my people, and my reality unique. I’d say it’s easy to make me laugh, and I find it easy to provide space for people to be who they are. If you haven’t guessed by now, I’m an artist. Most well known for being an actor & photographer with recent credits including Deadbodydeadbodydeadbody (Ars Nova), Blue Fire Burns the Hottest (Exponential Festival 2022), See You Yesterday (Netflix) and Law & Order: Organized Crime.

As a performer and creator I aim to build stories that traverse the realms of Mental health, racial justice, and self actualization. And as a human I seek to grow through genuine connection with community and newcomers. I find that with people whom I photograph, the thing they come to me with the most is discomfort towards having their photos taken. And so I normally allot time to just chat and get to know people before even taking out my camera, I bring a speaker and make a little playlist to loosen up the nerves, and i’ve got endless dad jokes that are sure to make you slap your knee caps. You’ll leave with photos and an experience that feels authentic to you, that’s my guarantee.

What do you find most rewarding about being creative?

the fact that anything I create or participate in creating will ultimately bring me to a deeper understanding of myself and the world around me. Art for me has always been a language that not only transcends words and dialogue, but creates it. I love how this life path shows no signs of getting old. It is ever-changing as I am and that continues to make me fall in love with this craft and my own life over and over again. And then at some point you look back at why you started being a creative, and the reason you do it now has nothing to do with the reason you began.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

We need to stop acting as if art and creativity aren’t the damn backbone of our evolution. It’s integral to how we understand and interpret the world around us; In my view I think society can highlight and support us by making art a mandatory part of the public school curriculum all the way through to high-school. Maybe then we’d have a more empathetic generation of adults in the future that cares about the wellbeing of an entire ecosystem instead of only our individual interests.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://dantecrichlow007.wixsite.com/dantecrichlow
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abstrac.t/?hl=en
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/danteeldente

Image Credits
Moses