We were lucky to catch up with Da’Lene DePriest recently and have shared our conversation below.

Da’Lene , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you share an important lesson you learned in a prior job that’s helped you in your career afterwards?

Take the risk. Do the scary thing. Be the Boss.
I built cabinets and furniture for my family business for 25 years. I worked with my Dad, my PawPaw, my Godfather and a few uncles, construction guys. I was the only girl. Actually had 2-4 people on and off. I trained 1 too many reluctant guys. So, I hired my friends, ladies same age as me! The guys were Not excited. Best crews I ever had. It was an idea I got from my Mom. The real behind the scenes Boss.
Every time me and Dad “disagreed” she told me she couldn’t wait till I got a backbone and to stop hiding my light.

Da’Lene , 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?

As a carpenter, I always had side jobs using my scraps to make stuff to sell at events. I grew up scavenging jobsites for cool wire bits or scraps of trim. My parents sold handmades at craft fairs. My Mom was a Home Ec teacher with some construction. A total artist with fabric and quilts. Her colors!!! Dad built houses and tailored menswear. My brother and I got way extra engineering brain from them both. We had a family business named after us and our parents believed strongly in the idea of Each One Teach One. I have an art degree and a psych degree. I was a teaching artist for the whole time I was building cabinets. My secret love was unleashed when a friend asked me if I was interested in helping build a puppet show. Then a friend I made working there recommended me to a different puppet theater and it was On!!! I have a healthy theater background and really got into the idea of using my building skills, stagecraft and puppetry to bring nature environments to life inside. My company does that. I work along with highschool students, college students and some arts professionals to do exactly that. We make art installations. We’re building on number 5 and it’s our biggest project to date. This year we partnered up with DeLasalle Education Center’s Block37 program and ArtsTech here in Kansas City,MO to create a sci-fi outpost featuring the Intergalactic Aquarium. We’re starting pretty small this year with plans to expand to a multi-week installation open to the public. Primarily designed and built by teams of artists ages 14-25. Hand built and even 3D printing involved. Picture a StarWars cantina and 5th Element mashup. I am super freaking pumped to be doing this for my second career. Also, I have to add the Intergalactic Aquarium has moving parts. We use animatronics and the magic of black light for bioluminescence.
My dream job. Truly.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

So, I had a whole other career path for 25 years. I worked hard everyday and when it’s your family you kinda put in extra. No matter what, I still had to be making Art. I slept very little trying to squeeze in as much art and music as possible. My Mom always reminded me I had this whole other awesome thing I could do. I just had to do it. All during Covid times I was basically a furloughed teacher. I had proudly showed her the week before the lockdown that I finally had a fulltime schedule being a Teaching Artist and could firmly make my move out of construction into Art. I was so excited. Then BAM! Crickets. No art teaching. We talked a lot about what I wanted to do for real. Like, what would make a good day for me? How could I pay bills doing that? She reminded me of a few things. How important food is to me and that I’m not built to be a Starving Artist! I’ve always had my side businesses and projects. I grew up in Entrepreneurship. I am a freaking Boss and very good at it.
As we came out of lockdown and I got a regular Art Teaching job, I realized I loved my afterschool art programming better than classroom hours. My Mom lost her second battle with breast cancer at the end of that summer. I had only talked about my dream to one teacher at the school. My afterschool program had extended to a summer session. Days before my Mom passed that teacher handed me a folder with business paperwork and told me it was time to grow. Like, I heard my Mom’s voice when she said that to me. I think the week after someone dies is the longest week ever. While we waited, I talked to my Dad. He sat with me and helped me do the online forms to start my LLC. Timing is so important. What’s even more important, maybe the most…You just have to jump. You can’t fly if you don’t jump. You can’t land without a backbone.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I was taught very young that as an African American getting your education is one of the most important things. My parents grew up experiencing Jim Crow discrimination and the Civil Rights Movement. As I grew in understanding, I became part of that legacy. As an Artist and a woman I am the embodiment of that Revolution. If I follow what I have been taught by my parents and experiences, it is my duty to continue to spread Art. That Each One Teach One philosophy is my call to action. I will teach anyone that asks or even barely shows a glint of interest, how to do anything I can do. I’m committed to collaboration and sharing knowledge. Art is my magic and my superpower. It’s how I show love to this world. How I share the Good. Creativity gives your soul wings. Teaching others how to access and use their creativity is my mission.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://soulbirdstudios.wixsite.com/dalene
• Instagram: soulbirdstudios25_
• Linkedin: DaLene DePriest